The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-06-21


heart, killing him almost Instantly. At
0 O'Clock Friday morning all that was
mortal OF him passed in at the door OF
the Christian church in an elegant and
costly rosewood casket, richly mounted
with silver. while on the lid beautiful
flowers were entwined into the cross and
crown. The assassin is still at liberty.
The. story OF the crime can be briefly
told. Peaceful and slumberng Yakima
was rudely awaked before the first hours
Of the new day had expired by the start
ling report Of a gun. Those who heard
it and were familiar with such matters
knew that it was not the petty crack OF a
revolver, but that some other frearm had
been exploded. To w. S. Davidson who
was sleeping In tent about rs yards
from the corner of Chestnut and Second
streets, 1t sounded like heavy ordnance.
He jumped from his bed and without
dressing ran to the sidewalk. For min
ute he could hear nothing, although lis
tening intently, then came faint groan
from the direction OF LEES shoe store.
Running down the walk he nearly stun.
bled over the body OF TEX" Bagwell,
the leading and best known gam
bier and all-round sport in the
city. Davidson quickly saw that blood
was coming from his bosom and seeing
bis revolver by his side he concluded that
it was a case OF suicide. Thinking to
arouse Bagwell from his stupor he gave
him a slight shake with the result Of
bringing out gasp. Seeing a man across
the street walking leasurely along he sup
posed it was Night Waterman Norton
and called TON! Toni" There was no
response The man continued placidly
along by the side OF the Guilland
house and disappeared. Giving rap at
Lees door, although the inmates were
already thoroughly aroused, he went to
call the boys who were working for him,
throwing stone at the Bagwell house to
stir up the mistress, on his way. Return
ing to the scene OF blood he lifted the
body up against the fence. to give 1t a
more easy position, when the final sign
OF life was shown and the head dropped
ever. BY this time there were number
of persons around, including ID. E. Smith
and Matt Bartholet. Shortly after Officer
Norton arrived and he was followed by
Nye Taggard, who officiated as deputy
coroner.
The Lees and W. r. Clark asserted
that they bad heard persons RAINING
away, but the idea that it was murder
was laughed at by Davidson and others.
and there was the mans revolver by bis
side. And then what object could there
be for murder? Two costly diamond
rings remained on Bagwell's fingers, aud
handsome spark" glistaned from his
shirt bosom. Deputy Coroner Taggard
made an investigation. The pockets con-
tanned 1910 in money. There had been
no robbery, and what other reason could
there be for murder? "Open his revolt
yer; that will prove it." The handsome
pearl handled weapon was thrown open
and out dropped its full complement of
loaded shells. Further investigation was
made and it was found that bullet had
entered from behind under the left shout
der blade and had passed clear through
the body, coming out at the left breast.
No further proof was required or no fur
Their evidence needed except that to coz
Wet the murderer. Laid on stretcher
the body was taken to Lombard & Hors-
Lewis undertaking rooms.
Thirty or forty yards distant from the
scene OF the tragedy vas BagwelI's resi-
dence, and there was the murdered
mans reputed wife. Was 1t possible she
could not have heard the report OF the
gun? Was it within reason that she
could he 80 near as not to know OF the
gathering crowd, or not to hear the bah
BILE of voices? 1t does not seem possible.
No one from the outside cared to inform
her; her presence was not desired.
Early next morning the officers were
alert. Evidence was being collected and
= the murderer sought after. His place of
concealment from which he waited for
his victim was easily found. II was in
side OF the lot adjoining Lees. There he
sat on an elevated board walk. behind
the picket fence. His footprints were
plainly distinguishable. He was COM
pletely in the shadow. The rays.of the
arc light struck across the scene about
the middle of the fence. When Bagwell
got fully under that CLEAN. so there could
be no error in the aim, the assassin fired.
The ball was true in its course and
"Tex" Bagwell died with his boots on, a
bullet through his heart.
The murderer can from there be
tracked through Lees yard, out the side
gate. down the alley back of the Caldwell
block and along the south facing OF the
building to Second street, where he
threw his gun under the sidewalk and
ran into the street. There, on the other
aide. John Horton stood in his doorway,
aroused by the report and watching for
developments. The murderer saw him,
uncovered his head and concesled his
face with a reddish hat, and then escaped
into the darkness. So much is known. The
rifle was found early in the mo-nine I'M
der the sidewalk in the course described,
and the inquest tells the balance. There
have been some later developments,
which are net given to the public, and
the state officers are working on still
other clues, which, it is hoped, will bring
about the evidence necessary to fully
vindicaie the law and justire. No stone
should be left untnrned to bring the
nriltr IN nnnisInent Public Safety de.