The herald., 1895-03-31
DR.. Plouf MortaIly Shot by
an Ex.Empl0yee
A HISTORY OF BOTH MEN
One Was 4 "Quack" Physician, the
Other a DefauIter
An Attempted BIackmall and the Arrest Of
the Pistol Wielder Resulted
In the Tragedy

SAN FhANClCOO, MhICu oVs-O1 SVhAA
E. Plouf. patent medicine specialist
was shot three times and fatally wounded
today by J. D. L. McGaughey, who was
at one time in the employ OF the doctor.
The shooting occurred within hundred
feet of the Baldwin hotel and marked the
termination of street brawl. The street
was crowded with women and children
at the time. The Baldwin theater NATL
nee audience had just been dismissed ana
in addition to the throng OF people from
the theater there was the usual crowd OF
Saturday afternoon promepaders.
A fist fight lasted but few moments
and then the two men frightened the
passing women and children from the
sidewalk into the street. Men rushed to
part the fighting couple, but the sight OF
revolver in the hands of McGaughey
caused them to pause. Then came the
shots. The reports Of the pistol added to
the fright OF the women and children.
Several of them tainted. Several OF them
in their eagefness to seek places OF safety
fell on the rough cobble stones and were
trampled upon.
The police then came up, the fainting
and injured women were taken to neigh
boring drug stores. The wounded doctor
was removed to the Columbian building
and the man who did the shooting taken
to the police station.
few minutes after the shooting the side
walk was again thronged with the slowly
moving, gayly dressed crowd OF Satur
day afternoon promenaders.
To business troubles can the shooting
be attributed. Plouffe until quite recently
occupied offices in the Phelan block, ana
made specially Of treating persons
troubled with rheumatism. McGaughey
at one time worked for the doctor in q
clerical capacity. The two had q disa-
greement and the clerk was discharged.
Later on the doctor accused McGaughey
of attempting. with the assistance OF
Charles C. Wilson, to blackmail some OF
his patients, and had the pair arrested.
The warrants were issued several days
ago, McGaughey secured his release on
bond, This afternoon was the first time
McGaughey and the doctor met after the
arrest, and their stories differ as to the
cause of the shooting. The wounded
man says: ,,,
~ was strolling along the street. 4" he
said, as he lay on the floor OF the room
where he was taken, 'and near the Bald
win hotel MGaua hey stepped up and
spoke to me. l tried to pass on. but he
insisted that listen to him. He charged
that l caused him to be arrested. l made
no reply, but again tried to resume my
promenade. Then he assaulted me. He
caught my cane and it soon snapped in
two. l grappled with him in an effort to
protect myself. Then the shots were fired.
/ did not notice the pistol. heard the
started to run. Then there was more
shooting and l fell against the wall. No,
don know how many shots were fired.
and did not hear anything said after
was first shot"
:, Miss Nav Hawkins, who stool not five
feet away from the fighting men, says
she saw DR.. Plouf hit McGauhey with
his stick and then the latter shot him.
She could not tell how many shots were
fired, but from the stories of others who
saw the fight at least 70 ar shots were
fred and probably five. After the shooting
McGaughey stepped into a doorway and
was coolly examining his pistol when
arrested. He said
"That fellow assaulted me and I shot.
] want to give myself to a policeman.
His version of the affair is as follows:
II was strolling up Market street. Near
Beamish' s store stopped to make note
in book. While l was writing Plouf
said he wanted to speak to me. There
was a friend with him but the friend
stepped to one side and left us alone.
1.-THE doctor began to abuse me and
called me several vile names. l answered
back and then he hit me on the face and
knocked me down. While l was trying
to get up he rained blows on me with his
cane. Finally I got on my feet. Then he
caught me BY the vest and. drawing a
surgeon s knife. made lunge at me.
then pulled ou my pistol and shot.
do not know If hit him. l was excited
and tried to save my own life
Relative to the original trouble with the
doctor McGaughey declined to talk.
Pending the result of Plouf's wounds
no charge has been placed against Nc
Gaughey. Two bullecs entered the doc
tors right breast and passed through
him. The third is located in his abdo-
men. He was removed to the Waldeck
sanitarium.