Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-01-03
THE TAYLOR TRAGEDY.

The TAYLOR TRAGEDY.
Mr.. Mossman, the Coroner, furnishes
us with some very interesting facts re-
lating to the atrocious murder recently
committed in this county, and for which
Dabney G.. Jones was, last Saturday,
committed by Justice Lowe, to answer
at the next term of the District Court.
Itappcars from Jones statement, or con.
fession, that on the 18th of November,
q dispute arose between himself and
Taylor in reference to settlement for
wages due the former, when Taylor
pointed gun at him and snapped a
cap, the piece hanging fire. He raised
the gun second time when Jones
threw the muzzle up, and the charge
went into the ceiling. Jones then
armed himself with revolver and Tay-
lor followed him to the bedroom and
leveled his gun again, when Jones fired,
placing ball in Taylor's left breast.
Taylor then sit down in chair, saying
Don't shoot again, and Jones prom
Used that he would not if he was but let
alone. Jones turned to leave when Tay-
lor again raised his gun, and he (Jones)
seized it and shot him in the right side
of the head. 1t appears that this shot
was fatal, for Jones says he next pro-
cured wheel-barrow, placed the body
upon it and proceeding few hundred
feet from the house, secreted the body
between two logs, covering it with fern
and dry boughs, and then felled tree
over the other two, the more effectually
to conceal the remains.
The confession of the prisoner is YER
fled by the situation of the remains of
Taylor and the condition of the wounds
found upon them, but the plea of self
defense is in great measure destroyed
by the fact that most dilligent search,
made by the Coroner's jury failed to
discover any evidence OF charge of
shot having entered the ceiling.
1t appears that Jones remained about
the premises of his victim until about
the 23d of November, when he came to
town, registered at the Pacific Hotel,
and prepared and presented the letter
to Gen. Miller, purporting to having
been written by Taylor, authorizing
him (Jones) to dispose of the farm and
property. After remaining in town a
few days he went to Skookum Bay, and
Dec. 18th was again registered at the
Pacific Hotel, in this place. How long
he remained here is not known, but a
few days before Christmas lie returned
to Frost's Prairie, and on Christmas
night WAS at Mr.. James on Mound
Prairie, at a party. where Sheriff Bill
lings and posse arrested him about o.
clock in the evening, upon writ issued
on complaint of Mr.. Hume. He was
brought to this place the next day and
lodged in Jail, when lie voluntarily
made the confession embracing the cir
cumstances stated.
Probably short statement in relation
to Jones' former life may not be inap-
propriate in this connection. He was
born in Woodford county, KY, and is
twenty-four years of age. During the
civil war he went to Platte county,
Mo-, and was pressed into the Confed-
crate service. He came to Oregon last
April, and remained in the vicinity of
Corvallis until June, when meeting with
Mr.. Colvin of this county, who was
driving drove of cattle to this Terri
tory, he hired out as drover and came
over with him. During the remainder
of the Summer he has been employed by
Mr.. Colvin on his farm, and about the
first of September he engaged to work
for Mr.. Taylor, with whom he lived
until he committed the horrible deed of
which he stands charged, and by his
own admissions, convicted.
GUARANTEED telegram from Capt.
Ainsworth to Theo. Hosmer, of Ia
coma, states that he is authorized by
President Cass to endorse Montgomery
.paper to the amount of $50. 900, payable
on the 10th of March. This action
will probably satisfy the creditors of
the railroad.
SUFFRAGE MEEr1Na.-The regular BIZ
weekly meeting of The Thurston County
Woman's Suffrage Association will be
held in the Territorial Auditors room