The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-26
THE MURDER OF ENoCH CROSBY.
Supreme Court Grants New Trial to
stowe, Who Cam Prove an Abb.

OLYMPIA, Nov. 25-[Special. 1.-The supreme
court today reversed the judgment Of the lower
court in the Pierce county case of the state VS..
George stowe The defendant was charged with
killing Enoch Crosby In Tacoma on the 5th of
October 1882 and was convicted of murder in
the second degree A new trial was asked for
on the ground that, the crime having been COM
mitted before the admission OF the state, the
trial upon an information was Illegal, and on
the ground of newly discovered evi.
dence. The superior court refused
to grant the new trial. The first
ground is passed over by the supreme court
because in the Lybarger case the prose-
cution in such cases by information was held
to be proper, but it is held that the court erred
In not granting new trial on the showing of
newly discovered evidence. At the trial the
defendant attempted to prove an alibi, and
several witnesses testified that he was in Tum-
water on the night on which Crosby was MUIR
dered. The newly discovered evidence was
that of other Tumwater residents, and was very
strong in corroborating the evidence of the
witnesses at the trial
1.-THE above one which, with its at
tendant incidents, formed one of the most re-
markabie criminal eases in the history of the
state. On Saturday evening, October s. 1859, be-
tween and 10 clock, Enoch Crosby, plumber,
about 20 yeats of age, was walking on C street
i'll Tacoma When he reached a point almost
opposite st. Lukes church, corner of South
sixth street, he saw two men in the shadow of
dence, then in course of completion. The
suspicious action of the men caused
him TO halt He hesitated moment,
aud then, with an instructive sense of danger,
be stopped TO seize piece of board or scantling
which lay among the debris on the walk half
turning. At this instant one of the men fired,
young crosby fell to the sidewalk with piteous
cry aud the two thugs took to their heels.
Though people were On the spot where young
Crosby lay lew moments afterward, no trace of
the murderers could be found Young Crosby
q TT 1aC m
give no accurate description of the men. as they
were IN shadow, and those who claimed they
saw the fleeing men could not testify
20 tnef appearance except as to the
height of the men, The causes assigned for
this deed were many and startling, but finally
simmered down to the general belief that II was
the work OF traInps who, cognIZant OF the fact
that some OF Tacoma's rich aud leading citizens
resided IN the nelghbOrhoOd had lain in wait
for one of them in the hope OF getting rich
haul in ii hold-up and had mistaken Crosby for
the man. They had not attempted 10 rife
Crosby's pockets owing 10 the rush OF pconle to
the spot The killing of Crosby, following so
close upon the murder OF Charles Grant OF
Spokane. by latin in the Franklin lodging
house earlier Ia the year. together with the fact
that the murderers had escaped aroused the
citizens to high pitch of excitement ana iudig.
nation. public meeting was called by leading
citizens at the Tacoma hotel and reward OF
s., offered for the apprehension of She muir
derers This set all the amateur and profes-
sonal detectives in the country to work ON the
1 case, and one Layton was especially consptcu-
/ Ntle Al Ai4c ttsH- Att%f the tApNG OF some DAYS,
three men were arrested IN the neigh b0rhUoi OF
teutralia, aud taken 70 Tacoma They were
hoyts stowe ami A4rray. The officers and aa-
thOrtties o{ Pierce county made a strong EFFORT
10 prove the guilt ct these men One OF The
witnesses for the state was the notorious Joseph
( taudos, VINO recently swUTe - II sensational at
tempt haNlag been Iuaae on his life ia Lewis
county, ana Who, 10 was proved couc}usively had
fabricated the whole story sua had the costs
/ taxed - him. which landed him il the Chehalls
/ Jail. Jaudos' evidence WAS stroag avatust tha
/ men, The cxtraordluGr effort made 10 convict
/ these men led II adverse comment. and il was
current talk thar c0av. ntlou was desired and
must be had u satisfy popular c.arnor; and
/ then. too. There WAS the big reward " itch was
10 De paid on conviction The evidence was
purely circumstsuttat. Tia evidence that
stowe vas ia TUmwatsr ON the night OF the
murder was negec thoroughly Gisproveu, and
many people ID Tacoma ana other portions Of
the state were led to douat the Justice of the
verdict o. Gov cuoA. Tie trial which was
held te'0re Judge Allyn. was hard fought. and
1t Is his ruling Ia refusing tn grant new trial
which the court mas OEerrutt4E