The morning call., 1892-09-09
Morts to Prove McWhirter's Death a
Case Of Suicide.
NOTHING DEVELOPED AT TIE INQUEST.
The Strangely Unusual Proceedings Likened to Tri.
bunal for Trying Absent Men During the
French Revolution.
Special TO THE MORNING CALL

FRESNO. Sept. S.-The New hirter inquest
has been the absorbing topic here to-day.
The courtroom was crowded all the after
noon, and at one time it looked rs though
startling DEVELOPMENTS were at haDd, but
they always failed TO materialiZe.
Ex-C0ngressman James Budd of Stock
ton Is in attendance, and watches every
thing that is done, every turn in the evil
dence, and examines everything brought
forward, but he never speaks word, and it
is not known why he is here or whose in
terests he is looking after.
Crittenden Thornton of San Francisco Is
here representing Mrs. McWhirter He
watched closely all that took place, but
said very little about il, and seldom spoke
till late this afternoon. when he suddenly
took up the fight against what he termed
an effort on the part of the county officials.
and especially the Deputy District Attor-
ney, Ii. III. Welch, to prove that McWhirter
committed suicide.
A warm exchange of words took place
between Thornton and Welsh during the
examination OF A. Warnekros, gunsmith.
Warnekros had repeatedly stated that the
pistol with which McWhrter was shot had
not been bought at his store, but Welsh
continued to press him. At this point
Deputy District Attorney Welsh said IF
1t is your purpose to prove shat both pistols
found on the ground belonged to McWhirter
put me on the stand. l can tell you some
thing you don't know. II this is what you
are driving at we can assist you"
Welsh replied angrily: "We want all the
light we can get. Ii you know anything we
want it, and we will put you on the stand"
Thornton replied with sarcastic sneer:
"You will have light TO your hearts con-
tent or perhaps your hearts discomfort
before this affair is finished. We will Tell
you that McWhirter had two pistols, but
that the one dropped by the assassin was
not one Of them.'"
II. c. Tupper. who is assisting Welsh,
spraDg up and said: This is an iusinua-
tion against my integrity, and we will not
allow IL"
Thornton responded that he could not
control the inquest and Welsh said, an
grily: Nobody is trying to control it. We
want the truth"
The excitement Ia the courtroom ran high.
Thornton replied that the truth would come
In que course of time.
Thereupon Welsh turned to Thornton ard
said: "If you know anything that will tend
to throw light on this affair we will give you
a chance TO tell 1t. We will put you on the
stand"
Finally matters cooled down, and the tes-
timony was again resumed. Surprise was
expressed on all sides that in the face of all
the evidence such an effort should be
made TO prove that McWhirter came TO his
death by suicide. Not one particle of evil
dence to su5stantiate this was brought out,
but every witness was cross-qnestoned by
Mr.. Wilson 10 bring out something to Offset
the direct testimony pointing TO assassina-
ton.
fed positively that tracks had been followed
leading from the scene of the murder, Mr..
Welsh asked If the tracks might net have
been made by some one else. But the hard
est blow on the suicide theory was given
later in the evening. One line of the evil
dence was shattered in an instance Sheriff
Hensley testified that he found saw In the
wOodhouse, with sawdust in the teeth, sew
eral days after. Questions were asked to
show that this saw had been used by Nc
Whirter in cutting the clubs and some of
the dust was introduced as evidence.
When all this was told, Thornton asked
the Witness: Don't you know that this
saw was used after McWhirter's death by
Lee Blassingame. McWhirter's brothsr-in-
law?"
The witness answered that he knew 1t
had been. Then Thornton continued:
why did you not say so in your testimony
and not leave it to be inferred that it was
otherwise. and that the saw had something
TO do in the case?"
Here Deputy District Attorney Welsh
sprang up ana said: This is reflection
on the officers Of this county, and don't
propose to stand II. We will not allow It,"
Again, two pieces Of Usage orange were
introduced, and the jury was left in the
dark as to where they came from. But 1t
was shown that James A. Ward. a deputy
constable. had cut them himself at the dusk
of the evening and had carried them to the
Sheriff.
The comment on the streets and every
where except among very few this even
ing is that there Is deep-aid scheme TO
have the assassination appear as suicide.
The common remark is that no such inquest
was ever seen before. 1t is compared TO
the tribunal trying absent men during the
French Revolution.
1t is limited so openly that it has almost
become an accusation that those who are
pushing the suicide theory so hard have
other reasons, besides desire for the truth,
to urge them on. 1t would perhaps be an
injustice to say that those who are cham
pioning the suicide theory do not believe it
themselves, but it is but repeating the voice
of public sentiment here to say that grave
doubts exist as to the honesty of some OF
them.