The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-24
Corpse Found With Skull Caved
in by an Iron Bar.
THE ACCUSED PERSON FLEEs.
Crescent Block, at Spokane, Full of
Lodgers, Burned at Night.
Rosiyn saloonkeepers Fighting the sun
day Lava Drunken woodchopper
Burned to Death Near Yale, b. ca
Portland Variety Thester Burned.

VANCOUVER, i. c., Feb. lo3.-rSpecial /
A great deal OF mystery surrounds the
death of W. q. Colquhoun, found under
the wharf at False creek after having been
missing for three weeks The post-morten
took place yesterday and the inouest to-
day.
The facts brought out were somewhat
startling. Deceased was in the habit of
getting hopelessly intoxicated. Being a
Good-natured genial man, who, il was sun
posed, had no enemies. the general belief
was that he had walked off in drunken
stupor and was drowned. He left the
Richmond hotel on January ., about IL
O'Clock at night, under the influence of
liquor. and was never seen alive again.
Colauhoun came from Glasgow shortly
before his death with 5000. In the latter
city he had occupied responsible position
in the postoffice for eighteen years. lie
was fine looking. intelligent and educated.
Just prior TO being missed he had been
robbed of $500.
The autopsy revealed long wound at
the base of the brain, in which was a
quantity of cIotted blood. The position
of the body, as found, was perfectly
natural. The inquest resulted in the
fnaQe
known. but no light was thrown on the
cause of the wound by the physicians.
Officer Grady testified to tracks in the
gluey mud of the tide fiat to and from the
body, perhaps two weeks old.
Deceased was seen in the Richmond
house at 1880 on the evening of his dis
appearance. He was then intoxicated.
Later he got up and went out 1t was
supposed that ne had gone to bed, but
that ne had not lain in bed was dis
covered the next morning.
Mrs. McDonough. wife of the landlord,
and her daughter created a sensation in
court by stating:
Deceased and un expTessman named James
OConrer. had quarrel, a1d that OConner had
threatened 10 do away with him. The quarrel
originated over girl. Mary Turner, whom both
testIfcd oConner had tried to ruin. When he
was unsuccessful he spoke disparagingly OF
her character, and Colquhoun took UP her de-
fensc. On the night deceased went away
oiConncr came TO Mrs. McDonough's room aud
asked her not to tell her husband about his do
ings. She replied elf don't Colquhoun will"
O'Conner said he would send Colq uhoun where
he would tell no tales, and threatened to knock
the overheard" Witness put him out OF
the room. On the next day she asked O'conner
in the dining groom II he had seen deceased He
said he had, but nobody elsa would scs him un-
less it were his remains, whien might be seen
sone day.
The girl, Mary Turner, testified to SINH
lar remarks OF O'Conner's made to her.
He said he had thrown deceased over
board and would like to do the same to one
other man.
boarder swore to hearing 0'Conner
saying the next day: Hes all right. He
will tell no tales" What seems to afford
further suspicion is that 0'Conner disap-
peared three days after and has not been
heard of since. Some time ago he married
woman to avoid criminal prosecution,
but refused to live with her.
The jury returned verdict that de-
ceased came to his death at the hands OF
persons unknown.
The deceased was buried today. He has
a brother living IN Glasgow. He had some
money invested in property here.