Witness after witness took the stand yesterday at the inquest into the death of Harry Lucenay, and under the insistent prodding of Deputy Coroner Frank Monfort, unfolded the dramatic details leading to the fatal shooting in the Hollywood Legion clubhouse last Sunday morning.
The jury found Lucenay, Hollywood actor, came to his death from a gunshot wound in the heart, decided the fatality to be a homicide, and recommended that Charles Z. Bailey, who wielded the gun, be held to answer.
George Heffron, film actor of 1525 N. Van Ness Ave., who was slightly injured in the melee in the clubroom at 2035 N. Highland Ave., testified that an argument arose over a poker game and that Lucenay accused Bailey of cheating and called him vile names.
Led Out of Room
"Lucenay had been led out of the room once, and then he returned and called Bailey more names. As he approached the older man, I saw Bailey pull a gun. I threw out my arm to knock the gun from his hand and was grazed by one of the shots," Heffron testified.
Charles Cannefax Jr. of 2255 Cheremoya Ave. said that he had been a participant in the poker game. He declared that Lucenay became abusive after Bailey won a hand and accused the latter of cheating.
He said he led Lucenay out of the card room and tried to convince him that Bailey had not been cheating.
"Lucenay, however, came back into the room, cursing Bailey and threatening to have him banned from the club. He approached Bailey in a belligerent manner and then the old man shot," he declared.
Bailey's Arm Twisted
Another witness, Harry Michael of 6350 Franklin Ave., gave approximately the same story, but added that earlier Lucenay had grabbed Bailey by the arm and twisted it, and that apparently the latter was in fear of his aggressor.
One other fact was brought out by Police Officer W. D. Barkley, who said he had heard that Lucenay had engaged in a fight with an unidentified man earlier in the evening.
Lucenay, 57, lived at 5329 La Mirada Ave., and was a former wrestler and the owner and trainer of Pete, famous circle-eyed bulldog of "Our Gang" comedies.
Arraigned before Municipal Judge Byron Walters, Bailey's preliminary hearing was set for June 7.