The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-29

over deals and Swanson or Sordstrom went 10
his cabin aud armed himself with q revolver,
came TO Thomas Mason's house aud threatened
volyer John Mason armed himself with
q revolver, and Swanson or Nordstorm
went no further to my knowledge The
ago Nordstrom or swanson was angry
about the settlement OF financial busi-
ness in regard to work performed. swan
son, or Nordstrom. had taken contract to grub
land and to dig q ditch for Thomas
Mason, father of the deceased, but the
agreement was made by Mr.. John
fulfill his contract, left the ditch partly
completed, ana John Mason having left
the fsrrn, looked to William Mason
for settlement William Mason refused and
referred swanson to John Mason. Swanson
out of the A5 door. cursed William Mason and
made threats, using the swedish language
James Mason testified that be was present
when William Mason was shot and killed. Four
months ago Nordstrom or Swanson came
TO his house and wanted settle
ment with John Mason, deceaseds
brother. He did not finish grubbing. SO
he did not get the full amount of money from
John Mason. Nordstrom said he would go back
and finish the contract He finished the job ali
but two acres. They settled and called
TO get even, but told this to
third parties Nordstrom was at the house three
weeks ago to see Mason, ST. He asked William
II his father was at home, and then went away.
They were apparently friendly. but outside the
house quarreled.
Robert Eckman, Finlander, who said that
he worked for Thomas Mason, corroborated
previous testimony. Thomas Mason, IT,, testi-
fed that he knew Swanson, or Nordstrom,
ana saw him last about three weeks ago.
Swanson or Nordstrom had a wicked temper
and carrid firearms. He had short bulldog"
revolver aud had it with him when he came to
the house. The jury brought in the following
verdict, after being out thirty minutes:
We, the jurors of this inquest, over the de-
ceased William Mason, give in our verdict to
the best OF our ability, according to the testi-
mony given by witnessnes, that William Mason
the deceased met his death by shot fred from
pistol by the hand of Charles swanson, or
otherwise known as Charles Norastrom.
An examination of the wound showed that
the ball had entered the left arm three inches
below the shoulder and passed entirely through
the body, piercing both lungs and passing
through the right arm, lodging in the
outer skin. The bullet was a 44calibre, and
Sheriff Woolery thinks it came from a Winches-
ter rife. The assassin is thought to be in the
woods yet.
Thomas Mason, father of the young man who
was shot, was in the city when the tragedy oc-
CURED. He left his boarding place about
O'Clock in the evening, saying he was going
home, but he afterwards changed his mind
and spent the night at a hotel Not
until he read the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES yester-
day morning was he aware of the fact of the
murder. He was nearly crazed with grief, and
left for Cedar Mountain on the Sis train in the
morning.
Willie Mason had besides two brothers at his
fathers ranch two sisters in this city, who are
at present attending school at the Academy of
the Holy Names. For some time he was ap-
prentice at the blacksmith shop of Buchanan
Bros, in Seattle, but he left their employ about
year ago and went to work as a helper in the
blacksmith shop of c. Westerman. Here
he worked Tor several months, until
he met with an accident. A piece
of heated steel few from the anvil and put one
OF his eyes out. He returned home after having
been treated by physician, and he remained
on his fathers ranch until he met his death.