The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-21
TWO DARK MURDERS
Victim of the Ocean Dock Rob-
berry is Dead.
THREE MEN ARE SUSPECTED.
The Slaughter Drowning Case 10 Con-
clusively Proven to Be One OF
Robbery and Murder.


found lying insensible at the south gate of
Providence hospital at 10:45 O'Clock last
after he was struck down.
The crime which hurried into eternity an
inoffensive man, without a moment
warning, is shrouded in mystery. Hass,
with other employees on the steamer Geo.
w. Elder, received his pay on Monday,
and as he was saving man. had not less
than $50 on his person when he started
out for the evening. He spent the time up
to midnight in the New Depot saloon, on
Commercial street, and had taken consid-
cradle liquor aboard. From midnight to
the time he was found his movements are
not known.
Circumstances connect three employees
on the same vessel with the murder.
George w. Boyd. Frank Hennessy and one
Johnson or ONEIDA, two assistant en-.
gineers and an oiler, were arrested in
Whitechapel about midnight. taken to
police headquarters and charged with dis
orderly conduct. Boyd had $25. which he
deposited as cash bail. but the others had
but little money. Boyd went away, but
returned in few minutes with enough to
bail out johnson, or ONEIDA. The two
went away together, promising to
return, and an hour later came
back with enough money to secure
Hennessy's release. Just as the three
were about to leave, the insensible body of
Hass was brought in. They recognized the
injured man at once, and assisted in trying
to revive him, as it was thought at first he
was stupid from liquor. When it was dis
covered by the officers that Hass had been
struck with some weapon the three men
disappeared. All three appeared in the
police court yesterday afternoon and paid
fines of 81 each.
Last night, by order of Chief Monroe,
two of the men were brought to headquar-
tiers and questioned, but no additional
evidence being elected. they were allowed
to go.
The individual in the trio who gave his
name as Johnson, but is known on the
boat as ONEIDA. acted in the most suspi-
cious manner, but as yet there is no more
evidence against him than against bis COM
panions.
Hass, who was German about IS years
of age. was bartender for Hams & Dick
man about two years ago and has many
acquaintances in the city. He has sister
living in San Francisco, who was apprised
by wire yesterday of the condition of her
brother.
Aboard the boat no suspicion was en-
tertained against the three employees
spoken of, as it is said they could have had
no motive for robbing Hass. having money
of their own. The fact remains, however,
that they did not have money when ar
rested, but raised the amount needed in
some way.
While it is known that many toughs in
fest the docks, none were seen in the neigh
borhood where the crime was committed
during the night.
A letter found on Hass' person from his
mother, dated in Barmstedt Holstein. Ger
many, October l6. 1889, thanks him for
some photographs of Alaska which he has
sent and expresses regret that he should
be working on steamer, as he
has already experienced the dangers of the
sea in his trip to America, and in colli-
sion with an iceberg to which he appears
to have referred in letter to her. She
tells him that this is a
warming and he should not
tempt Providence. She speaks of the
grief she would suffer if anything should
happen 10 nlm, as IL was nara enough al
ready to have her children separated from
her and in foreign countries. She
suggests that he must by this time have a
considerable sum secured, as he has been
away from home seven years and has al
ways prospered. She mentions a girl
named Anna Kroeger, daughter of a
neighbor, who contemplated sailing FOR
San Francisco the following summer,
and suggests that he should come
to San Francisco to meet her.
The mother expresses desire to be with
her daughter Mary, as her wages are con-
.stantly decreasing, and she is afraid of
being left alone. and closes with the hope
that his next letter will come from San
Francisco.
The letter is well written in German, and
the writer is evidently woman of educa-
ton and refinement
Chief of Police Monroe last night gave
orders to patroimen to arrest all suspicious
characters found upon the streets after
midnight, where satisfactory explanation
OF their presence could not be gained, and
the officers will make clean sween