The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-12
THAT FRESNO MYSTERY.
Senator GOucher's Relations
With New hirter.
THEY WERE FRIENDS ONCE.
But We're not Oh Good Terms Latterly-Their
Differences Are Attributed Solely to
Dead Political Issues.

Yesterday THE CALLS telegrRphic dis
patches from Fresno, giving the termina-
ton Of the inquest over the remains Of u.
3. McWhrter, contained reference TO
several gentlemen seriously duplicating
them as enemies of the dead man.
DR.. Dearborn was asked on the stand
whether McWhirter had ever given any in
timation Of the source from which he eX-
pected danger to come.
The answer was that be feared Ii from
the leaders Of the Ir0quois Club.
Did he mention the names Of the leaders
Of the IroQuois Club?" witness was asked.
'He did"
"Whom did he name?"
HE named Senator Goucher and R. B.
Terry, and he spoke Of Judge Harris as one
Of his worst enemies"
did be name any one else ?"
Yes. He named some as being of less
Importance, among them being Senator
Goucher's partner. / think his name is
Jacobs"
Yesterday Senator Goucher arrived In
town from Fresno and was seen by CALL
reporter.
The Senator said: Although l was not
present al the inquest at the time of DR..
DeaTdorff's testimony believe The CALLS
report IS substantially correct.
"McWhirter, no doubt, mentioned the
Iroouois Club and its leaders to DR.. Dear
dorh as objects Of fear, but the fear must
have been purely political in character.
Personally l had no gTudge or anim0sity
against him. and UP TO within about year
was on friendly terms with him.
IN May Of last year we fell out politi-
cally.
Charges Of Irregularities had been
brought against I. A. Bell, the County Re-
eOrder, and McWhrter favored resolutions
before the central committee condemning
Bell.
Il sided with the majority of the commit
tee against McWhirter in the opin on that
The matter should be investigated by the
courts before Bell was condemned.
Il may mention that the Grand Jury
sfterward investigated the charges and
failed to find an indictment.
"McNhirter seemed TO take my opposi-
ton as personal affrOnf, and his sense or
injury appeared intensified when similar
resolutions were introduced before the
IIOQuOis CLUB and the action Of the central
committee Was sustained.
The matter was debated upon; McWhir-
ter, Judge Harris, E. d. Edwards and | all
expressing our opinions freely. Reel b.
Terry, another gentleman mentioned in
The CALL dispatch, was present. but did
not speak.
After that McWhirter never attended
any meetings of the club.
gates TO the State convention, at least be
held proxy and l was delegate-but we
did not continue on intimate terms.
There was no feud or personal luminosity
between McWbiTter and myself, and |
never had dispute or quarrel with him in
my life.
I'VE differed on local issues only, and
since the contest for delegates to the county
convention all local issues have been
dead.
II was not at Fresno at the time of Ne
WhiTter's death, which occurred on the
29th Of July, having left on the sd of that
month for q weeks hunting trip to Hum
bolt County, and only returned 10 San
Francisco on the 18th and to Fresno on the
9th of September.
People in Fresno are about equally
divided between the murder and suicide
theories
PERSONALLY have no theory to offer, but
l am thoroughly convinced that McWhirter
had no reason to fear for his life for any
political reason and that no feeling engen-
dered by any political difficulties caused
the tragedy.
He may have had enemies on other
accounts, but as one who worked, as il were
in the same field with him l feel positive
that there WAS no menacing political enmity
before him.
in conclusion l may say that know all
the men named By Dearborn would 90 as
far as any one to ascertain the solution of
the mystery and clear away what we con-
slider is stigma upon the entire Fresno
community"
Senator Goucher is up on brief business
visit and returns to Fresno tomorrow
evening.