SECOND DAY.
The morning dawned serenely upon a large concourse of people, standing before the prison and in front of the California Exchange—the place selected for a jury room.
The jury met a few minutes past 8 A. M., and Mr. Boyden was sent for, and the examination of witnesses resumed.
Mr. B., (sworn)—I have known Keene from childhood; know his parents and relatives; met Keene yesterday on the street; did not know him at first sight, until he spoke to me; told me that he was looking for a gentleman in town, who had, as an act of kindness taken up some claims for him; was walking up street with me; then stopped to shake hands with a man named Kelly, who was sitting on some logs in the street; when we left him. Keene walked faster than I did, and was a few steps ahead of me; when in front of Greer’s saloon, I saw a man sitting in the door, (Greer’s;) did not see Keene draw his revolver, but saw the first shot fired, and heard Keene say, “You ——, you have ruined me in Salt Lake City.” This was said after the shooting. Do not think Slater saw Keene at all. Slater was sitting down; I was about five feet from both men; John Keene was about ten feet from Slater.
Q.—Was Kelly with you at that time?
A.—No; Kelly never left the place where he shook hands with Keene.
Q.—Do you know anything about his character?
A.—I have known him for about ten years; he left Saint Paul about eighteen months ago; know nothing about his course or conduct since that time; he was considered a fast young man, but good and kind-hearted; when I conversed with him yesterday, he spoke about a man that had ruined him in Salt Lake City, but he did not mention any names; I did not know anything of the particulars of his (prisoner’s) former difficulties with Slater; never saw Slater and Keene together.
Michael McGregor, (sworn)—I saw Keene in the afternoon; he came to me in the flat, (a point in the lower part of the gulch;) shook hands with me, and then left for town; did not know of the difficulty between Slater and Keene; Keene never spoke to me about it.
D. St. John, (sworn)—Don’t know anything about the shooting affair; was fifteen miles from here when it took place. [The witness here gave some testimony not bearing directly on the case, which was not admitted.]