The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-18
MURDER IN ALASKA.
Dalton, the Explorer, Shoots a
Storekeeper.
An EYEWITNESS STORY OF IT.
Dan McGinnis, Of Chilkat, Accused OF
Inciting Indian Hatred and Slain
Dalton 8urrendofs.


arrived from Alaska yesterday, brought
news of the killing of Daniel McGinnis at
Chilkat, by John Dalton, well known
upon this Coast as an explorer who accom-
panied Lieut.. Glave. Stanley's friend, on
an expedition into the interior of Alaska.
The shooting occurred on Monday,
March 6, in Murray's cannery store, and
full account of the affair is published in
the first number of the Alaska Journal, at
Juneau, under date of March II. 1t APP
pears that there was but one eyewitness
to the shooting, which was the result of a
quarrel. and this man. Patrick Woods,
testified at the coroner's inquest and pre-
Hminary examination as follows:
81 went down to Murray's cannery store on
Monday morning to get q sack of -four. l was
telling Dan (McGinnis) about a piece in . paper
had, relating to the salmon cannery combiua-
ton. Dan told me to 60 home and get it and
hurry back. did 30, and after reading
1t Dan sat down by the stove to
smoke, and We chatted about twenty
BY Dickinson and some Indians. Good
morning, Woods," said Dalton, and then walked
over to where McGidnis sat and asked him what
he meant by telling things about him. Dan
asked what things he meant and Dalton, turn
Ing to Dickinson, said: "Billy, you interpret
what they say" Dickinson then talked with
the Indians in Thinklet and said that the Indi.
ans had been told by McGinuis that II Dalton
started trading posts in the interior 1t would
make their trade poor. Dan denied the charge
and attempted to rise, when Dalton clutched
him with his left hand while with his
right he drew pistol from his coat pocket with
which he struck Dan on the head two or three
times exelaiming: you're . liar! You're a
li8r! The pistol went of once when near
n nal
his arm back and shot him in the abdomen.
went out moment ana on coming to the door
met Dan staggering out, the blood flowing from
his head aud abdomen. ] assisted him up
stairs and put him In bed and did what could
to make him comfortable. His clothing was on
fire from the last shot Dan was unarmed at
the time; did not even have pocketknife."
Witness identified a bullet one which fell
from McGinnis' clothes when he was undressing
him. When asked by the jury if the shooting
was accidental or intentional, the witness said
1t was Intentional
An Indian. Edward, testified that he was
chopping wood outside the store when Dalton
and the others entered the building. Hearing
loud talking. he went to the store door just in
time to see Dalton strike McGiunis over the
head. and to hear the pistol fred. He saw Nc
Ginnis have hold OF an AK, which Dalton was
trying to prevent him from raising Dalton's
foot was bleeding from a cut by the AZ. Edward
DIR. J. X. Simpson, who examined the
body. found three or four bruises on the
head covered with clotted blood, also an
abrasion on the shoulder caused by bull
let. But the fatal wound was inflicted by
a bullet which entered the body about two
inches eboye the pubic bones and just to
the right of the median line with down.
ward and inward course. The bullet Gu:
the small intestines IN five places and the
omentum in two.
The shooting occurred at 10 o'clock in
the morning, and no medical assistance
could be obtained nearer than juneau.
Accordingly the wounded man was taken
by friends at O'Clock that afternoon. in a
fishing boat in which bed had been ar
ranged, and the trip was made to Juneau
in the short time Of twenty-one hours.
McGnnis led just as he reached Juneau
and before the doctor reached him. United
States Commissioner w. r. Hoyt held an
inquest and the jury returned verdict to
the effect McGinnis came to his death from
q pistol shot wound inflicted by John
Dalton.
The remainder Of the story is told by
special correspondent as follows:
Deputy United states Marshal Collins, who
Ielt Juneau On the steam launch YUKON about
midnight of Tuesday, March 2, armed with .
warrant for the arrest of John Dalton, arrived
at Chilkat about p. m. Wednesday. Dalton
was absent at the time, being several miles up
the river Collins sent . messenger to Dalton
telling him he had q warrant for his arrest
Dalton Immediately left the WORK he was en-
gagged in anu started for Chikat, which place ne
reached Thursday morning. and gave himself
up. The Yukon reached Juneau Thursday
night aud Dalton was taken to jail.
Tho preliminary examination was held before
Judge W. Il. Hoyt on saturday, March II. After
the testimony of Or. Simpson and Patrick
Woods was taken and found to substantially
agree with that given before the corOner's jury,
the defense waived further examination, and
Dalton was held to await the action Of the grand
jury.
Daniel McGinnis was a young man about q
years OF age. He was steady. industrious and
sober. He has been in the employ OF Hugh
Murray Tor the past eighteen to twenty-four
months, aud during this winter left in
charge of the store aud cannery at Chilkat He
came 10 Alaska from Astoria. Or, but Is y native
of Nova scotia, where his mother 10 still living,
or was at last accounts. He was conscious a.
most If not quite up to the moment Of his death.
On the way down he realized that he must die,
yet he bore up manfuily, and at times, with
tears In his eyes, would speak OF mis- aged, gray
haired mother. The funeral services were held