The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-28
TO AVOID LYNCHERS.
Indian George Brough ito Jail
Charged With Murder.
HE DENIES KILLING YouNKlNS.
Interview With the Accused Murderer
His Treacherous Attempt to
Kill the Sheriff.

F. W. De Lorimier. sheriff Of Whatcom
county, and Thomas Jefferson and MA
jor," two Indians, brought to the county
Jail last night at lis O'Clock George
Placett, alias Indian George, who is &C
cused of numbering Moses Younkins on
Wednesday, January 20, aided by his
nephew, Thomas Placett. The latter has
made confession TO the sheriff.
The prisoner had been captured in the
woods near Whatcom yesterday morning
by Thomas Jefferson, policeman OF the
Lummi reservation. The sheriff, realizing
the strong feeling against the prisoner at
New Whatcom, and fearing that he would
be lynched by the indignant people, with
out delay boarded the train with the pris-
oner and the two Indian guards, came at
once TO Seattle and placed his prisoner in
the King county Jail.
Thomas jefferson, the Indian police
man, had been on the trail of Placett for
several days, and yesterday came upon
him, alone, about a mile from New What
com.
What you want?" called out PIacett to
Jefferson.
II am after you," shouted back Jeffer-
son, as he leveled his gun at the fugitive.
Indian George then tried to run away.
but changed his intention, came back to
where Jefferson stood with cooked gun
ana gave himself up. All the way to New
Whatcom ne protested his innocence in
the Indian tongue and pleaded with his
captor to let him go. He offered brides,
but the Indian policeman was not to be
bought. He delivered his prisoner to
Theriff De Lorimier, and they brought
him down to Seattle.
Shortly after the murderer reached Seat
tie. and after great difficulty he was seen
by a reporter of the PosT-INTELLIGENcEg,
who said:
1 want you to tell me about this trouble you
are in, George.
The Indian replied:
not in trouble. / did not kill Younkins He
was my friend many years. / was IN other
place when he killed. l got Indian enemies
They kill the man and say l kill. I never kill
any man.
What did you try to run away for if you are
innocent?
L was much afraid that people would think
NE guilty. did not run today, l give up to
Jefferson can be hung but did not kill the
man. l got a wife and two children | love
them. Ii / am a bad man they suffer, so am
not bad man. 1 will come out all right
don't believe my nephew make confession. /
viii talk no more.
When brought to Jail he had not a penny
on mis- person. All his worldly goods con-
sisted of a pipe and some tobacco These
he pleaded for and they were allowed to
remain in his possession.
Sheriff De Lorimier says that this is the
first time that Indian George has ever
been in Jail, and that hitherto he has
borne good reputation.
The accused murderer is a man about 80
years of age He is small in stature and
weighs 14O pounds. He is of more than
ordinary intelligence, speaks English
rather huently, and has as open coun-
tenance as the ordinary Indian ever pos
sesses.
On Saturday, January %. the sheriff
took Indian George out TO the spot upon
which the killing was done with a view of
drawing out an admission of guilt. The
treacherous Indian drew the officer to the
edge OF steep bluff seventy-fve feet high
overhanging the bay in order to show GER
tain tracks. As the sheriff approached the
edge the Indian gave him a violent push
over the precipice. The sheriff, in the act
OF falling, caught hold of piece of shrub
berry and perhaps saved his life, but the
Indian escaped. He remained a fugitive
until captured yesterday.