Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-13
THE LATE TRAGEDY.
Testimony CT Eye-Witnesses-Verdics o
the Coroner's Jury.

and proprietor OF the MarysYlile Deh'ocf@e
Mr.. Robinson died a few minutes befor
- o'clock on Wednesday. An inquest wa
held by the Coroner at his Office last even
ing. The remains were at the family resi-
dence and were not viewed by the jury
they waving that privilege. Distric
Attorney Buckley conducted the examln
alton. City Attorney Hart was present :: a
the beginning, but left before the first wit
ness finished making his statement. TIL,
defendant, McWhorter, was present, and
occupied a seat beside his attorney, Senator
Gross.
THE TESTIMONY IN THE CASE.
James O'Brien, of Smartsville, Yubs
county, said he had a limited acquaintance
with the deceased. He had beeI acquaint
ed with Milton McWhorter for about two
years On Tuesday evening Senator Chan
der, New horter and witness were sitting
in front of the State House Hotel. Hac
been talking with McWhorter some twenty
minutes and with Senator Chandler about
ten minutes when Robinson passed up the
street | understood there was some dit
ference between Robinson and McWhor-
ter. Deceased had made some threats
against defendant. Latter spoke to wit
ness about it, and the latter replied
" That all right" About five minutes later
McWhorter pointed him out upon the street
corner, saying, There he is again, and
witness said, q That's all right" Senator
Chandler was reading. McWhorter got up
and stood in front of US on the sidewalk.
Robinson came and stood in the door fac
ing McWhorter Senator Chandler got up
and started into the hotel. Just then wit
ness said TO McWhorter, Let's go in and
get our dinner" and started to get up
Just then Robinson rushed in front of Nc
Whorter, holding up newspaper, and,
pointing to it, said, do you father that
article?" After looking at it q moment
McWhorter replied, II do" Robinson
dropped the paper, caught McWhorter by
the shoulder with his left hand and struck
him with the right. Witness started in
the door when he heard the shot. That
was all the conversation he heard between
them.
In answer to questions by Mr.. Buckley he
said Deceased hauled off and hit Nc
Whorter on the check. | was sitting in
front of the door about six feet distant,
when the tronble began, and had just got
inside the door when the shot was fired.
My first impression was to get between
and separate them, but | was told on last
Sunday that Robinson had threatened my
life. McWhorter was also told; am one
of those who told him, that Robinson had
him. Both men dropped their
hands. There was no motion to draw pis-
tolls until after the blow was struck. Did
not hear Robinson say there is no use to
draw pistol. I had made I'D my mind
to see Robinson and see what he had
against me. When he passed US he looked
very angry, indeed. McWhorter said,
- You see him now, how angry he looks ?''
l did notice ii, but replied, Yes, that's
all right" A man took me in the parlor
the other day and said, :" 1 want to tell you
this is private" He then said
to me, " Robinson has threatened to kill
New horter and wear the ground out with
YOU" He also asked me TO tell McWhorter.
He also told Senator Cross the same thing.
Mr.. Buckley-Who was that gentleman?
Mr. O'Brien-Seth Martin told me.
Witness, continuing, said that when
he told McWhorter the latter replied he
had heard the same thing from others.
Did not know that McWhorter was armed.
The paper Robinson held in his hand was
the Marysville paper which McWhorter
owns and publishes. He is the sole owner
of the paper and has been since it was
started. 1t was started rs a Democratic
paper two years ago, and as a Democrat l
gave 500 toward it. 1t was donation.
Was always social with deceased. | was
told by many men that he was receiving
money from some miners, to allow them
to run Had no personal feeling against
him. Knew that McWhorter was on his
guard; saw that he was nervous, and admit
| was a little nervous myself. | am a
l. To-. !, 4 H. y,e,
to do with hydraulic mining for four years.
He has ., 500 acres of land rented out and
crazes 10000 sheep and 300 head of cattle.
AN Ex-sUPERvIsoR TEsTIFIEs.
&C. Durham, resident OF Smartsville
an ex-Supervisor of Yuba county, but who
now holds position at the State Capitol,
said that about eleven days ago lie met de-
ceased and during their conversation Rob
inson said the next time he saw McWhOrter
he was going to wear him out Oh the
ground. Two or three days afterwards
witness met McWhorter and told him to
look out for Robinson, for he was going
to wear him out on the ground" The
trouble was about some newspaper articles
in which McWhorter said Robinson had
been taking money on both ends of the
route. Witness said he had a social &C
quaintance with Robinson; when they met
they had a social drink together. Witness
was quartz miner. McWhorter had re-
porters desk upon the floor of the Senate.
WHAT A STATE SENATOR SAW.
A. L. Chandler, joint Senator from Yuba
and Suffer counties, said he had a very
slight acquaintance with both deceased and
defendant. The testimony as to time of
day, positions of parties, etc, was corrobor-
alive of that of James 0'Brien After
reading his paper he carried on a
short conversation with O'Brien about irri-
CATION. in which McWhorter participated.
He got up and started in the door to get
his supper Robinson was standing in the
door. He said to me in an ordinary voice,
pointing TO McWhorter, Who is that
man ?" | said, "That is the editor of the
MarysvilIe Democrat, Mr.. McWhorter."
He Immediately started toward Nc
Whorter. | naturally looked around to see
what he wanted. He went up to McWhorter,
pulled cut the paper, held it in his
left hand, pointing to it with his right,
pretty close to McWhorter's face. Could
not hear we'll enough to distinguish what
was said. Saw McWhorter look at it. Saw
Robinson catch McWhorter by the shout
der and strike him on tie cheek with bis
hand. They clinched and scufiied around
and of the sidewalk into the street In the
scuffle they turned and facing toward the
door saw the pistol. Both had hold OF
it. McWhorter said, "Why don't some
one take this man off of me?' l saw the
pistol pointed in my direction and got in
side. Somebody parted them. Afterwards
l saw Robinson draw his pistol and start
toward the edge of the walk. Afterwards
say him lie down; saw blood on him; saw
him taken away in hack. Robinson was
about nv size, about my hight-six feet
and would weigh about 200 pounds. He
was well built, apparently in good condi
ton, and pretty close on TO 80 years of age.
McWhorter was asked by one of the jury
men to stand up. He did so, and said he
weighed lis pounds.
THE ARREsTING OFFICER.
George r. Martin, the arresting officer
said his attention was attracted by thu
shot. He at first thought it was a fire
cracker. He saw the men scutfiing in thu
street. He ran to them, and found both o
them holding pistol. He took it away
from them, and told them to conside
themselves under arrest. Afterwards Me
Whorter started to run, and he called on
TO bvstanders to catch him. He turned t
see what he was running from, and saw
that Robinson had his pistol pointed il
that direction. He grabbed the pisto
away from him, and had turned boil
weapons over to the Chief of Police. HI
took McWhorter to the city prison. Nc
Whorter's pistol was one OF the buli.dot
pattern. Robinson's Smith e. Wesson.
ANOTHER EYEWITNESS.