The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12

Francisco correspondent of the Tacoma
grain firm with which young Potter was
connected.
There were few new developments yes
terdav, but these rather tended to obscure
than make clear the situation.
DIR. ]. s. Barrett made an autopsy on
the remains at the undertaking parIors of
HI. G. Porter & Co., and came to the con-
clusion that death was due to drowning
The fact that the lungs were found full of
water was considered absolute proof that
Potter was alive when he fell, was washed
or was thrown into the water.
>. Christensen, the barkeeper at the
Cliff House, is the man who last saw Pot
ter alive, so far as is known. He stated
that Potter, accompanied by young man.
arrived at the beach between and
o'clock Friday afternoon. They took dim
ner together and about 9:45 P. NJ. appeared
for final drink ut the public bar. They
remained about the bar till after 10 O'Clock,
when Potter asked at what time he could
catch car for the City. He was told that
the Sutro car LETT at 10:30 and he and his
companion left to catch that car. Shortly
afterward they returned and said they had
missed the car.
They did not remain long, but after
taking another drink started down the
road leading to the beach south of the
Cliff House. 1t is from this time that all
definite trace of the deceased is lost. The
next seen of him was about II A. NJ. Sun
day, when g. gentleman named Williams
reparted to Captain Morton OF the Life-sav-
ing Station, situated about half mile south
of the Cliff House, that body was being
tossed about in the surf. 1t was promptly
recovered and the Coroner notified, but it
was not removed to the Morgue until
about P. NJ.
From the description published in the
papers Detective d. ]. McNaughton was
induced to visit the Morgue, and was the
man who identified the remains as those
of the Tacoma capitalist.
Since that time McNaughton has been
investigating the matter, and inclines
strongly TO the opinion that Potter met
with foul play. This is based largely on
the condition of the body when recovered
from the water. 1t showed few bruises or
abrasions and only such as would be made
by it's being rolled back and forth by the
surf, with the exception of a cut on the
head just back OF and to the right of the
center of the skull.
This McNaughton says was fracture of
the skull about one and half inches long
and about one-eighth of an inch wide at
the most open portion of the wound. He
argues from this that Potter was struck
with some heavy instrument, such as a
clup or cane, and knocked or thrown into
the water from the beach. He saws that
there is no place in the vicinity from
which Potter could have fallen into the
water without receiving more cuts than
this one. Another suspicious circumstance
in McNaughton's mind is the failure OF
the man who was with Potter at the Cliff
House to make himself known to the au-
thorities or the friends of the deceased.
As soon as the attention of Captain Lees
was called to the matter by Thomas Wat
son, he detailed Detectives Edward Gibson
and Edward Wren on the case. The result
of the joint investigation of the two Off
GERS appears in the following report made
last night to Captain Lees:
SAN FRANCISCO Feb. IL, 1896.
Captain l. W. Lees-DEAR SIR: Acting upon
your instruction officer Ed Wren and myself
went TO the Cliff House this afternoon with
Thomas Watson and saw s. Christensen, bar
keeper, and he says that Mr.. Potter and DR..