Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-06-09

The RECENT LOPEZ ISLAND MURDER
w. C. Male, of Lopez Island, w. T..
has sent to friend in this city the ac-
count following of the recent murder in
his neighborhood: John Kay and John
Anderson were near neighbors. They
had lived for several years close together
without having any serious difficulty,
though they sometimes quarreied. Hays
land was so situated that at low tide
there was nothing to hinder stock from
going on to his premises. AndersOn's
COW when turned out would go to bis
place. More than once Kay had taken
her when near his house and shut her In
his corral. The day of the killing Kay
had boen at q neighbor's Mr.. Smith'sl
to work. Before he left homo be had
told his woman TO shut Anderson's COW
in the corral IL she came there in his
absence. About II O'Clock he came home,
and now / give his version Of the matter.
He says he had been at home but short
time when Anderson came and asked
him: "Have you fastened up my cow!
Kay answered YES" "Well," said An
derson, you son of -, I'll kill you"
and rushed inside his yard and seized
him. They then had a tussel, in which
Kay got the worst OF it, as Anderson
was the stronger man. Kay called to
his woman Tan Indian woman, not his
wife) to help him; and together they
managed to get Anderson turned so that
Kay was uppermost. No sooner was
this effected than Kay tore loose from
his antagonist, ran into the house, seized
his gun and shot him. He waited but
long enough to see that the man was
dead and then started to the magistrate
| to give himself up. This is his account
| of the matter in substance. Now for
| what others know. apprehended him
| in Mr.. Cars house on. the evening OF
the same day. The next morning took
him to San Juan and delivered him to
tho sheriff. i brought the coroner over
TO Lopez with me, but before could get
back the Justice had summoned a jury
and held an inquest, which was proper
enough, for the body had lain there for
about thirty hours. l was, of course,
not present at the inquest, but got the
particulars from others who were there.
The dead man lay ON his back at dis
lance of several steps from where the
fight took place, in the direction OF an
other gate, showing that he was starting
toward home. just inside of the gate
where Anderson entered the yard were
TO be seen evidences of the fight. Prints
Of boot heels in the hard ground, hand
fuls of beard and shirt buttons were
scattered about, showing that desper-
ate struggle had taken place. Now from
all that can be collected concerning the
tragedy it is evident that Anderson went
to Kay's house to get his COW. not in
tending or expecting to have any trouble
but in talking with Kay both men lost
their temper, and from words they came
to blows. Kay must have walked dis
lance of over twenty steps before he
could get his gun and come ont so as to
shoot him as he did. 1t is thought by
some that he must have held the muzzle
of the gun within a few feet of his vic
and kay's woman says she poured water
ON his clothing to put out the fire. Poor
Anderson must have fallen dead instant
~. An ounce bullet had entered his
body Just below the left nipple, coming
out Immediately below the ght shout
der. l should Judge from the range of
the bullet that it passed through the
muscular part of the heart. This terri
BILE tragedy has thrown pail of horror
over this community. Anderson was
exceedingly well liked by his neighbors,
and, in fact, by all who knew him. His
remains were followed to the grave by a
considerable number of people. Mr..
John Carr read the burial service over
his grave, and he sleeps the first, and, as
yet. the only occupant of our new grave
yard. omitted to state that the slayer
and his victim are both Norwegians, the
former about AZ, and the latter about 45
years of age"