Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-04-06
4 REMARkARLE TRIAL.

From an individual recently arrived
from San Juan county we learn few
particulars of the trial of Brown, who
murdered Jeffrey Ives, a fisherman on
Orcas Island, two weeks ago. ineager
account Of which WAS published hereto
fore: After the shooting the murderer
gave himself into the hands of con-
stable and was taken next morning he
fore a Justice of the Peace by the name
Of FRYE, who. instead Of entering into
an examination TO see If there was suffl-
cient evidence to commit the prisoner
for trial at the next term Of the District
Court at Port Townsend, constituted
himself District Court and summoned
a jury and proceeded 10 t:y the man for
his life. Proceedings were commenced
by swearing the jury on the following
oath: DO you solemnly swear that the
verdict you shall render In this case
shall be the truth. the whole truth. and
nothing but the truth. 50 help you God.
The prisoner was then put on the stand
ard made statement 10 the following
purport: lives came along III p boat and
stopped at Browns place, being partial
ly drunk at the time. He went into a
siwash rancherie near by and took out a
handful of money, among which wore
two 8 gold pieces, a portion Of which
he dropped on the floor. Brown being
present picked the money up and hand
cd il to Ives. Presently Ives counted
his money and accused Brown of keep
ing one Of the fives. Brown insisted
that he had given him al the money,
and after a good deal of wrangilng
over the matter, Brown went home and
retired to bed. After awhile Ives came
to the house and tried to get in. Brown
warned him that he would shoot him if
he entered. Ives butted the door in
with his head, and was coming toward
Brown with his head still down, in a
ram-ike attitude, when Brown fired,
the ball taking effect in the abdomen.
He then threw him out of the door,
where hs dieG in about an hour. Al
this juncture n point of law Was raised
whether a witness acquainted with
| facts pertinent to the case could be al
lowed to testify or not. Judge Frye
decided that the Indians and white
man who witnessed the quarrel and
were on the ground at the time of the
homicide should not be heard, but that
the jury should all testify as to the
prisoners character for truth and vera
city. After the jury had all testified be-
fore itself, the Judge gave his charge,
about az follows: Gentlemen, you are
| all intelligent men, and know as much
about the law AZ l do. You will render
a verdict of guilty or not guilty" The
verdict was not guilty. Then the boat
and goods of the murdered man were
confscated to defray the expense Of the
trial: but through the short sighted
ness Of Coroner Bogus, of San Juan.
who objected to sucs a proceeding. and
the Obstinacy Of some Of Ives's friends,
particularly his partner, who claimed to
be sole owner of the boat, the confis-
Gators were forced to give up the prop
erty. Judge Frye afterwards sent in a
| cost bill of something over sixty dollars
to the Auditor of San Juan county.
Browns statement that Ives broke in
the door with his head lisa little hard to
believe, as the door was fastened with oak
| bolts, or buttons, six inches long, which
turned each on three inch screw. and
fastened into the floor below and the
sill above. Again, Browns statement
is not cOrroboratsd by the statement of
Brooks, the white man who says Browa
showed Ives out of the house several
times before he shot him.
Sheriff Kelly communicated with
Prosecuting Attorney Evans i'll regard
| To the affair, who advised him that if a
warrant was placed i'll his hands for the
arrest Of Brown to serve it, and pay no
attention to the Frye force, but have
| him properly committed.