The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-13
SWILOOS is LOOSE.
The Notorious Whatcom Indian
Murderer Acquitted.
ESCAPE OF A MONSTER.
Evidence Against Him Conclusive to
All But the Jury-He May Be
Lynched by Citizens Yet.

WHATcoM, March 12.-TSpecial George
Swiloos, or Placer, was today acquitted by
the jury of the murder of Moses Younkin.
The case was given to the jury at II 80 and
Mt 3 o'clock they brought in a verdict of
not guilty. As soon as the news reached
the street that the defendant was ac-
Quilted the most intense excitement pre-
vailed. Large knots of men gathered on
the streets and loud threats were made of
lynching. Placer had in the meantime
fastened to the beach, where canoes were
in waiting and in few minutes he was
far out in the bay on his way to the reser-
walton.
Within twenty minutes after the YER
dict was known a crowd of 1000 people
gathered on the street, and Mayor Miller.
of Whatcom, addressed them, denouncing
the verdict. An effort was made by the
crowd to get tug to follow and lynch the
Indian, but none could be obtained. Five
armed men started out on horseback at 4
o'clock to take the Indians on his arrival
at the reservation.
1.-THE crime for which George swfloos, alias
Placer, was tried was the most brutal and cow
ardly murder, on January 20 last, OF Moses
Gounkin, aged 65 years, who lived on a ranch at
Fort Bellingham, three miles from whatcom.
Younkin was formerly scout in the campaigns
against the Indians in the middle West and had
been companion of Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill
and other Kansas and Colorado scouts. On the
evening OF January 20 a man named Bunt,
while walking along the railroak track near
Little Squalicum creek, a short distance from
Nhatcom, found Younsins lying unconscious
In pool of water. Bunt called q farmer John
Bennett, to his aid, and they carried the uncon-
scious man to BENEFITS house. physician
found that a club had been used as a weapon in
the attpmpt kill hall
was fractured in several places, his
face terribly bruised and his nose
split, presenting a horrible sight. He re-
gained consciousness, but never regained his
speech. dying during the night.
From the evidence gathered 1t seems that
founkins left Whatcom on that day at $50 ..
m, being in an intoxicated condition. When
near Little Squalicum creek he sat down be-
side the track, and in a short time two Lummi
Indians. George Swiloos, or Placer and his
nephew, Henry Williams, came down the track,
stopping when they reached Younkins To a
Whatcom RereiLe reporter. on January "a, Henry
Williams, then in Jail, related what followed:
"He and George Placer saw Younkin, very
much intoxicated, lying on the right side Of
the track, as they approached from the city.
George, tho uncle, who had been drinking a
little and who had a bottle with him. told the
nephew, Henry, to kill Younkin. Henry said
he could not do tha.-it was not right George
Younkin he was lying down, and
George asked him If he had any money. He
called them - of - and told them to let him
alone. George snatched his watch and struck
him blow that sent him over the embank-
ment Henry was scared and ran He, how
ever, saw George throw the watch into the
brush to the right. George afterward Joined
him and had the dead mans kniie-a two
bladed knife, which was at the house OF George.
He did not know what became of the money
found on the dead man. George drank some
whiskey out of Yonkins bottle in addition to
that which he had with him" After the arrest
on the reservation of the Indians, who
had been seen by white people near
the locality Of the MURDER George
claimed they had left the track and gone
down to the beach before reaching Younkins,
and on January 2S offered to guide Sheriff De
Iorimier to the place where he would point out
their tracks. The track shown proved to be an
old one made before the last rains While the
sheriff examining the ground below the
railroad Placer was left on the railroad track
unfettered and unguarded and made no at
tempt TO escape. Upon his return to the track
the sheriff agreed to show Placer where the MUIR
derers left the track, just north of the trestle.
Shortly after the sheriff was hurled over the
embankment by the Indian The sheriff was
badly bruised in the side, but re-
gained the track and fired two shots at
the retreatinE Indian. who made his escape.
The county offered $3.50 reward for Swiloos'
capture and conviction, and this was supple
mented by a reward of $500 for his capture only.
the Indian police joined in the chase with the
whites. and on the morning OF January q the
fugitive was caught by Thomas Jefferson, an In
dian, within one mi.e of Whatcom. Jefferson
was one OF party OF three, the others being Big
John, an Indian, and Albert Hazleton, white
man. and they secured the 500 reward. The
prisoner was taken to the train and brought to
Eeattle for safekeeping and while here no
denied being guilty of the murder, and secured
counsel. On February II the trial was initiated
by George pleading not guilty, and about two
weeks ago the taking of evidence began. The
defense put in the plea that George did not do
the killing, and that his nephew was the guilty
party Threats of lynching were made IL the
law should fail to convict but this apparently
had no influence on the jury.l