As reported in the Riverside Enterprise – Sunday, October 18, 1936
John McNeill, Temecula blacksmith and deputy constable, charged with beating his wife to death in their Temecula home last August, begins a fight for his life as he goes to trial in the superior court there Tuesday.
McNeill has pleaded not guilty to the murder indictment returned by the county grand jury and filed a separate plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. He has indicted he will claim self-defense, alleging his wife attempted to shoot him and he struck her to disarm her.
Redwine to Prosecute
Dist. Atty. Earl Redwine will be in charge of the prosecution and Attorneys John Neblett and Russell Waite of Riverside, appointed by the court, will be the defense counsel. Both have summoned long lists of witnesses.
Mrs. McNeill was beaten to death by someone using rollers from a washing machine ringer.
McNeill surrendered to officers soon afterward. Authorities announced later he had made a partial confession of the crime but could not remember dealing blows that caused the death. He also told the officers at that time his wife attempted to shoot him with his own gun and he was compelled to defend himself.
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