White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-16
DAVENPORT HELD FOR
MURDER OF MEAGHER

over the DOdy OF FRANK Meagner, VINO
was shot and killed by w. Il. Daven-
port early last Sunday morning, as
told in an extra edition of the News.
Before the taking of any testimony
before Coroner d. G. Mcdonald and o
liam Geraghty and j. f. Wamboldt,
all witnesses were sworn and put un-
der the rule, according to which they
were admonished by the coroner not
to discuss the matter between them
selves or with anyone else during the
| time required for the taking Of testi-
mony and were then kept outside the
courtroom so that the testimony of
one witness could not be heard by the
others.
During the proceedings when en-
ldeavoring to elicit information from
ono of the witnesses District Attorney
Walker informed them that they
were not bound by any of the
technical rules OF court proceedings.
but at an inquest he said "it is Just
the same as II we were talking to each
other on the street. You can tell me
anything" The several witnesses
told freely what they knew of the
events leading up to the unfortunate
happening in which Meagher lost his
\ illCg anu do tuO ludlttI was kOu0 kulO
| in detail the story did not vary from
that told Immediately after the shoot
ing and as then given in the White
Pine News.
H. w. Lambert was the first wit
ness called to the stand and he told
OF Meagher and Davenport both hav-
ing been In the Senate, of which he
is proprietor. He said the men had
some slight argument, which arose
over prize fighting and at the outset
seemed to be in the nature of Josh
ing" or Kidding" Davenport. ac-
cording to the testimony of Lambert,
claimed to be a prize fighter and as
serted that he could whip Johnny
Dunn. This statement was chal-
lenged and as one witness later put
1t, someone told Davenport they
would wager 35 cents that he couldn't
whip Frank Meagher. Lambert said
the argument became somewhat heat
ed and Davenport and Meagher went
in the back room to try their relative
merits as pugilists.. couple OF
"passes" were made, he said, but
neither man was struck. Meagher
then picked up light folding chair
and threw 1t at Davenport. Meagher
then grabbed a second chair and at
this point Lambert interfered and
.tncL The chair from Meagher. He
said he told them that If they really
wanted to fight they could not do so
4, the house and in order to stop all
further argument Lambert pickeo
Davenport up and carried him out
the back door. Mcagher then came
to the front of the house and Daven-
port shortly after passed through
from the rear and out the back door.
lremarking as he went out, lyon fell
lows gave me the worst 80 !. ~. T
am coming back"
The district attorney injured from
the witness as TO whether Davenport
and Meagher had been drinking and
the witness replied to the effect that
Davenport had only been in his house
a few minutes and that while he as
lsumed both of the men had some
drinks during the day he had no pos
tive knowledge. but neither of them
appeared to be intoxicated No threats
were made, he said, further than the
remark made by Davenport that he
was coming back.
George Snowden was the next wit
ness called and he corroborated the
testimony of Lambert When asked
as to any threats having been made
Snowden said he knew of none fur
ther than he heard Davenport say,
Il am going to get the difference" or
something to that effect Snowden
further testified that he was a Dusi-
ness partner of Meagher and that just
before the latter was shot he told
Snowden he was going to bed and
started away. Snowden said he re-
mained standing In front OF the Sem
ate as Meagher walked down the
street and noticed when the latter
reached a point on Auitman street
near the Rex theater he stopped and
raised HIS hand and shaking It, as was
a habit with him when something oc-
cured which displeased him or that
he wanted stopped. During the ex-
animation Of the witness the district
attorney remarked, Davenport told
me yesterday that he bought a few
drinks. What / want to get at is
whether he knew what he was doing,
or was he intoxicated" Snowden
| said he did not know whether Dayen-
port had few drinks or not but he
did not appear to be intoxicated. In
examining Snowden as well as other
witnesses the district attorney In
quired as to whether anv threats of a
gunplay were made and the witness
said he knew of none. While exam
lining Snowden along the lines of gun
plays. referring 10 Davenport the dis
trict attorney asked, You don't know
whether he wanted that kind of a
reputation or not?" and Snowden re-
piled, THAT is my opinion That Is
just what he was looking for ex-
actly."
Harold F Abel and Elmer Conlin
were called and testified substantially
the same as the two witnesses who
preceded them. When Inquiry was
made from these witnesses. who knew
Meagher. as to whether he was of a
auarrelsome disposition or not. they
testified that he was not and added
that he was of kindly disposition,
naturally quiet and agreeable.
Richard Caborn, night clerk at the
Northern hotel. testified that he hap
pened to be standing at the front win
dow In the hotel lobby when he saw
Meagher pass down the street on the