Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-04-25
A BRAVE MAN GONE.
Y. w. COFFIN FATALLY SHOT
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO
ARREST A MAN.
The Ball Enters to the Left Of the
Mouth and Comes Out in the Neck,
Causing Death Within Two Hours
$1,000 Reward Offered for the
Murderer.

$1,000 Reward Offered for the
Murderer.
Boise Statesman, 2lst1
V. w. Coffin, familiarly known
to his many friends here as Walt
Coffin, came to an untimely end
about four o'clock on the afternoon of
Wednesday last. The circumstances,
as nearly as we can gather them, are
as follows: A man named Il. +.
Cottner had been mixed up in shoot
ing scrape which took place at point
between the towns of Union and La
Grande, in Union county, Oregon, on
the 14th of February last, in which II
man, Clay Miller, was killed, and all
other named Henry Green was shot
through the head, but who is yet liv-
ing. Cottner in the first instance was
held as witness of the killing, and
was committed to jail, when he gave
bond in the sum of $1,000 and went
at large. Further developments
showing that Cottner instead of being
witness was the principal actor in
the tragedy. writ for his arrest was
issued and placed in the hands of the
Sheriff of Union county. Cottner in
the meantime had left the county and
State, and the rumors of his where
abouts located him in the Squaw
Creek mountains in Boise county,
Idaho. A Deputy Sheriff, o. p.
Goodall, was then sent to this city
with the writ to ask assistance in max
ing the arrest, arriving here on Tues
day last. The deceased was depu-
tiled by Sheriff Lawrence and started
on the same day with Goodall in
search Of the man Cottner. On
Thursday the party arrived in the
neighborhood of Cottner's supposed
hiding place, and by an agreement be-
tween Goodall and Collin, the latter
proceeded alone to cabin where
Cottner and man named Morgan
were known to be together. The rca-
son given by Goodall for this arrange
ment was that Coffin was acquainted
with Morgan, and being unknown to
Cottner, it was thought that this
would facilitate the arrest. The
sequel was that Goodall, being not far
of, but out of sight, heard the firing
of gun, and rushing to the spot
found Coffin PROSTATE aud unconscious,
with Morgan apparently trying to
render him some assistance. Upon
Goodall inquiring who had done this,
Morgan could not or would not give
any precise information. The deed was
done and the perpetrator had fed.
AS soon as possible Goodall dis
patched courier with letter adj
dressed to Sheriff Lawrence and
to Colonel RUDE Robbins, the City
Marshal, informing them of the cir
cumstances and asking that a doctor
be sent forward and assistance given
to bring Coffin to this place. On re-
eeipt of the letter Sherman Cof-
lin, of the firm of F. II. Coffin &
Brother, of this city, a cousin OF the
deceased, made prompt arrangements
for meeting the case. He engaged
the services of Drs. Mckay and Du-
bois, who, together with Colonel Rob-
BINS, proceeded in carriage to meet
the party coming in. The parties met
at Mitchell's on the Payette, but poor
Walt was already dead. having lived
but two hours after the shoot ag, and
entirely unconscious from the first.
The remains arrived here late Thurs
day evening, and at the request of
Sherman Collin they were taken
to his residence of Grove street,
where they lay until near the time for
the departure of the Umatilla stage,
when the body was made ready and
forwarded to Baker City, the home of
Mrs. Coffin, the mother of the de-
ceased.
Walter Coffin was about 81 years
of age, and was a cousin of the COT
fins of Boise City and HALEY, Ida
no. 1t is due to state that through
out this sad affair Sherman Coffin
did all that afflicted affection could
suggest, as likewise did the many
IrlenQS OF lne deceased.
$500 REWARD.
As soon as the news of the murder
was received in Boise, the citizens of
that place subscribed 81, 900 to be Of
fered as reward for the capture of
Cottner. dead or alive. To this
amount Governor Neil added $500
thus making $500 which awaits the
captors. 1t is believed that Cottner
will not be captured alive, as he is a
determined man and good shot, and
is accompanied by a devoted friend
who is a dead shot.
THE DEAD MAN.
Walt Coffin was a man who hac
that species of blind courage some.
times called ''buli courage" Possessed