Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-07-29

LEWISTON IDAHO TERRITORY THURSDAY, july g. 1856.
We find the following iu the
Oregonian of July 10.
INVESTIGATING AN OUTRAGE
The Governor Of Idaho at Pierce City.
Idaho. investigating the Lynch.
ing CT Five Chinese.
PIERCE Cry, Idaho, July 10,


Some time in September of last year
merchant named Frazier, Of this city,
was found dead, having been murdered
during the night by parties unknown.
The object of the murder was at first
supposed to be for money, bu. as the
safe was intact this theory was explored
and the real cause Of the murder has been
shrouded in mystery. The fact however
is patent that Frazier was killed, his body
presenting the appearance Of prolonged
struggle with his assailants, who used a
pistol, hatchet and club. A few days
after, party of men from Lewiston
Joined another party on the prairie and
went to investigate the affair. The
Cinnamon at Pierce City were majority
Of the inhabitants. Five Chinamen were
then hung. The Chinese government
have recently made demand on the
secretary of the United States tor an in.
vestigation of the affair." They represent
that the Chinese were innocent Of the
murder that the murder was committed
by white men, and they demand money
damages from our government The
secretary ordered the governor of Idaho
to come at once to this city aud to
thoroughly investigate the matter,
In compliance with this official order,
Governor Stevenson is here examining
into the situation. Two of the Chinese
that were hung by the mob, were mer.
chants doing business here, the other
three were miners. Why these Chinese
could not have been given an cxamina.
tion appears unjust to the Chinese gov
ernmtnt. 1t also appears from the re-
port OF the Chinese officials that these
Cinnamon who were the victims of the
mob were robbed of large sums of money,
and that number of the same persons
who killed and robbed the Chinese were
with the party who killed Frazier Our
government is anxious to bring the
parties to justice. and is concerned lest
the Chinese in China may retaliate on
our citizens residing in China.
There are some points in this pretend
ed letter, which are convincing evidence
that no such letter was written in Pierce
City. The letter is published on the
morning of the 10Th Of July, claiming
to have been written on the 10th at
Pierce City, five hundred miles distance,
with one hundred miles Of the distance
without telegraph or telephone. It
claims that Governor Stevenson was then
at Pierce City examining into the sltua-
ton on the 10th Of July. Governor
Stevenson never entered Pierce City till
the 18th of July, the day before this
pretended correspondence was published
in the Oregonian. Another point is
that it is represented that the Chinese,
who were hung, were not given an ex-
animation, which is not true. They were
examined and committed, and we're be-
ing taken by officers to the Jail at Mur-
ray, and were rescued by masked men,
whether Indians or white men, is not
known to the officers in charge. Again
it is alledged that the Chinese victims
were robbed of large sums of money.
When the facts are that not thing be-
longing to Chinsman was disturbed by
the authorities at Pierce City, and when
they left Pierce City, in charge of the
guard, .hey were not known to have any
money and the authorities do not believe
that any robbery could have taken place
even by the maskeIs who waylaid them,
because there was no money about them
Of which they could have been robbed.
The evidence given by the Chinese wit
nesscs at the examination Of the prisoners
at Pierce City, was convincing to the
justice and to the by ISLANDERS that the
prisoners were guilty of the murder of
Frazier and yet the Oregonian's cor
respondent would have its readers believe
that the same persons who hung the
Cinnamon were present at the numbering
of Frazier. 1t is fully evident that the
letter published in the Oregonian was
known to be a he when it was written,
and was written to libel the white cit
izens Of Pierce City and to further the
claim Of the Chinese for indemnity.
We presume Gov. Stevenson will unravel
the mystery as far as he finds 1t in his
power to do so, and that he will find that
the men that Were hung were the muir.
derers Of Frazier, and that the cause Of
their being hung by the mob or Indians,
was in part revenge Of the death Of
Frazier and to intimidats against other
murders by Chinese, whether the hang
ing was done by white men or Indians.
Frazier was the friend of the Indians and
they were terribly incensed at his mur-
der, as be had always been their friend