The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-27
Masks Of the Assassins Found
by the Roadside.
WITH HeATh's HANDxsRcn,sF
A Woman Gives Sensational Tessi
mony in the Case at Fresno.
Dsck Heath and the city Atserp.y
Pointed ~ ~ the slayers-Ths Latter
Win Try 60 Prove an Alibi by Nc
Whtrser's Blttsrsss Foe.

FRESNO. Cal, March a6-The talk Of the
town this evening is the testimony of Mrs.
falmer, given at the Heath trial this
morning, duplicating Keel h. Terry, for.
merry attorney for this city. and bitter
enemy of l.. Il. McWhrter. in the murder
oil the latter. Her testimony Was a thun-
deroolt TO the defense. and all hnr those
intimately connected With The prosecu-
tion were almost As much surprised
as the defense. Msny people re-
called general rumor circulated on tae
morning OF the murder that the gang
had hand in II. and they are now exu.t-
ingiy saying, II told you So" A peculiar
part Of this phase of the case is that even
the prosecution itself was unaware Of the
important evidence within reach until last
Friday. Mrs. Palmer was seen by no per-
son connected with the prosecution Till
last Friday, when she herself sent
word TO Mrs. McWhirter TO visit
her at her home in Washington
colony, as she had something OF import
ance IN connection with the Haeth trial TO
impsrt 20 her. Mrs. Planners recollection
of the incidents of that tragic night was
recalled by the accidental finding in rag
bag Thursday Of mask and handkerchief
which she had brought home after saving
them from the flames, and which she had
thrown aside. thinking them Of small inn
portance. a. she supposed the men ste
met near McWhirter's were merely in
cendiaries whose purpose she had foiled.
The scene was astrikingiy dramatic one
as the sick woman, propped up on her
pillows with her nurse at her side, was
sworn. Her presence was surprise. and
the whole court was on the qui vive TO
hear what she had to say. She told how,
after bringing her husband in from Wash
ington colony and leaving him at the depot,
she started for Mrs. Nichols. friend liv.
ing In the northern part of the city,
to spend the night. While going along n
street she passed q buggy in which vera
two men. They nearly collided. and ono
man, whom shc recognized as Reel Terry.
swore at her. After she had driven short
distance in the direction from which tho
men came she noticed . little flame
in the foxtail along the sidewalk.
blaze at that time of the year
would have been dangerous, 90 she
STOPPED her phaeton aud proceeded to
SNesAP cOt Wv aofuSo~ Ah MIG ui0 10 nSl
horse started. She stopped then. and
noticed that 1t was handkerchief burning.
She rolled IL in her hands to put out the
flames. There was with il q cloth, and
the witness exhibited . mask of black
cloth. The handkerchief was of white silk,
and great holes were burned IN il.
But the part that attracted most
attention was a mark in the corner ar.
=. II :" the rest of the word was burnt
out by the flames. Another point noted
was that the black cambria mask was of
the same material exactly as the strings
Of the blue mask. The witness described
the horses and buggy and the men seated
therein.
During her testimony il was noticed
that Heath grew pale and troubled, clutch
ing at a table in front of him. On cross
examination Attorney Foote asked her
ii the other man was Judge Harris,
and witness answered positively. "No. +"
She was certain OF Terry, however.
She stated that she did not tell of these
things before, because she was taken sick
very soon thereafter, and left Fresno, while
the things she had put in her buggy that
night were thrown by her hired man into
gunnysack.
The cross-examination was very rigid
and to some extent brutal, considering the
condition of the woman. Ii Is not be-
lieved she can survive three months, and
this made her testimony all the more inn
pressive. her utterances being the words of
dying woman. Mrs. Palmer came
here fourteen years ago from Michi-
gan as the wife OF DIR. Palmer.
hn kxnnhf n1 a.
Portable house IN Washington colony. She
was his second wife. and much younger
than her husband. She was woman of
good education and refinement. and was
respected by her nsighbors. The doctor
was not prosperous as = farmer, and after
a few years took place in q drug
store in San Francisco. and it was
presumed his final separation from his
wife vas the result of . domestic mis-
understanding. After living alone with
her son for several years she married q
printer by the name Of Roland, of dissoiuse
habits, from whom she has since been di.
vorced. Mrs. Palmer is lady Of nervous
temperament and some ecceniricIties OF
manner. but iadylike and bright and Of
good reputation. It is believed by her
neighbors that she is honest and sincere
in what she has said in connection with
the Heath trial.
A peculiar thing in connection with
Terry's alleged connection with tho mur-
der 10 that Judge Harris. Mcwhirter's bit
tersst enemy. perhaps. claims Terry slept
with him that night and Terry will prob
ably put forw ard this IS IN alibi.
SAN FRAscrsco, March 8 Reel B.
Terry, Who was today accused by Mrs.
Palmer at the Heath trial at Fresno Of
completely in the murder OF Mcwhrtsr.
and who 10 nov an attorney of this city,
furnishes the Associated Press with a
strong denial of the accusation. denounc-
ing il as . part Of an infamous conspiracy
TO blaeken the regulations Of Q number Of
Fresno gentlemen, himself included.
Terry gives circamstantiai statement Of
his doings on the night Of the murder,
saying he took Judge Harris. friend,
home 10 stay with him. and they sisps to-
eesher. He knew nothing OF the murder
until told the NEXT morning BY Detective
Hume. He thinks MrA Palmer de-
msnted.
IL. II. Mcwhirtsr vas Fresno editor. .
Democrat, WHO vas ~ war with the cor
Faps Democratic ring Ia control of the
pArty. and sas murdered as night by his
po!iticai enemles Dick Heath, the actus
murderer. nos on trial. is son of Gen.
Heath, tho California pionser.l