Newspaperman’s Death a Mystery : Investigation: The West Virginia publisher had vigorously criticized the Ku Klux Klan. Police say he may have been shot by a burglar.

The shooting death of a newspaper publisher who challenged the Ku Klux Klan to “come out from behind their robes, hoods and masks” is stirring up talk in this tiny town.

After Warren E. Duliere’s body was found in his garage April 30, some remembered his critical coverage of last year’s klan rally in a neighboring county. Others said Duliere had made many other enemies with his provocative editorial style.

“My own personal opinion is that somebody put a contract out on him,” Richard Haines, a 55-year-old retired trucker, said at a popular breakfast spot where the shooting has been the chief topic of conversation.

“He made it pretty plain at times that he wanted to take on the klan at any time and any place.”

Duliere’s wife found his body in the garage of their home, about 90 miles west of Washington, D.C.

Duliere, 60, was shot once in the chest with a small-caliber handgun, state police Sgt. W. B. Shoop said. The publisher’s Jeep Cherokee was idling in the driveway. The gun was at his side.

Police believe Duliere interrupted a burglary, but they are investigating other possibilities. Nothing was reported stolen, but parts of the house were in disarray. No one has been arrested.

Shoop refused to speculate about Duliere’s killer.

“He’s written thousands of articles. I don’t know why everyone is focusing on the Klan,” Shoop said. “We’ll investigate any hard information that develops.”

Klan leaders have denied any involvement. The FBI has said it may investigate.

Duliere, who also was a candidate an approaching election for the Hampshire County Commission, had published the monthly West Virginia Advocate out of his home since 1982.

It regularly criticized community leaders and politicians. The local sheriff lost reelection after the Advocate published photographs of his patrol cruiser’s odometer, alleging that he had lied about his expenses.

Wilmer L. Kerns, a friend of Duliere’s who writes historical columns for the paper, said Duliere had made plenty of enemies during the past decade. “He never backed away from anything,” he said. “He was never afraid.”

“You either loved him or hated him,” said Patti Murphy, another columnist.

In September, 1991, Duliere hid the fact that he was a reporter and attended a Klan rally in nearby Hardy County.

The following month, the Advocate featured front-page photographs showing Klan members holding hands around a burning 30-foot cross. Duliere filled 21 other pages with more news of the rally.

Duliere warned of the Klan’s growing presence in the area and published interviews with an anonymous member of a Klan “SWAT” team and a Klan recruiter.

In the December, 1991, Advocate, Duliere challenged Klan members to “come out of the darkness and be seen and heard,” after saying he had received death threats over the telephone.

“I believe the Klan is a vicious, violent, dangerous organization that opposes all the democratic principles of America,” Duliere wrote.

Kerns worries what will happen to the community without Duliere. In a tribute to Duliere in the May 5 edition, Kerns wrote that a decision about the paper’s future hasn’t been made.

“His paper was needed in the county,” Kerns said. “I’m worried about what’s going to happen without him. We don’t need more reports of 4-H Club meetings, social activities and community affairs.

“Someone needs to ask the tough questions like he did,” Kerns said.