The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-06
FRED WICHERO' THREATS.
Some Testimony Heard in the Walnut
Grove Scandal.
Charge That the Prosecution Was to
Help Out Divorce Case
Wichers' Character.


The examination of Frederick Wichers
the well-known butcher OF Walnut
Grove, who is charged by his wife with
having threatened her life, took place
yesterday before Justice of the Peace
Henry.
The Wichers are very well-known in
the community in which they reside,
and their troubles have kept the people
down there agog for some time. Besides
the score or more Of witnesses that came
up from Walnut Grove to testify in the
case, there was a still larger influx OF
persons who simply wanted to hear what
was going on through curiosity. The re-
suit was the courtroom was crowded all
day, which, added to the sultriness, made
the room decidedly uncomfortable.
Wichers was represented by Major w.
a. Gett, while Deputy District Attorney
Buckley appeared for Mrs. Wichers. The
latter had employed Grove L. Johnson to
assist in the prosecution Of her husband
out that gentleman was out OF the city.
THE wIFE's STORY.
Mrs. Affie Wichers, the complaining
wife, was the first witness. She said she
lived at Walnut Grove. On the Fourth
Of July last she went into the house to
tell him about neighbor who had been
hurt, when he turned upon her, drew a
your - head OPP She turned and
ran out of the house and he chased her,
but she escaped.
The witness declared at first that she
did not know that her husband was
angry at her. or what it was about. Rigid
tfya,,t
brought out the fact that some time be-
fore the threats, Wichers had driven up
the road in his team and did not return
as soon as his wife thought he should.
She started after him then, and found
the team moored to a wayside saloon.
She took charge of the team and drove it
home. Wlchers saw what she did, she
said, but did not appear to be angry at
her. She was quite sure that she did not
get angry herself On the way home the
team ran away and injured a lady neigh
Dor Of hers. 1t was when she went to
tell her husband about this accident that
he drew the pistol on her.
THE ARREST.
Attorney Gett tried to get the witness
20 tell what her husband was angry about
when he threatened TO shoot her, but she
insisted that she did not know. She said,
however, that he looked ''vicious" and
murderous," and must have been mad
1t was nine days after the alleged threats
when she saw her lawyer and had Vic b.
ers arrested. After the 9Th of July she
lived and slept in the same house with
her husband, and ate at the same table
with him and their children. Divorce
papers were served on him the same day
that he was arrested.
In answer to some more questions from
Judge buckley, the complainant said that
since Wichers' arrest she had received a
at H. H., A..
ened to kill her. This letter was in the
hands of Grove L. Johnson, however.
and could not be produced in court, that
gentlemen being out of the city. She
explained that she did not have her hus-
band arrested right away because she in
tended to leave him and drop the matter
aIUerWard. However, she came TO the con-
clusion that he intended to carry out his
threats; then she had him arrested snd
commenced proceedings for divorce.
HAD A PISTOL.
Mrs. j. r. hercheval, who resides
across the river from Walnut Grove, was
with Mrs. Wichers when she went into
the house to tell her husband about the
accident. Mrs. Wichers came running
out, crying He's going to shoot mel''
Then the witness saw Mr.. Wichers at the
front door with pistol in his hand He
looked quite angry at the time and said
something about his wife having insulted
him.
Lee Hing Wan, Chinese doctor of
Walnut Grove, was at the Wichers' house
when the alleged Fourth of July rumpus
took place. He heard "some talkee,"
but didn't know what's malta" He
saw no pistol. Wichers had gone to get
some meat, and when he returned he was
excited.
William Fitzgerald saw Mrs. Wichers
run out of her house and saw her hus-
hon fol lrA,.r Il, l.
with a pistol in his hand. Wichers
stopped at the door and said g. -
you, Ill shoot you'll" The witness was
outside OF the house at the time. The
witness insisted that he felt quite friendly
toward Wichers, but right after the latter
had chased his wife with the pistol, the
witness said to Louis KercheVal that
Wichers should be hanged.
WOULD HAVE HANGED HIM.
ibid you feel like hanging hun ?"
asked Major Gett.
~ s, at that time. I'd have hung him
d quick. replied the witness.
The court admonished the witness to
be careful about his language and he
promised he would.
did yousthink that was a good way to
regulate things down there?" asked the
Major.
Eyes, pretty good way" replied Fitz-
gerald.
"And you feel very friendly toward
Wichers ?''
''Oh, yes" The witness denied that he
was organizing any Ku-Klux movement
at W alnut Grove.
James l.. Kercheval went into the
Wichers house after the rumpus, and
heard Wichers say to Mrs. Kelly that
he would fix her." He had a talk with
Wichers subsequently. and the latter
spoke very disparagingly OF his wife.
A. a. McColloch was called to the wit
ness stand and asked regarding some
alleged threats made by Wichers against
his wife in February last.
THE MAJOR WARNS Up.
This elected warm speech from Major
Gctt. He said he objected strongly to the
course matters We're taking. He then
produced copy of the divorce complaint
filed in the Superior Court by Mrs. Wich-
ers, and showed that in it Wichers was
charged with threatening his wifein Feb
ruary. The complaint in which Wichers
was now on trial charged that he threat
ened his wife in July last. The Major
then declared that the prosecution was
trying TO ring in" testimony in this
case to be used in the divorce trial. The
court was being imposed upon.
Judge Henry said he could not take iu-
dicial notice of the divorce case, as there
was no evidence about it, He said
though, that the defense could put in evil
oence about IL to show the motive for the