Los Angeles Herald, Volume 29, Number 62, 3 December 1887 — HELD TO ANSWER [ARTICLE]

HELD TO ANSWER

For Trying to Kill His Three Year Old Son.

GEORGE WESTFALL'S CRIME.

Preliminary Examination Before Justice Austin — His Bail Fixed at $2,500

George Wostfall was yesterday taken beforo Justice Austin to answer a charge of assault to murder Willie Westfall,h : slittle three-year-old child. 8. E. Mason defended the prisoner, who is an old gray headed man, and sat dejectedly in his chair during the examin .tion, expressing no interest in the proceedings. J.J.Caldwell testified: "1 reside at the reservoir and work for the Los Angeles Bottle Factory. On November 20th I saw him with a child on his shoulders, and he went off tho railroad track into the hushes. He returned without the child. I hollowed to him aud asked what he had done with the child. Ho said, "I have thrown it down in the bushes.' I asked him Where he lived, aud ho said three miles up the river. Ho did not come back, and I went up the trail to the man-hole near the tunnol, and there found tho child lying ou its face appearing to be dead. 1 saw two men on the railroad track, and asked them to stand by tho child while I wen! for a policeman. I went down the railroad track and met a mm named Mr. Vantress, aid then on to the depot and notified the police. I went back and met the parties coming back with the child. Ventres* took the child to his house and sent for two doctors. I saw West fall on tho bridge over the Los Angeles river when I first saw him. He started to ruu after he got away from me down tbe track. Blood was flowing from the child's face. I went with Vantress to his house with the child. Cross-examined: —l have spoken tho truth and everything I have testified to I saw. I was about seventyfive ieet from Westfall when I saw him with the child on his shoulder.

B. F. VANTRESS Testified:—l live on Tiuena Vista street. On November 20th I went to the tunnel that afternoon because a gentleman came and told mo there was a little hoy lying in tho tunnel. I went there and found the little boy; blood was oozing out of his ear. I saw ho was alive and picked him up and carried him to my house and sent for a doctor. He had two bruises on the side of the head near the ear. He was quite still. His clothes v. re of a grey color and his hat was v little brown hat. I saw VVestfall go.iig up the track with the little child. I should think the child was between 2 and 3 years old. It was about three quarters of an hour after I went up and found tho child. I wont to look for VVestfall and found him at the .Missouri House washing dishes, I asked him what he had done with the child, and he said ho had loft it at his sisters. 1 arrested him and told him he had to go with me. He s id nothing else. (Witness hoe pointed out the bridge, tunnel, etc ,on a diagram that he had preEared.) I brought the child from my 00*0 to the police station. Cross-examined: lam Deputy Zanjero. (Witness here identified the man Westfall as the man he-saw carrying the child and whom he arrested.) He was excited at the Missouri House.

W. V. LEVERRK

Testified: I am a police officer, and f reside in this city. 1 brought Westfall from the house of Vantress to the police station. I had information of the occurrence by the telephone. I arrested him and brought him to the Eolice station. He told me that it was is little boy, and said he was not dead. He did not confess to me that he had injured the child. Cross-examined —He told mo that it was bis boy. [Witness identified Westfall as the"man he arrested.] He did not apiiear excited when I arrested him.

FSAIK OAKLEY Testified: lam a reporter. I saw Westfall on tho day he was arrested. I saw him brought into the police station. He made a confession to me. I did not offer any inducements to him to confess. I simply asked to tell mo the facts. There was an officer there at the time he confessed to me. I wrote it down as he spoke. It was as follows: "If I must tell you the truth, I made up my mind that I was going to take the hoy out on the railroad. Mv intention was to put the child out "of the way. I meant to kill it, that is wlu.t I meant." He told me it was his son. Ho told me that the child was sickly. He worked at the Missouri House for Sfl2 or $10 per month and could not afford to support him. Tho people, at 'tho hou-e found fault about the child making dirt about the house. Cross-examined—He looked like an imbecile, but. his conversation did not load to that belief.

CAPT. FLETCHER. lam Captain of the police in this city. I heard the conversation and confession of Westfall. I did n< t speak a word. I stood behind the reporter. The reporter askod him to tell all about it. I did not hear Oakley say it would be better for him to confess. I heard Westfall say that ho tcok him up the railroad track to kill him. He spoke very low. I also heard Westfall say that he could not afford to support his children. Oakley recalled, stated that Westfall told him he struck the boy with a piece of scantling and then threw him in the tunnel.

FREn. 0. SMITH

testified. Westfall made a confession to me without any inducement. I asked him why he wanted to kill the child. He said he.couldn't support it, and it was always in the way. He picked up a stick, hit the child over the head and threw it into the tunnel. He did not tell me the child's name. Cross-examined. He did not appear excited. He talkod quite rationally. This formed the case for the people. O. B. Willson offered no defenco and His Honor hold Westfall U answer the Charge and fixed his bail iv the sum of $2,50:1.