The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-29
INSPECTORS BAIRD,s STORY.
He Admits Killing Poor, and Says Ho1.
den Was With the Cinnamon.


sEpRo, July 2S-lspeciaL}-J. C. Baird gave
the following account Of the difficulty to q
PosT-INTELLIGENcER reporter:
These Cinnamon came to Acme about four
days ago. There was man there named Terry,
whom i had seen with Chinamau once before.
| arrested the Chinaman, and Terry jumped the
train at Fremont. Terry came to town again
yesterday morning and wired to Holden.
Charley Davis saw the message, which secured
the contents OF and also the answei OF Holden.
/ wired on Saturday evening for James Blu
chanan, of Whatcom. After securing Hoidens
answer we began TO lay q scheme for Holden to
fall into. then met the train at sedro station,
and talked with Holden. He told me that he had
leisure, and had run up on the strength of the
message that had sent to Alexander two days
before. He said nothing about the wire
from Terry. told Holden that had secured
the assistance OF two men ana placed them
on the railroad track north of Wooley one mile,
TO watch the following night, and there was one
town, and would get horse and ride down on
the Great Northern five six miles and catch
them there if they came over that road. Holden
and ride away But before left Holden asked
him FOR pair Of handouts. He had two pairs,
but no keys-also q large Colts gun. After
wards Holden borrowed two nickel plated small
guns, saying that he had none.
Alter Holden saw me ride away, Mr.. Reece
came up with him to Sedro station, and Holden
once He started off, but as soon as he supposed
Reece was out of sight, he turned around and
went down the track 10 Wooey.
After had ridden out of sight of Holden I
got OF my horse. took of the rig and turned the
animal loose. was in Disguise and on his trail
in about fifteen minutes then went to where
Buchanan was stationed, and we located our
selves in the most convenient place we could
find to make the arrest, as we expected to fight
We were about ten feet from the railway track
when they passed by us, the three white men in
the lead and the Cinnamon following. The
white men were commanded to halt, and we
told them We were customs officers,
and that we would arrest them in the
firing. Each man fred one shot, then
whispering and going north to 8 point on the
road where the county road crosses the railway.
three white men were near the foot OF the rail-
road grade. We commenced shooting. / was
shooting at Terry at distance of about five
feet. Buchanan was shooting at Poor After
shooting three shots at Terry he and Holden ran
and fell. then commenced shooting at Poor.
Poor then threw up his hands and said: "You
shot me. am deputy sheriff"
Baird was a policeman in Blaine, and he
finally got permission to dc deputy inspectors
work without pay. Afterwards he got COM
mission. 1t is said that the first day he became
an officer he came down town with two large
revolyers sticking in his belt in plain sight
Along the line of the railroad he has the reputa-
ton OF being very ready with his gun.
wHATcoM, July 28.-[special. deputy Collec.
tor Reilly and Others, who have known James
Buchanan for years as a citizen and officer, be-
lieve him honest in the discharge of his duty at
Sedro. He has been q faithful customs officer
here and sympathy is with him.
Deputy Collector Reilly here says he knows of
no jealousies which existed between Buchanan
and Holden. Buchanan always spoke well of
him. Buchanan went to Sedro on q telegram
from Baird with the permission of Reilly. A.
telegram from Buchanan to Reilly on Sunday.
stated:
can't return today Have Cinnamon in the
woods. VIII stay and help Baird watch to-
night.