, 1863-02-28
Colville Correspondence.

4 PINKNEY CITY, Feb. 1st, 1868.
q EDS. STATESMAN IF | remember right,
smentoned something in my last letter with regarc
sto the dancing propensties of this population
spropensity which am panied to say, has afforded
Gan opportunity for the commission OF one of the
svest, and most inexcusable murders, of which
ahave ever heard.
On the evening of the 26th ut. a ball was giver
Cat house near the old fort, on the Columbia
srlver, at which large party of citizens from the
surrounding neighborhood, were present. For a
stime, sail went merry a marriage bell" unit
sthe whiskey began to work on a ruffian, known as
.Charle Harper, who, by his rowdy demonstra
siOns, frequently interrupted the festivities of the
sevening nothing serious occurred, however, un
stil about 3 o'clock, a. M, at which time the dan
icing had mostly ceased some of the people re-
String for the remainder of the night, to the ad-
sjacent houses. About this time, Mrs. McRce
8while on the way to her own house, close by, was
saccosted by Harper, who rudely requested her to
Ego and dance with him, ant, upon her declining
4to do so the villain followed her to her own house
sand there, deliberately, and without provicaton
sshot her down like dog. The ball entered the
Fright side of the neck, ranging downwards to-
xwards the left shoulder, killing her instantly
*Men have killed women before to-day but never
Gin the whole history of villainy, have known Of
sheard of a more causeess murder than this. The
deceased was white woman, of a kindly dispos
stion, and an exemplary wife and mother. N ii
sthe least strange part of the affair." is the fact thai
squIte number of men, among whom was the
SSherih of the county, were in the immediate vi
fcinity when the shot was fired and, yet the mur
sderer was permitted to take his blankets from the
shouse, saddle his horse, and ride away without
shindrance. 1t seems as if the people did not suf
he Of hn
sted, until next evening when they began to form
themselves into parties, for the purpose ofsearch
Sing for the fugitive in every direction The search
acontnued without success until the morning of the
s29th, when five men, named respectively, George
5YOung, Joseph Martin, Josrph Lafeur, Thomas
sFoggey, and Andrew Crew, succeeded in tracking
shim to a side hill cabin on The bank of the Celum
sbia, about 80 miles below Kettle Falls, where
4they forced him to surrender, by threatening tC
sburn him up in his lair. The party, with then
Sprisoner, then retraced their steps, and when
sabout 10 miles from the place where the prisoner
5was taken, they met the Sheriff, to whom they
5turned him over, but he was Immediately retaker
#by party of miners. who, after giving him a
#tra, took him to the limb of tree, and there
Chung him. This fellow was an unmtigated vii
CLAIM, and is known to have committed several
Smurders. He was known in California by the
3name of Best. Yours, PETER SNooKs.
q EDS. STATESMAN Charles H. Harper the
snoted horse theft, was hung the Columbia river
@about 10 miles below the Old Fort, on the 291h
Eof Janury for shooting Mrs. McRce, at dance
xat the British Commission Garrison, on the morn
Sing of the 9th January
4 VIM. W llams, road agent horse theft, anG
5murderer was shot a about week ago, by boy
sabout Is years DID, in self-defense. Williams il
gsupposed to be Wells, the man who killed the
sSherif deputy and driver near Sacramento, Cal.
sabout 4 years ago.
Colville is not very good retreat for the hare
Ceases that Lewiston has run out. May they be
ESQ treated evey place they go, and farther they