The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-07
FROM A HIDDEN HAND.
Anonymous Letters Enter Into
Ballard Politics.
THREATS TO COUNCILMAN DOW.
Captain Ballard Also Receives a Letter
"A Fight for Ofzice-stealing
March on Seattle.

Political feeling in Ballard is so strong that
one faction is resorting to anonymous letter
WFillng In order TO ssdown" the other Such
letters have been received by Councilman Mat
tnew Dow and Captain w. R. Ballard, threat
ening them with vengeance unless they do the
bidding OF the writer
The trouble arises from the holding over OF
the o1o ohcers, whose terms expired on Janu-
airy Charles Hadfeld is the holdoyer borough
clerk and Henry McCurry holds over as mar
snal AT meeting OF the council in committee
OF the whole two or three weeks ago, Alfred
white was chosen IS clerk, and John Holden
gr, as marshal, receiving the votes of Messrs.
Dow, Hopkins and MeVay, while uadfield re-
eeiVeo the votes of Messrs. Holland and XII
WORTH An opinion was then given by City At
torney Peters. that as the town was about to go
from the fourth TO the third class, the council
could not elect officers until il had passed an
ordinance fixing their duties and salaries This
ordinance was introduced at last Tuesdays
meeting OF the council and was referred to
special committee, on which Mayor
Lake appointed Holland and Mcyay both sup
porters OF Hatfield. This committee is to re-
port next Tuesday. AS Dow was elected both
on the Citizens and Democratic tickets, and has
OFTEN voted with the latter, his friends believe
that the anonymous letter was sent to him last
Tuesday with view to influencing his vote on
that evening. He did not receive it, however
until Wednesday, and go could not have in
fuenced him.
The letter is in pencil, and evidently written
with the left hand. 1t reads as follows:
sir: am an old texas neighbor of yours
anu VIII give you word OF advice. | do not
intend that you shall sell Ballard out to the
west coast Co, so have got the papers all GER
tined too with your trouble there. l have also
found out just about how much you are to have
Tor this job and mean to go to the hall tonight
ana by - II you try to put that poor blind tool
OF yours whose poverty you have taken adj
vantage OF to get him to be your tool viii get
up ana denounee. you as felon you damned
wing tool of rich company. Tell Capt. Ballard
You Will have to give up his bride and either re-
sign from the board or be honest. | am going
70 send this news to Ballard and Leary SO they
VIII be prepared for your change OF hart.
know now much MacVay is TO have too take
this warning from TEXAS FRIEND"
Mr.. Dow has suspicious as to the writer of the
letter ana intends to try 10 run him down. Cap
tain Ballard received letter OF siniIar ptlrport
but would not give it for publication. He
thinks he can place his finger on the writer and
intends 70 put detectives on the man trail and
bring him to justice.
Mr.. Dow has told the story of his life in Texas
10 friend, who repeated il 10 PosT-INTELLI
Scotland to Bolton, Bell county, Texas about
fifteen years ago, when the place was remote
from railroads, and began business as a builder
and architect The residents were of the old
elannish, rebel element. which opposed the i'm
migration OF strangers with progressive modern
ideas, and they tried to drive him out. They
leave the community, but he ignored their warn
lngs and continued to buy property and build
houses. After about six months he brought his
wife. mother and brother out there and took up
his abode in house he had built. He remained
In spite OF threats from his enemies, until one
night, as be was undressing to go to bed, a loud
knock came at the door His brother opened it,
and was Immediately seized by band OF about
thirty masked and armed men. He also was
told to hold up his hands with revolver at his
breast, and his mother and wife seized his hands
n qSf q md fNa
shot: He was then dragged out. and he and his
brother, having no clothing but their shirts,
were then taken out 70 some trees near by
Mr. Dow protested that, if he had done anything
wrong, he was prepared TO answer for it before a
legal court, but he was struck on the mouth
with the putt end OF revolver and told to shut
and he was brutality whipped. They were then
liberated, and dragged themselves back to the
house as they best could.
As the Bows still declined to leave the town,
Matthew Dow was next arrested on charge of
insanity. At the trial the strongest evidence of
insanity came from a man who said that a man
Who would persist in living in O community I'M
der such circumstances must be insane. Dow
was sent to the insane asylum on Monday, but
ing that it would be good thing for the coun-
try II there were few more such insane men
In 1t.
In spite of these outragea, the Dow family re-
NAMED at Bolton for twelve years afterwards.
They bought and greatly improved the water
works of the town. and, as railroads reached it
ana new ana progressive settlers came in, the
old lawless element was suppressed and the
Bows lived in peace there. They left two years
ago and moved TO Ballard, bringing with them
letters of regret from many leading citizens Of
the place. Mr.. Dow told his friend that any man
was welcome TO search the records of his life in
Bolton
he town OF Ballard is trying to steal march
on Seattle in the annexation of new territory.
Notice was received on Wednesday from the
secretary OF state that all requirements of the
law to make it a city OF the third-class had been
IA I'D NIT ttnG hot. 6aatA ..a Ixyf 10
council TO call an election on the extension of
the boundaries. The territory which is pro-
posed To annex includes all the additions ON the
west as far the Sound. on the east as far as
Ross, and on the north far as plated. 1t is
proposed to hasten the vote SO to steal
march on Seattle, and get the people If the new
territory 70 vote for annexation to Ballard be-
fore the Seattle council can call an election on
annexation TO this city. With this object an at
tempt was made TO prevent the news of the pro-
posed election from reaching any of the city
newspapers.