Abbey

On or about January 30, 1932', James N. Crofton received a letter reading as follows:

Both the letter and its envelope were written with printed letters. About 9 o’clock on the evening of February 2, 1932, Crofton received a telephone call from a man who said he was Houston, asking if he received “my letter” and “what are you going to do about it?” Upon being told that he was not going to do anything the man replied, “Well, you better do something because if you don’t we are going to fix you up.” After a little discussion Crofton agreed to meet the man at 10 o’clock that night in the depot in San Diego, the man stating that he could be recognized by certain wearing apparel. Crofton went to the depot at 10 o’clock and by arrangement a number of his friends, including a deputy sheriff of San Diego County and the San Diego fire chief, were also in the room. Shortly after Crofton arrived, the appellant entered the waiting-room of the depot, dressed as the man had said over the telephone he would be dressed. The appellant asked Crofton, “Did you bring it with you?” Crofton testified that as they sat down to talk the appellant jabbed him with something which he had in his coat pocket…