The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-29
MURDERER OF MASON.
Evidence Points Strongly to
One Mans Guilt.
CLIMAX OF A LONG QUARREL.
4 Former Laborer Suspected of the
Crfme-Tracked From Gilman
Result OF the Inquest.


cerer Sordstrom formerly worked on Mason's
ranch and some FIVE months ago had quarrel
with young Mason, which caused continual dis
putes. Yesterday morning, after the shooting.
the murderer was trailed for mile
and half from the scene, and then
his tracks were lost in the brush. When
Sheriff woolery arrived on the scene he caused
lookout to begin in all directions, and himself
went to Gilman, where he discovered that
Nordstrom had worked in the mines until
Wednesday. On that day he left for Cedar
Mountain, remsrking to a companion that
ii he did not get some money there would be
trouble.
The coroner, assistant coroner and assistant
prosecuting attorney went 10 the scene on the
evening train and held an inquest They were
accompanied by q Posi- INTELLIGEScER repor-
ter, rho sends the following detailed account of
the murder. pursuit and inquest:
CgDAR MOUNTAIN, Nov 2S.-The shooting of
Willsm Mason occurred on Friday evening
about $50 o'clock, just as the family and hired
Invertebrates Gallagher, Joseph Mason, Thomas
Mason and Robert Eckman-were about to sit
down TO supper. William Mason occupied the
corner seat Four feet from the window and in
line with him, with their backs 10 the wall, were
Gallagher and Joseph Mason. Suddenly a
shot was heard. All jumped TO their
feet except William, who tried to rise but fell
forward, his head striking the wall. Gallagher
rectly behind where William had been seated,
but found it was not loaded. Two shotguns
were also on the wall, but neither of them was
capped. He then went TO the fallen man, put
his hand under his head and turned him over.
The poor boy gasped few times but did not
speak. Gallagher picked him up and carried him
into the front room, whence he and Joseph Mason
carried the boy into bedroom and placed him
on bed From the time the shot was fired until
he drew his last breath was but two minutes,
and at no time did he give any signs of con-
seriousness. Gallagher looked at the wound and
saw that the bullet had entered the left arm, but
did not see how it had come out, as he made no
further examination at the time
He in company with one of the boys, went to
C. Sprague's, farmer near by, and told the
news, then went down the mountain to Cedar
Mountain station and telegraphed the news to
Sheriff Wooiery. By this time the inhabitants
OF the whole surrounding country were aware
OF the tragedy that had been enacted and were
gathering at the Mason house. The darkness
prevented pursuit for the time being and
crowd of angry men waited until the first dawn
let them examine the ground and see in what
direction the assassin Had gone
The shot gave evidence of having been fred at
close range, and an examination OF the ground
revealed foot prints near the window and lead
ing in a northwesterly direction from the house.
party of six men, led by James Mcdonald,
from the window through the woods one mile
From the foot prints it looked as If he wore rub
Der boots. Afser going about mile and half
the tracks led down a lane on the premises
of Thomas Lindsey. The lane was very muddy,
and the murderer had taken off his boots and
walked through the mud in his stocking feet
At the end of the lane he put on his boots again
and kept on in northwest direction The
men followed the tracks for about a mile
further. but lost them on account OF the dense
underbrush.
Returning to the house, they found Sheriff
Woolery and Deputy Jack Mcdonald, who had
come from Seattle on the first train and taken
saddle horses up the steep mountain. Sheriff
Woolery examined the lay of the land and the
body and came TO the conclusion that the assas-
sin had done the work with Winchester rifle
from rail fence eight feet from the window
He proceeded ibaek to Cedar Mountain
station, wired his deputies at Palmer, Tolt,
and Gilman. and in fact stationed men at every
point connected with Seattle or Cedar Noun
tain, 10 be on the lookout for a certain Nord-
strom, who was believed to be connected with
the murder.
From friends of the Masons and other people
Sheriff Roolery found out that there had been
trouble for some i've months between the
Masons and Nordstrom or Swanson a swede
who had been employed by Thomas Mason 70
grub land and dig ditch. Nordstrom or swan
son had disappeared from the section some
three weeks ago, and nothing had since been
heard OF him, with the exception of once, when
he came TO the town for one day, and then went
away.
Sheriff woolery sent Deputy Mcdonald to Tolt
and then started himself Tor Gilman over the
mountains When he reached Gilman he ex-
amined the Seattle Coal aud Iron Conpany's
books and found the name of Charles Nordstrom,
whom he al once judged TO be Charles Nordstrom.
He inquired among the men for Nordstrom
or Nordstrom or Swanson, and found that the
man had been gone since Wednesday night at 5
O'clock Thomas Lindsey, who works at Gill
man, but lives at Cedar Mountain. told the
sheriff that Nordstrom, the name by which
he knew him, had gone to Cedar
Mountain about something important because
he tNosdstroml said before leaving:
"i am going after money and settlement If
i don't get it there will be trouble"
The sheriff found that the description of
Nordstrom or Swanson, OF Cedar Mountain,
tailed with that OF Norstrom at Gil
man. SO he wired his deputies further
orders aud also gave orders for a man
To watch Dexter Horton & Co.'S bank
where the supposed murderer is said to have
bank account Alter this the sheriff started
back FOR the Mason house. where he arrived in
time TO attend the inquest over the body
Coroner Horton, Prosecuting Attorney Cald-
well. Deputy Coroner Greene aud Posr-TNrEL-
IIsENCgR reporter left Seattle at $50 over
the Columbia Il Puget sound railroad
for Cedar Mountain. At TO the party
arrived and were met by Charles Gallagher in
a two horse lumber wagon. 1t was pitch dark
bat the psrty piled into the wagon aud started
on a journey Of the widest description. Ben
tsmtn Jones led the way on horseback
with lantern. The road was up the
steep mountain side over a corduroy road at
times, and then again through mud hich
made the horses strain every nerve. 10 III e left
WAS sf.aA. 3 -
diculariy Tor AuDdreds OF feet some
times the road would annear above where
the party MAS. and u clrCuitous path would
bring the wagon on the verge of a steep pitch
where II the horses faltered or swsryel it was
certain death. After two hours of this experi-
snoe, IN which tho prosecuting attorney was
alarmed Tor ais fife, tAe house reached ami
abe inc uest begun as soon as possible
AZ examination was made OF the room in
which the man was killed. II was i4xS feet and
IN The rear Of one and one-nalf story frame
1o The side and IN line with the window which
was III the northwest corner, WAS & long table
leil just as Il Was when the fatal shot was area
an che supper party sprsug from their
seats 10 see the brother aaI freud william,
Mason, fail forward corpse. The window was
low from the fioor and the window paaes were
tx inches, But for the fog which had collected
shcy were clear ant gave a good sight
from without In the lower left hand corner az
tho lower left hand pane wss hole eur clean
save Tor the SCATTERING OF the glass. for radius
OF two inches from the center OF the hole. The
chair upon which William Mason sat was
stained with crimson blood, and had been
pushed 6aok in the excitement Coroner Hor.
soa selected the following mea for Jurors,
James Pitts. Andrew MCPHERSON. Lewis Semon.
lee Monch&a. John Mckenzie and Charles
HeAtherhee. Prosecuting Attorney Caldwell
examined the witnesses
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