The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-01
THE RED ROSE GANG.
Trial of the Pacific County
Murderers Begun.
BOY CONNECTING HIS FATHER.
A Prominent walla walla Merchant
Dies From Oyer-Exersion.
BOY coNvlcTINc HIS FATHER.
He Ran to q Midnight Fire-The Column
bia River salmon Pack Explorer
Greenbaum Found, Tired and Hungry
The schoolbook Bribery.

OYsrERvrLLE, WASH, July 3i.-What
gives promise OF being the most sensational
murder case in the history of Washington
Is now in progress in the superior court.
John Edwards. Edward Gibbons, John B.
Rose and George Rose are being tried for
the murder of J. f. Frederickson and
wife, in Pacific county, January
80, 1880. The court began the
work, Tuesday, of impaneling
jury, which was completed the same day,
only fourteen being excused or challenged.
Following are the names OF the jurors: A.
Writ, P. Moore. Thomas Rooney. J. G.
Denton, M. G. Fieldburg, 4. A. Mauldin,
Curt Musser, Freeman Albright, E. ].
Ford, John Adamson, F. HI. Canaris and
James Cady. 1t was arranged that the de-
PENDANTS should be tried in the following
order: Edwards first, Gibbons second,
John B. Rose third and George Rose last.
The courtroom was packed when the
case against Edwards was called yester-
day. After the case had Teen opened by
the respective attorneys, George Rose, one
of the defendants, was called to the stand.
The defense objected to the introduction
of Roses evidence, for the reason that
by confessions made at the preliminary
examination the evidence of his guilt was
so clearly shown and his connection with
the crime SO thoroughly established that
he ought not to be allowed to testify, and
that. being co-defendant, he was not q
competent witness. The defendants OBJ
jection was overruled. Rose then told to
the jury the following story of the crime
On the morning of January 30 the defendants
got Frederickson TO go with them to look after
some cattle While walking along trail
Edwards was followed by John B. Rose and
witness Fredericton came next and
Gibbons brought up the rear. About
one-half mile from the house
Gibbons said: "Look here, Frederick son r
Frederickson turned, and Gibbons, who was
carrying shotgun, raised it TO his shoulder and
fired into Frederickson's face The cartridge
was loaded with No. or b shot. FredericksOn
fell dead without uttering word.
Before burying him John B. Rose took all the
money out OF his pocket, $5S or $50. and divided
1t among the other defendants. The body was
then buried where it fell. Defendant then re.
turned to John B. Roses house. and John B.
Rose and Edwards went to Frederickson's
house and on some excuse brought Mrs. Fred
erickson to Roses house. When near the pig
pen EDWARDS raised his rifle and shot Mrs.
FreGerickson through the head, killing her in
stantly. A grave two feet and half deep was
then dug, and the murdered woman placed in it.
When young Roses testimony contra
dicted his first confessions, he gave as a
reason that he had been instructed by his
counsel at that time to make different
statements. in order that people would not
know what he would testify, and that he
also did not wish to implicate his father.
On cross-examination he stuck closely to
his story, and denied that he assaulted the
murdered woman.
The defense will endeavor to prove that
George alone committed the murder, and
that he first assaulted the woman, breaking
her arm in the struggle.
After several witnesses as to Edwards
queer conduct since the murder, and to
exhuming the murdered woman's body,
had been examined, court adjourned.