Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-28
STATE NEARS END
Of SkELLY TRIAL
Woman Tells of Hearing Quarrel
Before Mrs. SkeIIy Ap-
peared in Flames
THE INSURANCE MEN TESTIFY
Accused Reported Telling Wife He
Didn't Know Certain
Liquid Was Gasoline

CuJlOn IN the case OF FRANK Il. Shelly,
on trial for the murder of his wife May
s, 1910, this morning introduced tes-
timony to. show motive. Their first
witness was Homer A. Wallace, who
testified that going to the Skelly home
on Thursday evening, May s. the night
before Mrs. SlSelly was burned, to en-
gage to work for Skelly, he heard loud,
angry tones between Skelly and his
wife.
Wallace stated that as he left the
Skelly home he heard angry talking
and on his return twenty minutes
later he again heard the loud and ap-
parently angry tones. He could dis
tinguiSh no words, as he was thirty
feet from the house.
Other testimony to show motive was
the introduction of various life insur-
ances Policies in the Fraternal
Brotherhood and the Foresters on Mrs
Skelly's life, with Skelly as beneficiary,
the first for $1,000 and the second for
$4,000, were admitted by the defense
without objection, as corresponding
policies on Skelly's life with Mrs
Skelly as beneficiary were shown to
exist, but vigorous arguments were
waged over the introduction of $4,000
policy on Skelly's life in the Occiden-
tai Life Insurance company, with Mrs.
Skelly benefiting. The searching point
in this insurance policy is that there
exists an alternative point that should
Mrs. Skelly die in a burning building,
Skelly was to be the beneficiary.
TESTIMONY ADMITTED
Attorney Williams objected to the
policy being admitted, saying 1t had
nothing to do with the case.
Said the prosecution: "The prosecu-
ton refers to the alternative clause
in this policy, which would be in eff
rnIIr IA,, Ii 70
in a burning building. Had Mrs.
Skelly died in the building and it
burned, Skelly would have profited to
the extent of $4,000"
The jury was excused while the point
was argued. Judge West decided to
admit the policy.
Mrs. E. A. Hare of Westminster made
a strong statement in this afternoons
session that Mrs. Skelly III loud and
distinct tones had told her that Skelly
had thrown gasoline over her, follow
ing up her accusation by saying to
Skelly, Didn't you, Frank?"
Mrs. Hare declared that Skelly made
no reply to this and other questions.
Mrs. Hare also testified to other ac-
cusing expressions of Mrs. Skelly such
as "Oh, Mrs. Hare, Mr.. Skelly has
murdered me-"
Mrs. Hare testified to hearing scuf-
fling and screams before seeing Mrs.
Skeliy run from the house in flames.
She called DR.. Violet by telephone.
Mrs. Hare denied saying to u. S. Lem
on that Mrs. Skelly made crazy state
ments.
Mac Robbins, an insurance man Of
Santa Ana testified that Skelly car
ried $3.50 insurance on the house and
$3.50 on furniture and $500 on out
buildings in the Firemen's Fund COM
pany.
Miss Mary Mcneil, a professional
nurse, testified as to Skeily's burns.
She said he was very sick man on
Saturday afternoon.
J. H. Hoxie, plumber with S. Hill &
Son of Santa Ana, gave expert testi-
mony on gasoline stoves. He testified
that he had been called to see the
Skelly gasoline stove on May 16 and
found it in normal condition. He said
that with the tank off the burners
would burn for about eight minutes
If turned up high.
Mrs. J. F. Patterson, the last wit
ness of the afternoon, repeated the
various accusations made by Mrs.
Skelly against her husband and then
testified that when Mrs Skelly in one
of her anguished accusations said, "Oh,
Frank, why did you throw gasoline on
me?" Skely repdiel, 81 didn't know it
was gasoline"
A. C. Black, contractor, testified that
the Skelly house is worth about $1,000.
The prosecution closed its testimony.