The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-28
SHOT In The DARK.
Conflicting Stories Concerning the Killing
Of Deputy Sheriff.

SEATTLE, July PA shooting affray
took place early this morning at WolIey, a
small place in Skagit County. United
States Customs Inspector Baird, stationed
at that place, together with James Buchanan,
shot and killed a Deputy Sheriff of King
County named George w. Poor and wounded
j. f. Terry. They arrested another in
speetor named Taylor Holden. The stories
of the shooting are very conflicting. Holden
and Poor left on Sunday for Wcley, the
latter telling the Sheriff that he was going
after some opium. Terry seems to have
been in league with Holden and Poor, either
Tor the purpose of betraying the smugglers.
whoever they might be, or 10 aid the officers
In getting away with it themselves. Holden
accuses Baird and Buchanan of being SNUG
glers, and declares that he received word Of
the smuggling and took Poor along to ar
rest the smugglers. The parties met in the
dark and the shooting followed. Owing to
a forest fire at Snohomish the wires are
down and further particulars are unob-
tainable.
There are many conflicting reports regard
Ing the shooting. 1t has been rumOred that
Holden, Poor and Terry were endeavOring
to smuggle twelve or fourteen Cinnamon
across the border, and that the shooting
occurred as result of their resisting
arrest. There are also Indications that
Holden and PoOre were in the line of duty
hncH tHcy Nelo Will ny bucL-
anan and Baird. Several weeks ago
Holden applied to Deputy Collector AL
exander for leave of absence to go to
the border on secret mission.
H He was refused, but Collector
Bradshaw allowed him to 90. Friday ha
went to Wolley and said he could make a
good capture, even though parties in the
service were trying to down him. Poor got
permission from Sheriff Woolrey to 90 with
Holden to Sedro, aud nothing was heard of
either party until the news of the desperate
encounter came.
c. E. Bigman, a brakeman on the Seattle,
Lake Shore and Eastern Raiwy. and a
member of the Coroner's jury. said: The
shooting took place at about IL o'clock, one
mile north of Wolley. just off the car tracks
/ saw Baird at the hotel at IL 80 o'clock,
with his head all bandaged up and covered
with blood. He said he had killed a man
down the road and shot another to pieces,
and did not know whether he was dead or
not"
Poor's body was brought to town. Terry
was found covered with blood and would not
say much. He said: " If am going t. die
will say something, but if not I'll keep
num-" He claims that he arrested Holden
for smuggling. Tue Coroner's inquest was
dict rendered that he came
to his death from gum
shot wound at the hands of j. C. Baird and
Charles Buchanan. After the verdict was
rendered BAIRD ana Buchanan were arrested,
and Holden aud Terry were held rs wit
nPSses.
This evening Terry. fearing that he would
die, said that lie and Poor had arrested
number of Cinnamon and bad started to
Sedro, and had met three men who COM
menced to shoot. He said he did not know
who did the shooting but he understood
that j. C. Baird and James Buchanan did
it. Holden was released subsequently, and
started out and captured the Cinnamon. He
sent the following dispatch to the Post
lntelligencer tonight:
arrested the nine Cinnamon at 4:3O o'clock
to-day that George w. Poor had In charge when
killed last night by j. c. Baird.