The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-16
AN INCONVENIENCE WITNESS.

A Centralia Druggist Blamos DR.. Mink
ler's Brother for His Arrest.
Edwin J. Luther was arrested in FIRE.
mont last evening by Detective George
Cave on a telegram from Deputy Sheriff ].
F. Blackwell, of Centralia, stating that he
was wanted for obtaining money under
false pretenses. Luther was seen at the
city Jail by PosT-INTELLIGENCER reporter
last evening, and when asked about the
case made the following statement:
II have been in the drug store business
in Centralia with G. w. Minkler, .
brother of DR.. Minkler, who was con-
nected with DR.. Guile in the operation
upon Alfred Wright that resulted in his
death and the subsequent conviction of
Guile for manslaughter. My partner was
agent for Wanamaker e. Brown, and fire.
quently when he would receive money for
clothes he would turn the money over to
me and would give him a check on the
First National bank for the amount. In
this way he would avoid paying exchange
rates. As near as can figure, the present
case is over two checks aggregating $14,
given by me to him and returned to him
after l had changed my bank account
from the First National to the Commercial
National.
However, there is deeper motive than
that, and it is in connection with the
death, or perhaps murder. Of Alfred
Wright. Unfortunately was the princi-
pal witness in the case and a witness to
the will that the old man made in favor Of
DR.. Minkler and Mrs. Mccormick, the
nurse. I did not testify to all that l knew
at the trial Of Guile and my knowledge
and the desire of my partner to have me
take a pleasure trip to Honolulu led to a
break in our business affairs. He was
willing to buy me out, but could not put
up the cash. would not hear of this, and
made straight proposition to buy or sell.
A deadlock resulted and put in a re-
ceiver, and q few days ago sent my wife
here. Tuesday night received dispatch
saying she was i'll. came Immediately,
and the next thing I knew / was arrested
for obtaining money under false pre-
lenses"
''What do you know about the Wright
case that has not come out?"
''Weli, the drug store is next to DR..
Minkler's office and only a thin partition
separates the rooms. / heard the doctor
and Mrs. Mccormick, the nurse. planning
to make old man Wright, who had broken
his hip and would not in all probability
have survived an operation. make q will
giving them his property, amounting to
about $50. 1000. The night before the oper-
alton was performed by DR.. Guile and Dr.
Minkler l told my wife that murder
would be committed sure within a short
time. 1t was one night about midnight
that DR.. Mink!er came to me and
asked if l would come up to where
Wright lay and sign my name to
q will. did not want to 20
and my wife did not want me TO, but the
doctor insisted and repeated that it was
only to write my name, and finally
went. When entered the room Wright
lay on bed with an open can of chloro-
form near his head and was in a half-con-
scious state. The paper was given to
me and l looked through it. 1t willed
all his property and $1,000 in cash
to Mrs. Mccormick and DIR. Minkler.
When the old man signed it the
lawyer who had drawn up the document
guided his hand. Tnen witnessed it and
was asked by DR.. Minkler to say nothing
about it. However, testified at DR..
Guile's trial, but did not say anything to
implicate DR.. Minkler in the conspiracy to
get the old mans money. After the trial
my partner. DR.. Minkler's brother, tried to
have me get out of the country, but l
would not CO."