The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-31
DR.. j. E. PLoUF SHOT DOWN IN
COLD BLOOD BY j. D. L.
MCGAUGHEY.
END OF AN OLD QUARREL
HIS AssArLANT A DISCHARGED EN-
PLOYE - A SCENE OF
EXCITEMENT.

While Market street was CROWDED WIN
pedestrians yesterday afternoon DR.. J. E.
Plouf OF room q, Phelan building, was
fatally shot by J. D. L. McGaughey in
front of the Columbian building
Dr. Plouf left his office about quarter
past o'clock, accompanied by r. B. Muir
doch, banker from Orland, Colusa
County. They were walking westward,
and as they reached the Columbian build
ing McGaughey was standing in the en-
trance with notebook in his hand.
DR.. Plouf motioned with his cane to Nc
Gaughey and Murdoch stepped aside.
Angry words passed between the two men
and the doctor knocked McGaughey down
and struck him with his cane, breaking it
in two.
McGaughey rose to his feet and they
clinched. McGaughey reached back and
pulled a re7oIver nom mis- pocket and fired
two shots in rapid succession into the doc
tor, who released his hold and staggered
back against the railing at the entrance TO
Beamish's store. "You have got two into
me- said the doctor, as he leaned against
the railing, land that's enough, as l am
not armed"
McGaughey rushed at him again, placed
wounded mans abdomen, and fired two
more shots into him.
The crowd scattered when the shots
were fired and the widest excitement
reigned. Women shrieked and men rushed
to the middle of the street, but others,
after getting ever their momentary fear,
closed in upon McGaughey. Detective
Handley vas within 4 few yards of the
scene of the shooting, and on wheeling
round saw the smoking revolver in Nc
Gaughey's hand. He was among the first
to grab hold OF McGaughey, who said: II
want to give myself up. Where's an Off
cer?''
II am an officer" said Handley.
WELL said McGaughey, "IlI surren-
der myself to YOU"
Handley took him into the main en-
trance of the Columbian building TO get
away from the crowd and got an officer to
ring for the patrol wagon. He was taken
to the City Prison, but was not charged,
pending the result of DR.. Plouf's wounds.
The doctor was driven to the Waldeck
Sanitarium, 404 Eddy street, where a
hurried examination showed that three of
the bullets had taken effect. One had gone
clean through him, piercing his kidneys;
another had pierced one of his lungs and
the third had lodged in his liver. The
fourth bullet had struck the doctors watch
and glanced off into his pocket, where it
was found. The doctor expressed the
opinion that he was dying and the super
intendent telephoned TO police head
quarters for an officer to take his ante
mortem statement.
When Detective Handley and Policeman
Coleman reached the sanitarium with Nc
Gaughey to get the doctor to identify him
the physicians in attendance refused to al
low them TO see him as he was engaged
with his secretary, G. D. Malone, giving
him instructions regarding his business af-
fairs before being placed on the operating
table.
Later on District Attorney Barnes called
at the sanitarium and took the doctors
ante-mortem statement, which was sealed
and placed in the safe at the City Prison.
McGaughey made the following state
ment: Il was standing in the entrance to
the Columbian building making some notes
in my notebook when Dr. Plouf and an
another gentleman passed along. The doc
tor signaled TO me with his cane and l
went forward TO see what he wanted. He
called me all the vile names imaginable and
hit me blow with his fist on the side of
my head which knocked me down. While
on the ground he struck me with his cane.
AS ! rose to my feet he grabbed hold OF
me by my shirt front and pulled a sur
geon knife, which he always carried, out
of his pocket. [ was afraid he was going
TO cut me so pulled out my revolver and
fired at him. | don't know how many
shots l fired. ] refuse to make any fur
Their statement. 1t will all all come out at
the trial"
There has been bad blood between the
doctor ana McGaughey for a long time
McGaughey was in the doctors employ
ment during the months of June, July and
August last year, and was discharged for
prying into his private affairs. Three or
four months ago McGaughey had the doc
tor arrested for SANDER, but the case was
dismissed. On Tuesday last McGaughey
and. Charles Z. Wilson were arrested on
warrants sworn out by the doctor charg-
ing them with attempting by threats to
.extort money. The doctor alleged that
while McGaughey was in his employment
he opened his private letters and searched
his waste basket for such letters and
pasted them together.
One of these letters was from lady in
the country and McGaughey gave. it to
Wilson, who went with it to the ladys
husband and attempted to blackmail him.
Wilson got some money for the letter, but
when the husband read IL he found there
was nothing discriminating in it and sent it
on to DR.. Plouf.
McGaughey has been employed here in
various capacities. He was recently en-
ployed in the compilation of Langley Di-
rectory. 1t is reported that in 1891 he was
Deputy County Clerk in Kings County,
Wash, and Incorporated witnesses fees
to the amount of $500. Through political
influence and the influence of friends the
case was squared.
James D.L. McGaughey came to this cit.
shortly before the fire from Sissons, Cal
He was young man of pleasant address
and made many friends. When he first
came to the city he made himself popular
with the politicians by working at the pri-
maries, and was finally made a deputy
county clerk in 1890. He was made clerk
OF Judge Hunts court in the summer of
1891. He was arrested later on on charge
of forgery and grand larceny.
1t seems that number OF those who are
called as witnesses to the Superior Court
fail to call for their fees and McGaughey
took advantage of this fact. He forged
names of witnesses or caused them to be
forged, cashed the orders and pocketed the
money obtaining in this way about $500.
McGaughey asked for hearing before
the County Commissioners before the
trial, and at the meeting begged hard and
promised if he was not prosecuted to
repay the money. He did make at least
a partial restitution, and his friends say he
paid it all back. The disclosure hurt Nc
Gaughey so that he was unable to secure
permanent employment in Seattle.
abr" PLOUFF,S SEATTLE CAREER.