The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-29
He SLEW HIS FRIEND.
Brutal Murder Committed by
ex-Fire Chief Murphy.
DAWES LIFE FOR A COCKTAIL.
james Murphy Shoots Philip Dave
Dead In His saioon-Hsstory Of the
Men-Murphy's Bad Record.


semi-volunteer fire department. Both
men are well known in town, and the
news of the deed created intense excite
ment in the lower part Of the city.
Within ten minutes after the crime had
been committed Murphy was arrested and
locked up in the city Jail.
Murphy, who it appears has been down
at the heels lately, was in the habit of get
ting a number of drinks daily without
charge from the proprietor OF the Copper
Chief saloon, and in the afternoon he
walked into the place and called for a
drink
Not word was said by Dave, who was
tending bar. He simply placed a bottle
on the counter, set glass before his GUS
toner and stopped down to fill small
glass with water to be used after the drink
had been taken.
Murphy placed 30 cents on the bar.
Just as Dave raised up his head after
having stopped for the water. Murphy de-
liberatelv pulled his pistol from his right
hip pocket and fired the fatal shot.
Dave threw up his hands, shot glance
Of awful reproach at his murderer, and
fell like a log on the floor behind the bar.
Murphy stood about four feet from his
victim. His aim was unerring, the bullet
entering Dawes right cheek and lodging
in the base OF the brain. The blood spurted
out in dark stream and soon covered
and stained several square feet OF the floor
ing behind the bar.
As his victim fell Murphy raised his
glass of brandy to his lips and quaffed it
with apparent satisfaction. He put his 80
cents into his pocket and, as he reached
the door of the saloon, took the weapon
and quickly showed il into the pocket
from which he had originally taken it.
]. F.. Becker, a barOer, came into the
saloon minute after the shot had been
fred, and states that he saw Murphy put
the pistol in his right hip pocket as ne
reached the door. and that the weapon
was smoking. Becker cried Police" at
the top of his voice, and in an instant
Officer Mike Powers. who stood across the
street. rushed over, and got in in time to
witness the last struggle of the dying man.
The officer waited but moment to ascer-
tain that the man was actually dead, when
ne rang up headquarters.
In three minutes Chief Jackson, Cap
tains Willard and Sims and Detective
Cudihee were at the place and immedi-
ately started in pursuit of the murderer.
Murphy meanwhile sauntered down the
street, met several friends with whom he
engaged in very earnest conversation, and
finally went into the Fashion saloon,
where he called for and drank a glass of
whisky.
Just as he started to 20 out into the
street Detective Edward Cudihee stepped
mp TO him and took him into custody.
The pistol had mysteriously disappeared.
IL was not on the person OF the prisoner.
Cudihee took his prisoner to police head
quarters. He went along without resist
ance, and after reaching the station he
was detained in Chief Jackson's private
Office for about five minutes.
When first brought in he sat in a chair
with bent head, the perfect picture of de-
lection. He was smoking a cigar and the
weed never left his lips.
81 want 10 get out of this" he said Il
don't propose to be Gagged up here like a
rat. | can get all the bail you want"
You will have TO stay right here" re-
piled Chief Jackson. land keep quiet"
Murphy grew quite indignant at this.
but subsidized alter a while. He continued
to pace the floor and expressed a desire TO
see lawyer.
Captain Sims then took the prisoner
much against his will and examined him.
He found on his person purse, big knife
and various other articles. In Murphy's
hat handkerchief was hidden and, when
Captain Sims took it out, Murphy said
with cunning smile: That is what will
save me.
This is believed by the detectives 10
mean that Murphy will try TO establish
the fact that he did the deed in self-de-
Tense. Some said that Dave had threat
eued az one time 10 hit Murphy with bot
tie. ana that Murphy would use this fact
in his defense.
On the way TO the station the prisoner
told Detective Cudihee that he was in a
closet in the saloon when he heard the
shot tired
George Gordon, the porter Of the saloon
in which the murder was committed, said :
At5.S1 O'Clock Jim Murphy came into the
saloon and ordered glass of brandy. Ph.l
served II 70 him, putting the bottle and glass
before him a. the same time / did MOI hear a
word pass between the two men except Muir
phys words when he called for the drink Phil
then bent doWn 70 get glass o. water and
when he lifted Up has head Murphy pulled ont
his gun, took aim aud fred. swallowed h, $
liquor ana started 10 go out
ran over II where the boss lay and cried out,
"fhili PHILIP but never a word spoke the man.
he gave shudder. rolled ms head slightly and
die1 without s sign. / ctied out, 'Murierl
murder" and then Murphy looked over at me
ana yelled. an hat ara you hotlering about,
you -- --- ---F' thought he was going 20
take shot al me. too. | ducked behind the
counter but peeped out in time 20 see him put
his pistol IN his pocket as he got near the door
and walk out.
Are you positive that you saw jim Murphy
ere the shot that killed Phil Dave?
Yes, sis; Just as positive that am now
tslkiue to you.
There were tears IN the mans ewes, and
the crowd that stood around thought that
he was telling the truth
The only motive that has been assigned
thus far for the deed vas a difference be-
tween the two men as TO what Kind of
liquor Dave should serve Murphy tree OF
eharse. Murphy has been out OF a lob
lately. ami with that kindly feeling which
sporting men always entertain for each
other. Dave h1d been supplying him with
free drinks whenever he came IN and asa ed
for them. Dave did uot ike ~ nix cock
tails FOR Murphy ami Murphy did not iks
10 have has liquor straight
Anumber Of men said that on Monday
night las, the tso men had induj- ed IN A
bitter quarrel over this very matter in
front of the Copper Chief saloon. one
of the men who heard this quarrel Is
]. r Becker. the barber who saw Murphy
Put the smoking pistol in has pocket.
George Gordon, the porter. also stated
later in the day that he had heard
the two men argue ever the same matter
Murphy thought Dave mean because I'D