The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-03
BARBARA HAGAR,S MURDER.

A correspondent Of the Portland
Standard furnishes the account follow
ing Of the first days proceedings in the
trial now pending at Oregon City:
The one absorbing topic of converse
tlon has been the Hagar murder and
the trial OF the three young men who
have been indicted a. tho ones guilty ol
that horrible crime. The evidence
against them is circumstantial. but link
by link it has been gathered together
and sn array Of circumstances support
ed BY actual facts that will astonish
many supposed to be convsrsans with
the case, will be presented-circumstan
ces and surroundings that it will be
hard for the accused TO explain away
in . ntisfsctary manner. Early this
morning the con4t room. where the
Circuit Court is holding its session. was
crowded with anxious spectators. aud
as King. QUO Of the accused, whose trial
is 6rst on the criminal docket. entered
the room in charge Of an officer. there
was an esger arcnation Of necks in the
endsavor to catch glimpse OF one
charged with such heinous crIme.
The sickening details Of the murder
your readers have already been furnish
cd with and need not be again re-
hearsed James A King. the defendant
is about Ave feet six inches in hight.
and Weighs about one hundred and
twenty pounds. Owing 10 his .on.
confinement in the county Jail he is very
pale. Notwithstanding he is on trial
for his life aud his fate lies n the
hands OF dozen Of his peers. King
showed great coolness rs he took his
seat. and throughout displayed quiet
aud collected demeanor. none of the
bravsdo spirit that characterized him
while under tho influence of liquor and
xhich was the means leading to his
arrest. His attorneys are Ed Menden-
hall and A + Marquam, Of Portland,
aud c ID Lntouretts Of this city. The
State is represented by District Attor-
ney + Caples and + NJ Mulkey.
Mcssrs Yocum and Clarno. attorneys Of
Bernard and Fairchld, indicted for tho
oaense, are also present taking notes Of
the trial.
KING ASKED FOR A SEPARATE TRIAL.
Which was granted him, and the fol-
lowing jury was obtained about noon
to try the case: William Hayes. ID
Rusk. NJ Ely. II NJ Edmuston. W Cres-
well. z w Sxofford. Frank Durand. A
G Hssklins. w I Linn. Joseph Howell.
Samuel Miller and w Bird. The State
will have about twenty FIVE witnesses
and there will b. as many more for the
defense. The impaneling Of the jury
complete. court adjourned. aud at one
o'clock this afternoon resumed its ses-
sion. . grand rush being made by tho
crowd Of horror seekers to procure the
best seats. and in moments time every
available square inch was preempted.
The trail opened by a statement Of the
ca sc being made by the District Attor-
ney who said that until the murde:ers
OF Bal bara Hagar were punished and
the majesty Of the law vindicsted. her
blood
WOULD STAIN EVERY DOOR POST
In Clacksmas county. In an able and
forcible manner he detailed the awful
circumstances Of the horrible crime.
drew . vivid picture Of the poor help
less woman weltering in tho blood flow
ing from her terrible wounds; Shrek
ing for mercy while desperately resist
ing the attack of the perpetrators ofthe
outrage in open daylight and: upon 3
public road. That Bernard. Fsirchild
and King. Of all whom were known to
the courts and psnitentiary Of the coun-
try, aud that he would prove the crime
to have been long meditsted; that
plunder was their object; that Mrs Ha-
gar mad received Is 900 from Germany,
and that the boys for one whole year
had intended to get this money. The
accused. he said would. by competent
testimony. be traced 10 the place where
the murder was committed at the time
il occurred. The statement Of the case
occupied about an hour and half, and
when completed Mr. Mendenhail. for
the defense, replied to the District At.
torney with great esrncs.ness and feel.
ing. snimadverting severely upon the
conduct Of the prosecution, and claimed
that King would prove an alibi and all
evidence Of importance would be i'm
pcached by the defense. An order Was
made excluding all the witnesses from
the court room. and in about twenty
minutes Miss Mary Hagar. the daugh-
ter OF the murdered woman. was called
by tho Prosecuting Attorney to the
stand. Miss Hagar was neatly dressed
T., 1a>r cooupnSuu lookinO vafv Nalo
but composed. Her testimony was to
the effect that she had lived until the
last year about four miles from Oregon
City; that on the 2lst day Of February
che drove of ct la o'clock NJ. leaving
her mother st home alone. and drove
of to Oregon City. stopping by the
way for q lady companion at Rinesr-
sons; she traded sometime in town;
went home and found her mother lying
on the floor in . pool Of blood; this was
about 4 o'clock Pm; during her alb
seuce gold chain and Is or 81 in sill.
yer was taken; she went immediately
on finding her mother murdered for .
nei ghnbor named Oatfeld.-
During the giving Of her testimony.
the voice Of Miss Hagar was broken by
deep sobs, as she recited the details of
finding her mother murdered. On ex-
animation she testified tha. several men
had worked at the house AGd stopped
there; that one Bruder. one Graitchen
and . Chinaman had stopped there.
Bruder leaving the Monday before and
0raitcheu the Thursday.
q y