We are all familiar with the uncertainties of gunshot wounds--the medical records overflow with cases of wonderful endurance shown by persons suffering from pistol wounds.
"Now what did Whitmore do?
Why, he decided to conceal the evidence of his own murder.

He instigated the conspiracy to shield his murderer.
Moreover he determined to make it appear that he had committed suicide.
So he went to his office in the morning armed with the pistol and the needle.

It was unquestionably his intention to fire a second shot into the wound but first it was necessary to open it and he did so at great pain.

He died, whether from shock or weakness, before his hand was able to reach the pistol on his desk.

Had he been able to accomplish what was in his mind, his clerks would have heard the shot, the authorities would have found the pistol and the conclusion of suicide would have been accepted without question." "Did you see the physician who attended him ?" interjected the coroner.
"Yes," replied Britz, "but I couldn't get a word out of him, and under the law I could not force him to tell." "But the clothing--his underwear would have shown where the blood had dried," the coroner declared.
"Whitmore attended to that," replied Britz.