The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-11
A CLEAR CASE OF MURDER.
Verdict Of the COrener's Jury in the He.
Whirter Case.
Sensation Created by the Testimony Of Physician
Who Examined the Dead Man-Planted
Where lie Would Not Grow.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

FRESNO, Sept. 10.-The McWhirter In
quest was resumed this morning. and occu-
pied the whole day. The testimony elicited.
disposed in the most thorough manner of
the suicide theory, to the great dissatisfac-
tion of those who have all along been so in
dustriously pressing it.
1t was, therefore, no surprise when the
jury. alter ali the testimony was closed, and
after they had visited the premises tor final
inspection. brought in a verdict that
McWbirter had come to his death by a
gunshot wound inflicted by some person or
persons unknown to us"
The verdict was unanimous, but Ii was as
certained that one juror. George H. Ber-
nard, had entertained the suicide theory in
the beginning. He was soon brought to the
view of the Others, however.
The most important testimony of the day
was given by DR.. A. G. Dearborn, j. Z.
Baker editorial writer of the Expositor),
w. j. Tlnnin and S. S. Wright.
Dearborn testified that he was awake
when the shooting began and counted the
shots. There were seven of them. The
last shot was not quite SO distinct as the
others. The witness lives seven blocks
from the scene of the shooting. DR.. Dear
dorff examined McWhirter for life insur-
ance on March 2, IS and % last. At the
last examination McWhirter said that the
campaign was coming on and that he ex-
pected 10 take part in 1t. He said he had
many political enemies, and expected his
life would be attempted, and, in case lie
should be killed, he wanted TO leave his
family in good circumstances. The question
was asked DR.. Dearborn as to whether
MeWhirter had ever given any intimation
OF the source from which he expected the
danger to come. The answer was that he
feared it from the leaders of the. Irequois
Club.
did he mention the names of the leaders
OF the Iroqnois Club?" witness was asked.
"He did"
Whom did he name?"
'Ee named Senator Goucher and R. B.
Terry, and he spoke of Judge Harris as one
of his worst enemies"
"Did he name any one else?"
Yes. He named some as being of less
importance, among them being Senator
Goucher's partner. / think his name is
Jacob"
DR.. Dearborn testified that he had been
familiar with gunshot wounds since 1879.
Ills opinion was asked as to whether ii
were possible Tor l.. B. McWhirter to have
held pistol In his own hand, either right
or left, and have discharged 1t in such man
ner and direction es to have given the
bullet the course it took through Nc
Winters body. The witness tried with a
pistol, pointing it at his own heart in the
direction in which the fatal shot had been
fired, and said that he (the witness) could
not do it, and he did not think any man
living could. DR.. Dearborn was asked as
To his opinion OF the powder burns on the
clothing of the dead man and as to the
distance the pistol was from him when IL
was fired. He said it was from two to four
feet. Had it been nearer unburned grains
OF powder would have entered the wound,
which they did not do. The clothes were
stained with smoke. but were not powder
burned.