Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-18
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

The time of the court yesterday af-
ternoOn was given up to n lively cross
examination of Alexander McWhirter
by Judge Narian, for the defense.
The assault of Judge Varian was y
desperate attempt to break down the
McWhirter story. but McWhirter, be-
ing Scotch, stayed by his guns, and
the same narrative was brought out
without changes, as was developed in
the direct examination The facts that
the McWhirters were not buncOed IN
card game, out OF the bulk of their
money. but were searched by fouey po-
licemen, who took II from them, before
they took one of these policemen TO the
private office OF Chief Sheets that the
McWhlrters are not gamblers, but
merely trusted too much In a kind cit
zen in an American community, aud
were done out Of their coin IN a man
ncr TO make the old bandits Of the
kings highway blush for shame, were
still protruding far above the tangled
mass of questioning and cross question
ing when the days trial ended.
GOOD PRESBYTERIANs.
Judge Varian opened up with a query
as to the McWhirter knowledge of polk
er. He learned that the McWhirters
were members Of the Presbyterian
church. that they did not believe IN
card playing. had never played game
Of poker I'm their lives, didn't know the
game, and had never been intOx icated
They had never heard of the Ameri-
can bunco man, were unused to his
ways, and were deceived in the Antler
rooms by the interesting explanations
made by John o'Brien about mineral
samples. Alexander was enticed into
the game by Larry O'Brien. who had
ostensibly bought the chips, and would
stand over his shoulder telling him
what TO play. The same Larry wanted
to put up the money, till the others OBJ
jected. that would raise the game a
few. and then MoWhirter was advised
by Larry that he couldn't lose. for
which reason he pulled out his own
money TO limit Of $1,000.
WHY THEY HAD $4,000.
on the matter Of the McWhIrter fin
ances. Mr.. Varion probed very deeply.
He made McWhrter account for al.
most every penny spent in America ana
for his having $4,000 In bills upon his
person. Mr., Varlan asked!
How was 1t you cashed your draft IN
Cooks Office In New York and under
took to come across the continent with
1000 bills and did not get drafts?
Mr.. McWhirter--I asked for drafts
on San Francisco from the cashier IN
Cooks Office IN Glasgow. lie said that
the office had been burned down IN
San Francisco and that they had
temporary Office In Oakland: that
would do much better TO take a draft
ON New York and that when l reached
New York they would know more about
the condition I'm San Francisco than
he did, and they would give me drafts
on San Francisco,
Mr., vanan--Now, tell me why you
didn't take drafts.
Mr.. McWhirter-I asked for drafts.
but they wanted a commission on tho
transaction. | said that | had waived
my right TO have them on San Fran
cisco to oblge Cooks Office In Scot
land and on their advice | had waited
til reached New York.
MIR. Varian-The question is. they
wanted a commission and you would
not pay Il.
Mr., Mcwhirter-They wanted COM
mission of about $40 and | would not
pay II.
This bit of testimony was very inter-
estlng, as II answered the general Quee-
ny aa to why anybody travelling through
America would be so green as to
carry currency instead Of drafts an
Item which has been used by the Trib-
une TO its fullest advantage TO dis
credit the MoWhrter story.
THE FICTITIOUS COLONEL.
Attorney varian next put the witness
through series of questions on his
dealings with the gang IN Salt Lake.
He pxulained how IurTeN o. HrtCn AC-
costed him on the street struck up a
conversation told his story about his
friend Col, Rice. and about his own
plans 10 go on TO san Francisco, and
ended up by getting the consent Of the
MoWhlrters to meet him at ? o'clock
next day TO join the colonel In an au-
tomobile ride around town. Then came
the meeting at the Royal cafe. while the
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