The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-26
BLANTON'S DEFENSE.
His Statement as to Why He
Was Led to Do Murder.
EXTRACTS FROM THE RECORDS.
samuel DObie Driven From His Own
nsns by . Woman sad Dared
Not KetaFn.

be few little truths IN some OF Blanton's
statements as to the causes which led him
70 murder Thomas Click in this city last
November, and attempt the lives of Ben
nett and Doble. The following matters
are given as found. for what they are
worth in the case, and should not be taken
By readers as an excuse by the Gasette for
Btanton's deed. or an appeal in hls behalf.
They are simply his statements and few
facts found on record:
On the eth day of February, 1880. there
was filed for record in the auditors Office
at Colfax . warranty deed, executed By
Samuel Doble to j. X Bennett, which con-
veyed Dobie's farm. described as the south
west quarter OF section 26. township 20
north OF range "A east. Willamette merid-
ian, containing loo acres, more or less, ac-
cording to government survey. to Bennett,
for y consideration of 5000. And this is
the way the consideration was 10 be paid:
On March Sd there was filed for record .
mortgage executed by J. r. Bennett and
Nancy J. Bennett, his wife, upon the same
tract OF land described above, the consid-
Grafton being 81 800. showing that 500 only
had been paid down upon the transfer of
the land, and according TO Doble, this, in
reality. was not to be paid until next fall.
The mortgage was given to secure the pay
ment of four promissory notes, executed
by Bennett to Doble in completion of pay
ment for the land, as follows: One for
$500. payable January 1, 1892. three for
$500 each, payable January 1, 1885, 1894 and
1896 respectively. All these notes were to
draw per cent. interest per annum only.
while the prevailing custom of the country,
in such matters as this, is from IL TO Is per
per cent. per annum. The payments were
extraordinarily easy, too. and it is doubt
full il another such farm in the Palouse
country could be obtained upon such terms.
And this is not all. The farm is worth
more than s., 600 cash in hand, and not
strung out in small payments for five years,
at ridicuously low rate of interest. The
probate court values the ranch at s., 900.
1t also seems that the community was of
the opinion that Mr.. Doble's weak mind
had been taken advantage of. At least it
is said that public opinion tended so
strongly in that direction that Mr.. Bennett
deemed it advisable to deed the property
back to Doble Whether this be true or
not is left to those who know. At any
rate. on the 18th day of March. 1880, there
was filed for record a warranty deed con-
veying from Bennett to Doble the same
tract Of land for the same consideration
previously paid.
Following this chain of events, comes
John Lathrum into the probate court, on
the 7th day of April, and files a petition
asking that q guardian of the estate of
Samuel Doble be appointed. alleging that
Doble is incapable of attending to his
affairs.
On the 10th of April. after hearing the
evidence and the statement and defense of
Doble, the probate judge deemed it neces-
sary to place Doble's business affairs in
charge of guardian, and appointed as
such Mr.. Thomas Goldworthy.
During the progress OF the hearing it
came out in evidence. upon the statement
of Doble, that he had been, figuratively
speaking at least, kicked from his own
home and his clothes thrown after him by
Mrs. Click. the widow of the murdered
man. and that he dared not return except
when he knew she was away.
Blanton, for q number of years previous
to the commission of the deed for which
his life is now in jeopardy, made his home
with Samuel Doble on the latter's farm
near Oaksdale. Doble is a somewha at
supplemented man who had no family but
q wife, and of late years she has been an
inmate of the hospital for the insane at
Steilacoom, at which institution she died a
few months ago.
Blanton puts forth the claim that during
his residence with Doble he protected as
far as possible the simple-minded mans
property interests, he being the possessor
of as good . quarter section of land as lies
in that excellent agricultural neighbor-
hood. and that the relations between him
self and Doble were pleasant and harmo-
NOUS until Others appea red upon the scene,
and, as Blanton expires sed il, took advan-
tage OF Doble's imbeciiity and wound him
about their fingers ends.
Blanton and Dohle were .'batching it,
on the farm, the former says, working
about the place during the day and cook
ing their own meals at morning, noon and
night. Blanton says they became tired of
this life in the course of time and finally
one day Doble proposed that they get
some one to keep their house, to which
Bianton acquiesced. As it would have
been highly improper, and probably inn
possible, to obtain woman alone to see
after their pots and kettles, ii was decided
to get man and wife. AS result, Thos.
Click, the victim of Blanton's pistol, and
wife were soon installed in the household.
Matters ran on smoothly for time, but
soon changed TO a different course. Ac-
cording 10 Blanton. Click formulated de-
sire TO get rid of him in order that he and
one Bennett. a cousin OF Click might wind
Doble about their finger ends and wheedle
him out OF his farm and other possessions
Blauton says that he had no trouble with
Click whatever, nor with Doble until one
day some months previous To the murder,
when a friend approached him at his work
in the field and told him that Click and
Doble had gone to oaksdale to swear out a
complaint for bis arrest upon charge of
assault upon Dohle He was surprised and
immediately started for town to see what
the proceedings meant. A miIe or two out
of town he met a constable with a warrant
Arriving at oaksdale, he went at
once tn Dohle and demanded 10
know upon what grounds he made such a
complaint. After some TAX nohle ac-
knowiedsed that he had no cause for the ac-
ton and the two went before the justice
when boele witharew the charge. paid the
costs and dismissed the suit Following
this, he was again arrested in about the
same manner, as he says. upon charge of
stealing Dohle's cattle. bnt was acquitted
/ in a preliminary examination nefoya q ms