The record-union., 1892-08-30
Prominent Lawyer and Politician
of Fresno AssasSinated.
CALLED FROM HIS BED AND SHOT
DOWN.
No Clew as to Who Committed the
Foul Crime, Though 1t is Believed
His Death is the Result of Political
Animosities He Had Aroused-Largo
Reward offered for the Capture Of
the Assassin,
Special to the REcoRp-UN1oS.

FRESNO, Aug. %. = Louis B. Nc
Whirter, prominent citizen, was as
| sassinated at the rear of his premises at
3 o'clock this morning.
| McWhirter heard q noise about the
house and stated to his wife that he
would go out into the yard and learn the
cause. He armed himself with revolver
and left the house by the front door.
Going to the backyard on the path at the
south side of the house, he must have
seen men and an exchange of shots took
place, McWhirter falling in the path NOR
tally wounded.
From an investigation of the premises,
and the revolver of McWhirter and that
of the assassin, it appears that six shots
were fired, three by each. Three bullets
entered the fence, two i'll an outhouse and
one lodged in McWhirter's heart Tive
of the bullets in the fence and one in the
cornice of the outhouse were probably
fired by cWhirter, the rest by the as
sassins.
1t is supposed there were two of the
latter, because two clubs were found on
the ground, also the revolver mentioned
and mask of red flannel
After the shots were fired McWhirter's
wife ran out into the yard and aroused
the neighborhOod with screams He died
i'll very few minutes after he was shot,
and did not regain consciousness.
y number Of people believe that burg
lars did the deed, but a majority are of
the opinion that the tragedy is the cul-
mlnatiOn OF the political turmoil in this
| county.
There are two factions in the Demo-
| cratic party here, one OF which was led
: by McWhirter. He was very outspoken
i'll his arrangement OF some methods of
! the faction. Only about three months
! ago he had his life heavily insured for
about $4,000, and stated frequently that
he believed his political enemies would
not hesitate to have him put out of the
way. He went armed, but said he did
not expect to be attacked openly.
! McW hirter was born in kentucky, but
| spent most Of his lite in Tennessee He
comes of an excellent family, and took
! prominent part in politics in Tennessee.
! He was at one time a member of the Leg
islature there. He came to Fresno some
six or seven years ago, and at once took
! a prominent position on account of his
talents. He, in company with others,
started daily paper, the Democrat, III
! this city four years ago, but later it sus-
! pended. McWhirter was editor and al
ways expressed his opinion freely.
! He leaves a wife and child.
BURGLARY THEORY DISPOSED OF.
| FRESNO, Aug. 29.-Closer inquiry into
| the circumstances surrounding the death
! of l.. b. McWhirter dispose completely
| OF the burglar theory. Unless good
| proof can be shown that he has a deadly
! private enemy, the conclusion is inevi-
| table that his death was the result of
! political animosities he had aroused.
The preparations for the crime were
! made in the most bold and careless man
ner There is no doubt that there were
I two asSaSsirS. They made as much
I noise as possible without rousing tire
! whole neighborhood. To attract the at
! tenton OF the inmates Of the house they
knocked out two big board fence rails
| with a hammer, and, Judging from
marks, must have hit some hard blows.
clothes line tied around it, in order to
better fasten it. a nail was driven
through the line into the wood.
| Two pistols were found, both Colts, Al
| caliber. One was improved and belonged
! to McWhirter, the other an old style and
! belonged to the assassin. The latter had
| the number scratched out.
| McWhirters life was insured for
| 100000, nearly all in his wife's name.
affair, and every attempt is being made
TO apprehend the murderers.
| Citizens met this afternoon and con-
tributed $4,000, to be paid for the arrest
and conviction Of the assaSsins Of Nc
| Whirter. There was a rumer that there
was man arrested this evening with a
wound in his hand. This was denied at
the Sheriffs Office. The feeling is very
high here, and if the assassins are caught
it is possible an attempt to lynch them
would be made.
A number of persons who were in
cautious enough to exult at Now hirter'S
death are being closely watched.