The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-25
ALL OVER A COW.
False Cry of Murder From
Eight Miles South.
OFFICERS WILD GOOSE CHASE.
George w. Dornbach Sends . False SEN
sational Report to the City-Only
Grand Larceny Case.

At 10 O'Clock last night sensational tele-
phone message at the sheriff Office to the effect
that two officers were needed al the White House
to arrest man who had killed his wife,
and was numbering his children, called to the
scene Deputy Sheriffs Jack Mcdonald
aud Charles Woolery. The report
proved to be unfounded, and about
O'Clock this morning the officers
returned with l. F. Hicklin and Arthur Hick-
I'm, brothers, who live eight miles south OF the
city. charged simply with grand larceny. The
warrant was sworn out by George ". Dornbach,
and 1t was he who telephoned in the misleading
message, but he refused to give bis name to the
ofhcers, and not until the deputy sheriffs ar
rlVed at the White House did they know
that he was mixed up in the af-
ialr. The two officers were provided
with warrant by Dorm bach, who, guiding them
along treacherous road through the woods,
i've miles to the house of the Hicklins, told the
following story.
81 was in the city late tonight and did not
leave town until after dark. When arrived at
e. W. Millers place, two miles this side of our
house, 1 found my vile in state
OF high nervous excitement. Armed with
Winchester she had run from our place over
dark skid road cutting through the timber to
Miller's. She said that about O'Clock she
heard the HIcklins quarreling. Their place is
about 100 yards from ours. She heard Mrs.
Hicklin say:
"'Ill tell on you, and I'll tell everything
know, your
"Then Hicklin said:
"'If you tell / II kill your
"'I don't care, I'll tell Here Mrs. HEX
Inns voice was drowned by the noise of three
rifle shots fired in quick succession.
"My wife could hear the woman scream and
could hear a succession OF deep and apparently
agonizing groans. She grabbed up my Win
chester and, running from the house. made her
n / irou at ~ w nd
telephoned in for officers to come out"
After an hours drive through one of the
worst roads in the county the officers came upon
the Hieklin domcile. All was quie. and dark.
The officers shouted and a dog answered their
calls. Presently there was light in the house
and l.. +. Hcklin appeared at the door
''We're deputy sheriff." shouted Mcdonald.
"Come in" invited the brothers, and the Off
GERS went in.
Mrs. Hicklin had retired, and when asked If
she was hurt looked surprised and said she
didn't think she insisted that she had not
heard any shots. and cOntended that herself and
husband had not quarreled during the evening.
When the officers took the brothers away Mrs.
Hickiin kissed her husband in affectlonate
manner. The brothers offered not the least
resistance and were taken to Jail, where
they spent the night. On the return
the officers and Posi- INTE LLIGEN GER reporter,
who had gone out to the scene met Sheriff
who, having heard that the two officers
had gone to arrest a murderer, came out in
coupe TO render assistance. They were misled
by Dornbach's message.
The Hicklins and Dornbach, though neigh
bors, are deadly enemies, and l. +. Hicklin
says that Dornbach maliciously misinformed
the officers OF the facts in the case in
order that he might cause them to spend the
night in Jail The brothers were arrested last
Monday on a warrant sworn out by Dorm
bach upon charge OF stealing a COW.
They were acquitted after a hearing
criminal intent had been shown by
the defendants. The defendants admit
ted that the COW had been offered
for sale, but that the animal had
never been paid for and had been taken back.
Hicklin placed her u farm he owned near
Whatcom. Dornbach was enraged at the
decision of the justice and he went
to Whatcom, and secretly took the cow
from pasture, and arrived in the city yesterday
morning with the animal, having come
down by boat. few hours later
he had the COW at his place
and the Hcklins knew nothing of the affair
The warrnt for their arrest was sworn out later
and served in the unusual manner narrated.
The Hicklins say they will swear out a war
rant for Dornbach today upon a charge of lar
ceny. ave will give him all he wants." said
l.. F. Hicklin bitterly.
l. +. Hicklin was tried for murder four
years ago, but was acquitted on the
grounds that he was temporarily in
sane. He shot dead French logger named
Cousins, who it was claimed had ravished
Hicklins wife