The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-04-06


torney's Offices-An Object Lesson o.
Populist Harmony, IncompeteDcy an
stupidity-Pratt Gives His Testimony
the First Stntement Made by Him.
The Populists gave the public anothe
sample Or harmony a. the cour; hous
yesterday when the county coroner anc
the assistant county attorney clasned o.
the question Of which was the higher au
thOrity. The coroner with all the spiri
WHICH characterized his younger Hft
wien he crossed the continent 10 hgh
the Mexicans, insisted that ii was hi!
prerogative 10 hold an inquest any tim,
he deemed one necessary, while the as
s-stant county attorney protested
against holding one in the 9IcMahon cast
At all, as everybody knew who shot hin
and how he came to his-death. The cor
oner wanted no dictation from the coun.
ty attorneys office, and insisted on hold.
ing the inquest; for according TO Populisi
rule in this county nothing is left un-
done that would, in any way, add tc
the burdens Of the tax payer. Seeing
the inquest the assistant county attorney
. announced that he would not participate
in the case, took up MS dolls and left the
play grounds 10 the venerable child who
acts as coroner Of this county by virtue
of the triumph OF Populism year ago.
The case was 70 have been called al 2
o'clock and was called, but the witnesses
did not appear and DR.. Rose. who ma
Iurally thought that the county attor-
ney's Office had doae something 10 keep
them away, was awful hot under where
his collar should have been. The result
was that he called for deputy Sheriff
and sent him out 70 bring them into
court at the point Of revolver, tied TO
The tail end of a wagon. or any old way.
Il was not long until DOC" Lampard,
porter at the Manhattan hotel. arrived.
and when he did hs was promptly yank-
ed upon thu carpet.
Why wasn't you here at . o'clock?'
asked the coroner.
Doc could not retain his seriousness
long enough 10 explain, but in an evil
moment smiled.
That smile cost him exactly s., for that
is the exact amount the coroner fined
him for contempt Of court.
Doc in another evil moment smiled
again and the coroner amended his pre-
vious observation by saying, "and you
will stand committed to the county jail
until the fine is paid
"Doc' has not smiled once since that
observation was made. He thought it a
good Joke 10 be fined s. because he knew
!, : fe in =
et. but when ne heard the county jail
mentioned his pulse almost stopped and
he turned as pale as death. When sworn
he sad:
Il live in Wichita and work at III.
Manhattan hotel 1 was at the ho,el on
the Sc Of April I knew McNIahon and
have seen Cunningham. AlcMahOn came
there and asked me 10 go 10 Mr.. Pratts
room and ask him 70 come down. He
and MoMahon talked and then Pratt
went up stairs and he and Cunningham
came down together. They did not talk
loud: they seemed 70 be in good humor.
heard McMahon say: We ought 20
have a settlement I turned round and
wcen I looked back I saw Cunninghm
st4p back and draw his revolver and
fire. Mr.. Mcmahon was nit by one OF the
balls. 1t was done so quickly I cannot
tel how many shots were fired; seemed
- me- three or four. McM1hon staggeT-
ei round and fell behind one fine smah
partitions. He was WOunded.I ran our
and did not hear what was SAID. They
did Nc: seem 10 be angry. ] helped 20
carry hin. up stairs Do not know that
either oe them had been drinking.
In answer TO the question Of the coroner
as TO whether a gun had been drawn or
the other side meaning McMahon) the
witness said: = never saw one; there
might have been"
J. c. Cark. or 'Nobby" Clark. as he IS
called frequently. was the next witness.
He said:
Il live al Cincinnati, Ohio. Have been
in the city since December 90. l am with
NcMahon's circus. was al the Man
haitian hotel or the ID Of the month
know Mr.. McMahon. He came 70 his
death about $50 Friday afternoon. Nc
Mahon was there in the office. He was
standing by the ledger desk. There was
a man with him whose name l have Stree
learned is Pratt. Mcmahon stated TO
Pratt that he would like 70 have Gun
aingham called down stairs, as he de-
sired 10 see him. Pratt went up and they
came down together. TheC Mcmahon
said: I have reason u believe that you
are imparsonating an officer Cunning
ham said that is rot true. Mr.. Mcmahon
said You are a id liar Then Cur
ningham stepped back and commenced
firing. After Pratt got out of the Way
and after Mr. McMahon was slot, saw
him trying 70 get out his Own revolver
He advanced ard guarded on the second
shot with MS eft hand. did not see the
third ehot. I vas croUched behind the
counter. Mr.. Mcmahon fell right by me-
and said: Get out my gun and kill the
man that has killed me- I got Mack's
gun ard raised up, but was looking I7Ne
Cunningham revolver. H -Cd: You
move and I viii send you into eternity
l did not move. that is sure. Cunning
ham moved back. stu covering Mcmahon
and myself with his revolver.
The officer cane in and then every
thing was ali excitement. Mr.. Aler and
the policeman were then sc-ambling for
possession OF McMahoR's gun. Cunning
ham started out the froct door. I went
out another door. When I got Up by the
bakery I caught Cunningham by the coat
and said: 4 VIII take you 70 the lookup.