The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-15
Fatal Outcome to 4 Social
Drinking Spree.
"HE SHOT YOU FOR NOTHING" !"
The Accusing Words Spoken BY the
Nurderer's Wife.
Charles Brown Attacked By y. :. MUIR
ply In the Presence Of the Lattsr's
Wife and . Friend, sud Fatally
wounded-All Dry Goods Clerks.

At about l1:l0 o'clock last night the
people on Spring street between Sixth and
Seventh, were reused by the shot of
pistol, followed closely BIZ cries Of
"Murder!" and the shrill Yoliceman,s
whistle. The door Of 618 Spring street was
thrown open. and the shrieking inside
showed at once the location OF the trouble.
In the back room on the ground fioor
was group Of four people, the head
of the house. Il. T. Murphy. hot
with anger, his wife, Mrs. Murphy.
sobbing, wringing her hands and saving
Charley. Charley, why did he shoot you?
de shot you for nothing. Charleyi Wake
up, Charley, wake upi don't die r. Besides
these two, friend, J. ]. Mitchell, was try
ing to hold up and keep from failing.
Charles Brown. stalwart young fellow,
over whose shirt front a thin stream of
blood was trickling from point Just
below the collar. The wounded
man reeled and staggered, clutching
at the table and the wall, over which the
blood was spattcred. There he fell, and
rolled on the floor IN agony, while pool
OF blood began to collect on the floor by
him. He turned and tossed in the blood,
smearing his hands and his clothes. and
then as he reached vainly up the wall to
grasp something by which to lift himself
he left long red fnger-marks in the white
pastering.
The room was in utter confusion. On the
table was lamp. several half-emptie
glasses Of beer, and ssme broken pieces of
beer bottle. Broken glass was scattered
about the floor, while the carpet and most
OF the furniture were huddled together in
heap in corner by the sewing machine.
Officer Glasscock, who was on the beat.
arrived almost Immediately, together with
Officer Bryant, of the mounted force, who
lives next door. and was asleep at the time
the shooting occurred. They at once
slipped handouts on E. I. Murphy. who
acknowledged himself as the assailant. and
put Mrs. Murphy and J. ]. Mitchell under
arrest
DR.. z. B. M. Miller was summoned, and
Father Enamel Demanex. The doctor
quickly cut the blood-soaked clothing fro m
Browns body and examined the wound,
the man meanwhile groaning, s4I'm shot
by Murphy Murphy did it, and he did it
for nothingl I'm dead, doctor, I'm dead.
When the shirt was opened there was q
small hole just below the clavicle or collar
bone through which the blood was coming
in feeble spurts. The doctor made q hasty
examination, and nodded to the priest,
The officers started from the room with the
three prisoners, the doctor withdrew for 4
minute, while Father Demanex knelt over
the man to pronounce the last absolution.
The second scene of the tragedy was at
the station-house, when the participants
told their story, and Officer Glasscock ex-
hibited the forty-one caliber Colt revolver
with which the deed was done.
Murphy is mediuni-sized man Of Il.
He is compactIy built, and his face is
smooth except for short bristling reddish
moustache. He said he came here from
San Francisco year ago last
April. and that he has been
working for Toklas, Singerman 4 Co.
up to short time ago. In the direc-
tory, however. he is put down as a clerk
for ]. A. Baillargeon & Co. The
wounded Brown was his best friend, and
old and tried companion, who had come
here with him from San Fran
cisco. Brown, who had also worked
for the same firm, boarded with them. The
story Murphy tells is that he and his wife
had spent the evening at home. They had
taken up the carpet and packed up their
goods, preparing to sell some of their stuff
and return to San Francisco. His
friend Brown came in with J.
J. Mitchell, young fellow
of 20, neatly dressed and with dark NOUS
tache and dark side whiskers. Mitchell is
also clerk with Tokles-Singerman. The
newcomers bought half dozen bottles of
beer, which the four proceeded to
drink. The festivities had been under
way about half an hour when
Charles Brown was well under
the influence of liquor began to get very
abusive and 10 storm around threatening
him, Mitchell, and finally Mrs. Murphy,
When he had offered violence to the
woman Murphy drew q revolver and shot
him. Murphy had fair control of himself
all the time, and told practically the same
story at the house and aftarward to the
police.
Mrs. Murphy is stout, red-cheeked.
dark-eyed, buxum woman, who gave her
age as 90. Although at the house she had
wept over the wounded M an, had stormed
around calling for doctor
nantly insisted that Brown had
theless she calned down somewhat at the
police station, and showed herself to be a
woman not unattractive In manner.
She acknowledged that they had
been drinking together. Charley
Brown had gotten pretty drunk and when
he was drunk she said he was inclined to
be abusive, though he meant no harm. She
had heard some words, she did not remem-
Der just what, when suddenly there was the
report of revolver, bullet whizzed
past her head from behind her, Brown
gave a cry, and she knew that he was shot.
She didn't know where the pistol came
from, and she couldn't see whv her hus-
band had shot the man, for he was their
Oldest and best friend. Indeed, Brown was
boarding with them, living upstairs.
Young Mitchell was very reticent. and
tried TO keep the others from giving auy of
the details. To PosT-INrELLIG EycER re-
porter, who had entered the house be-
fore the arrests were made, he said
that he had come upon Brown down
town, exactly where he would not tell:
and they had came up the hill together to
Murphy's at about 10:30 O'Clock. They
had been drinking point which he was
inclined to DENY till the glasses were sug-
gested as conclusive evidence. Brown had
gotten fighting drunk, was abusive,
q quarrel had sprung UP, and then came
the pistol shot. Mitchell was apparently y
bit under the influence of liquor, bit
dszed by the occurrence, and not very
clear in his mind as to the circumstances.
He thought Brown had followed Murphy
in threatening manner out into . little
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