The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-20
CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE.
Fred Wichers Tells Why He Brand
ished Pistol.
He Denies That He Intended to XIII
His Wife-Alore of the Walnut
Grove Scandal.

The examination of Fred Wichers,
charged with threatening to kill his wife,
was resumed before Justice of the Peace
Henry yesterday.
The WicherS are well-knOwn residents
of Walnut Grove and their differences
have kept the little village agog for some
time. The case was partially heard two
weeks ago, and the testimony was given
fully in the RECORD UNIoN at the time.
Charles e. Kelly, Notary Public of
San Francisco was placed on the witness
stand yesterday by the prosecution. He
said he was at Wichers' house on last
Fourth of July when Wichers is alleged to
have threatened to shoot his wife, He
was sitting in the parlor when Mrs.
Wichers ran through the hall and out the
! front door, saying, as she ran. He's
going to shoot me-" WicherS came along
| atterward and had a pistol in his hand.
| lie was greatly excited and said some
thing about "dXing'' his wife. He also
shook his finger at Mrs. Louis kercheval,
! saying, you are partly the cause OF this
trouble.n
Major Gett, who represents Wichers,
! wanted another poStponement of the case
when Mr.. Kelly had finished, yet he de-
]
! quibbling between him, Deputy District
! Attorney Buckley and the court over ,he
matter, the latter two opposing the
! Ma Or'S proposition.
| Attorney Gett finally made a confess
| sion. He said he wanted the case to go
| over because divorce suit commenced
! by Mrs. WicherS was about to be called
| up in the superior Court on demurrer;
| that Mrs. WicherS, through her attorney,
! Hiram Johnson, had offered to dismiss
! the charge of threats against life ii the
! husband would consent to a divorce; that
| he (Gett wanted Wicners TO accept, but
! the latter would not do so, claiming that
! he had done nothing wrong TO warrant
! divorce proceedings. The attorney hoped,
! though, that with 4 little delay the matter
| would be Strengthened out, much scandal
| would be avoided and the names OF the
three Little WicherS children would not
| be besmirched.
There was quite debate over the mat
! ter, but Judge Henry said he could take
ordered the present case to proceed TO u
| conclusion.
Wichers was then placed on the wit
ness-stand. He is a nervous and eXCiJ-
able little man, and it was evident from
his manner that he loves his wife, is M
sanely jealous OF her, and does nor want
/ 10 give her and the children up. He de-
MED that he had threatened 10 kill her
and said he would not do so for the
world. She had Inundated him on the
Fourth OF July before their neighbors
and he felt so bad that he made up
his mind to kill himself. That was how
he came TO have the pistol in his hand.
/ His wife, on seeing the weapon, screamed
and ran out of the house. He followed
! her and declared that he would fix him.
self" He would have done so, he said.
! had not Mir. Kelly pacitied him.
! The attorneys submitted the case with
out argument, and Judge Henry took it
/ under advisement.
| The divorce proceedings We're called up
! in Judge Catlin's court yesterday after
noon. Mrs. Nichers' complaint was
read, alleging Xtreme cruelty including
the threats for which he was arrested and
asking for$ $50 month aIimony for the Gus
| toby of the three minor children, for costs
OF suit and attorneys fees. The defend
ants demurrer to the complaint, setting
forth that the document did not set forth
sufficient facts to constitute a cause of
action, was overruled. The defendant
was given fifteen days to answer. Attor-
ney William Sims appeared for Mrs.
! WicherS.