The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-15
FATE OF A SWINDLER.
Deffenbaugh Ran Away from
Here to Be Murdered.
A WOMAN IN THE CASE.
When Puget Sound Became too Hot for
Him He Went to Missouri
and Was Killed.

1t has just been learned here that c. c. Deffen-
paugh, who, previous TO and for some time
after the great fire, was resident of Seattle be-
Ing in the real estate firm of Deffenbaugh &
burroughs, is dead, having been shot and killed
III Missouri nearly two months ago. His slayer
is drummer, now in jail in Kansas City, aud
the shooting was oecasioned by the drummer's
wife complaining that Deffenbaugh had made
improper proposals TO her.
The story OF the tragedy is about as follows:
Some miles from Kansas City, on a train going
to small town in Central Missouri, was a
woman travelling alone. Defenbaugh managed
to get himself into the good graces OF the
woman, and about dark when the train
stopped at a small town, Defenbaugh pro.
posed that she get off aud go with
him to supper, he assuring her that the train
would not leave until they had ample time to
return. She accompanied him. and when they
had finished supper he told her the train had
pulled out, and that they would have TO lay
over for the night 1t was then that the woman
alleges Deffen baugh made an improper proposal,
which she resented. She remained at one hotel
for the night while Detenbaugh went to diff
ierent part Of the town, and registered ut an-
other hotel. The woman teegraphed for her
husband, who was a drummer and who was
then in Kansas City. He Immediately took an
evening train for the town where his wife was,
and arrived there the next morning. What the
drummer was enraged and hunted up Deifen-
baugh. As soon as he found the man he drew a
revolver and shot him dead. He did not give
him any quarter al all, and the killing is de-
nounced by the Missouri papers Geld
blooded murder.
Deffenbaugh came to Seattle in February,
ISIS, and engaged i'll many questionable transac-
tons. He was several times exposed as
swindler in the papers, and in the september
following his arrival in the city he left town
suddenly and secretly, leaving behind many
creditors. He was wanted At the time on GRIM
NAL charges, but until the news of his death ar
rived his whereabouts remained unknown.
While in Seattle he spent money right and left,
anu it is said ne was a nightly visitor at Cort's
variety theater, where he lavished money on
seriocomic singer with whom he was infatu-
ated.
A few days after ne dlsa ppeared from Seattle
the following article appeared IN local paper:
Madam Grundy is busy with the name of c. c.
Dehenbaush, and, speaking after the manner oil
the sporting reporter, she is hanling IL without
gloves. Mr.. Defienbaugh's career seems to have
been cut prematurey short in this city, IL We
may judge from the ruthless manner III which
his shortcomings are being laid bare before the
public curiosity. Like most young men who 90
estray, Mr.. Dehenbaugh met and became infetu.
ated with bewitehing woman whose virginia.
purity aud wonanly chastity may not be as
stainless as the feeey clouds and as pure as the
dews from heaven, yet whose powers OF bewitch.
cry are AS potent Tor evil as the whiripoois OF
Niagara And so he fell. C. g. Deff@nbaugh
was for some time previous to the fire
associated III the real estate business
with Mr.. Burroughs and offced in pleasant
apartments in the Squire block. South Second
and Main streets. To the casual acquaintance
things seemed 10 be going extremely well with
Mr.. Deilenbsugh. He was sociaolc, aifable, and
most always wreathed in pleasant smile In
addition to the smile he was usually dressed IN
killing suit of very English-lookiug goods and
always with the appearance OF the pretentious
and successful young man of business. 1t now
transpircs that much OF this p,eientlousness
was all vain show. Debtors 10 the amount OF
several hundred dollars are LETT behind. Not
only this, but it appears that many who wcrelhis
intimate friends have been made TO suuer III
pocket and pride. His hotel bills are TO Il large
extent unsettled and it remains to be seen how
many sundry other bills which form the bane OF
the fast young mans Lie Will bod sere1ely up
when 1t is too late.
The same day the following appeared in the
PosT-INTELLIGENcEE:
C. C. Deffenbaugh, the whilom member of the
real estate firm oil Deifenbaugh & Burroughs. is
wanted again, his disposition to fly high having
won for him creditor who Will stay with him
long after his many fast friends have deserted
him. Some time ago Seattle became too warm
and too full OF the fly young mans creditors,
he left for Portland. How he succeeded in his
rascality there is told in the following dispatch
received from Portland last night:
portland, Sept. S.-Ihomas Gunian, pro-
prietor of the Esmond hotel, is looking for
Caulian C. efienbaugh, of the real
estate firm of Deffenhaugh & Burroughs,
Seattle, who, he says, passed spurious check
for 800 on him the other day. Deffenoaugh has
been patron OF the Esmond hotel oil ana on
for year. and Gunian cashed several checks
for him. The last one was drawn on Dexter
Horton & Co., and was returned protested.
Gunian says that Deffenbaugh spent money
lavishly, and none but the best brands of cham
payne would suit him."
Defenbaugh's first wife, who has been di-
vorced is living at Spokane with Der sister, Mrs.
n. B. Compton. Another woman, his reputed
wife, is living somewhere In Illinois.