The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-09
HIDING THE ASSASSIN.
Trying to Prove That Politician
McWhirter Killed Himself.
SENSATION At THE INQUEST.
The Widow whispers the Name OF .
Man Her Husband Feared-Con-
spirators Beaten Thns Far.

FRESNO, Cal, Sept s.-The cDroner's inquest
on the body of Louis McWhirter, who was shot
and killed in his own yard about two weeks
ago by unknown persons, commenced today,
and is the absorbing topic here. number of
witnesses yesterday testified n finding Nc
Whittier MORALLY wounded after he had been
called out OF his house. The gaost important
testimony was that of Mrs. scWhirter. She
said that her husband had told her that he had
observed a certain person, one OF his enemies.
following him one night. When asked whether
McWhirter had told her the lame of the man
who had followed him, she answered "Yes,"
and whispered his name into the ear OF the Of
cial court reporter.
The court loom today was crowded and at
times it looked as though new developments
were ut hand, but they always failed to material
ize James Budd, Of Stock ton, IL in attendance,
He watches the proceedings closely and exam
ines everything brought forward, but it is not
known whose interests he is looking after. Crit
tenden Thornton, of San Francisco, is repre-
senting Mrs. McWhirter. He watched closely
all that took place. but said very little until late
this afternoon, when he suddenly took up a
fight against what he termed as effort on the
part of the county officials, ana especially Dep
uty District Attorney Welk1r, to prove
that McWhirter committed suicide. A
warning exchange OF worts took place
between Thornton and Welsh during
gunsmith. Warnekros had repeatedly
stated that the pistol with wl8ch McWhirter
was shot had not been bought az his store, but
Welsh continued to press him, and Thornton,
turning to Welsh, said: "If it is Sour purpose to
prove that both pistols found on the ground
belonged to McWhirter, put me On the stand. /
can tell you something you done know. If this
is what you are driving at. we casl assist you"
Welsh replied angrily: "We want all the light
we can get If you know anything We want it
and we will put you on the stand"
Thornton replied: "You shalt have light to
your hearts content or perhaps your hearts dis
content before this affair is finished. We will
tell you that McWhirter had two pistols, but
that the one dropped by tho assassin was not
one of Them
II. c. Upper, who is assisting Welsh. said:
"This is an insinuation against our integrity,
and we will not allow it."
Thornton responded that he could not control
the inquest ana Welsh said angrily: "Nobody
is trying to control it, We want the truth"
The excitement in the court roorn ran high for
awhile.
There is much public comment here upon an
apparent effort to establish suicide theory, and
1t 10 the general impression that the facts far
elected at the inquest do not tend to establish
that theory. The principal testimony produced
today was that of several persons who heard
the shooting at the time McWhister was killed.
They stated that they heard six or seven shots
fred, and they ran to McWbirter's yard, where
they found McWhirter's body, with pistol
lying beside it They testified 20 seeing boxes
under the window by standing upon which
person could into the rooms, and they told
of tracks on the ground leading away from the
scene of the shooting