The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-18
Effort to Get Change of Venue
From Kitsap County.
NEWS OF STORM AND FLOOD.
Quarrel at Spokane Over Division Of
Big Opium Reward.
Haytien Republic Released and
seised Agasn-supreme Court Deci-
sions-The Need Of Grain Inspectors

SIpsEY, Jan. lT.-lSrecial. The trial of
Servins Rutien. charged with numbering
William III. Fletcher. mate of the stesmer
Chehalis, at Chico on September , was
begun in the superior court today before
Judge Denny. The case should have been
taken up Yesterday. buf went over until
today. The prisoner Is defended by II. +.
Shields and r. F. Randolph, of Seattle.
At the time OF the shooting of Fletcher
Rutten was working for Mr. Shields on
his ranch near Chico.
When the case was called for trial this
morning the court room was we'll filled
with q crowd OF curious men. " no watched
every phase of the proceedings with as
much interest as the attorneys themselves.
Mr.. Shields asked to have the prisoner
brought into court. Rutfen was ordered
brought up. but At this moment the deputy
sheriff came forward in an embarrassed
manner. twisting his felt hat in his hands
until he tore it. and whispered to the pros
ecuting attorney. The attorney looked
puzzled. aud. addressing the judge. said:
well, if-if-your honor pieases. we
cant get him now. Joe. that is the iailer.
has gone down town with the key TO the
tank in his pocket. and We can't get the
prisoner out until he returnsl"
Judge Denny glanced about diseustedly
and declared recess until the recreant
ja,ler should return from his little excur-
sion, which he did in about an hour.
Rntten was then taken from Jail. When
brought into the court room he appeared
abashed and shrank from the steady gaze
of the many eyes fastened upon him.
When the accused had seated himself,
with his back to the spectators. Mr..
Shields sprang surprise on the prosecut-
ing attorney by making motion for q
change of venue. on the grounds that the
people of kitsap county are prejudiced
against the prisoner and will not accord
him fair and impartial trial. The mo-
tion was well backed mp by affidavits
signed by Servius Rut,en, the defendant; !;
Elias d. Peterson, farmer residing near
Chico; Henry c. Mclean, of Chico; H.
4. Jones. a lawyer who for three years
lived in this county: Daniel Gleason, q
farmer living near Sidney, and Thomas
Cline. publisher of the Sindey Pioneer
Sentinel. The affidavits were all to the
effect that the feeling in this county is so
bitter against Rutten that he cannot and
will not be given an impartial trial. The
obtain hundred counter-affidavits, and
on motion the case was again subjected to
a eoutinuance.
Rutten is practically a stranger In a
strange land, with no living relatives; no
brothers, no sisters, no father nor mother,
and no friends within reach On the
other hand, Fletcher. the murdered man.
was one of the best known men in this
county. His position as mate of the Che
halls gave him an opportunity to become
acquainted with nearly every man. woman
and child living at and in the vicinity OF
the towns on Port Orchard and Port
Washington. When he was killed every.
body was startled, because they all knew
BILLY" Fletcher, but few knew Rutten.
the slayer. The only eye witness TO the
tragedy, Andrew Larsen, a fisherman liy-
ing at Chico, is dangerously i'll with in
fiammatoiy rheumatism and unable to
move. 1t was rumored that the sheriff
intended to serve subpoena on him and
bring him, bed and all, into the court
room and let him give his testimony. The
report so alarmed Louis Larsen. the sick
mans brother. that he has armed himself
with a formidable shotgun and stands
guard over his brothers shack on the
Chico water front. Heswears he will blow
into eternity the first man who attempts
to moiest his brother while in his present
condition. The defendant is lust as
an nxious as is the prosecution that Larsen $
testimony should be placed before the
jury, and, under the circumstances, il is
difficult to imagine just what influence the
witness story would have in the case.
There are now eight witnesses for the
prosecution, and if Judge Denny overruies
the motion for change of venue the trial
will proceed without Larsen, the only eye
utt