The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-02
THEY ALICE AN ALIBI.
Accused Palmer Robbers Explain Thei
Presence in the Woods.

Presence in the Woods.
9. ]. de Cordova and Alma Grozer, who
are accused of being implicated in the at
tempted robbery in which their cousin,
X. +. Calhoun, lost his life at Palmer on
Thursday night, are safely lodged in the
county Jail. and Cordova gives the follow
ing account of how the shooting occurred:
My two cousins and myself are holding claims
in Yakima county, and We remained upon them
until work grew scarce, when We had to 90 out
to find 1t. Calhoun and took two old pistols
with US from spinning's ranch at Yakima.
They were old WORKOUT weapons, but we
thought that we might be able to raise a little
money on them. We were stopping with our
uncle. Frank NJ. Calhoun, at Palmer. about
eight or nine days ago, but work was very
scarce. and We went to Weston and Puyallup
seeking . job. In this We we're unsuccess-
full, and started back to Palmer on Thurs
day to work a clay bank that Uncle
Calhoun had found. When we LETT Weston
Thursday afternoon we got into an empty box
car, intending to beat our way back to Palmer.
There were two other young men in the Car that
had been drinking, and Bob was with them a
good deal of the time. Alma and kept rather
to ourselves and, as the train approached
Palmer. We asked Bob to get of the train with
Us when tine train Stacked up, but he decided to
60 up town. That was the last time we saw
him alive.
As the trai % Stacked up we got OF and started
to walk along the right-of-way to Uncles
ranch. 1t was very dark and misty, and before
we had gone far we heard two pistol shots.
some few minutes later we heard the brush
cracking and Alma said he thought 1t was a
bear, but this seemed improbable, as it was too
near town. So far We had not seen anybody,
but moment later we heard man shout:
"Come out Of the bushes there. or I'll I'LL you
full OF buckshot"
We supposed. Of course, that he vas speaking
TO u, and, not knowing what sort OF man he
was or whether he intended to shoot or not, we
came forward. We had taken but few steps
when he called out "stop," and fred almost as
he said It We stepped over to a tree and he
called to US to hold up our hands, which We
did. do not think that he had seen US before
he fred. Others were attracted BY the shot, ana
came up from all directions They were greatly
excited, and each one that came up showed q
pistol in our faces aud told US to hold up our
hands. My arms became 80 tired that could
not get my hands above my shoulders, when
one of the late comers warned his companions
to "Iook out for that fellow with the big white
hat. or he will get the drop on you"
Finally about fifteen OF them assembled and
took us to the railway station, where they
guarded US until Deputy Sheriff Wells and the
coroner arrived.
l do not know what happened at the spot
where the killing occurred, other than from the
conversation of the men who were guarding US.
but am sure that it was three hours before
they went down with lanterns to see whom they
had shot. One of them asked the man who did
the shooting whether he had killed his man,
and he replied
81 don't know whether killed him or not,
but reckon I've got him 40 he can't get away"
afterwards heard that they started to lift
the body, but let it fall back again to await tho
arrival of the coroner. They claim that it was
as they were lifting him that the pistol fell
from his hand. This is all that know of the
affair. Perhaps Bob was in the racket at the
store, but neither of US saw him alive after We
left the car.