The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-04
A DESPERADO'S DEED.
He Shoots A Bartender Dead
Before Many Witnesses.
WANTED TO ROB THE SALOON.
He Holds Up Everybody in the hns'
shoots . Maa who Dss"befs
sud MAKES His Escape.

an unkuown desperate. who pted 20
rob ihs cash drawer. tn the presenes OF
fully eight persons. The shooting was
done 80 quickly and nnexpsctedly that
the murderer had no trouble ia boldly
making bis escape through the man en-
trance. Officers are securing the country
Cor suspicious characters, ana arrests are
sookee for q: sn5 moment. Rumofs are
surrens that the murderer - no other than
he Mseksr murderer.
The Mug saloon is in q large room at the
northwest corner Of Main and South Third
streets, having two entrances, the main
one through an arch a. the corner and the
other al the side on Main street. As one
enters the room from South Third street
the long bar with It's big plate glass
BACKGROUND is az the right hand.
Further down she room Is pool
table. ADDS o'clock last night there
were five or six men in the saloon near the
entrances. two or more playing pool. and
standing az the lower end Of the bar were
I. X. Miiliken and FL Spranger.
The clock was pointing a. 1870 when
Billy codrlek, bis back to the room, was
counting the money he had taken from
me cash register. IL was almost time for
bartenders 10 change. ard in few min
utes Charles II. Birdweli. the bartender.
who has worked years for codrick, would
be of duty. lie stood few feet from
Codrick. watching him count the silver
stacks Behind the bar. fes feet away.
stood Edward Reese, a relative Of Mr.. Cod
rick.
Suddenly the folding doors Of the South
Third street entrance were thrown open.
Codrick raised his eyes and ia the Dig
mirror before him saw the form OF man
coming into the room. Ia his hand he
had black object which Codrick thought
was ciut. The stranger hesitated
slightly. according TO some accounts,
and then walked toward the bar. sud
denly the ominous click OF reyolyer's
lock fell upon the ears OF the men IN the
room ard then they heard the Oft spoken
but ever significant words:
Hands up"
Every man in the saloon became as a
stone figure. and the glare of the electric
light made the tableau more impressive.
Codrick collected himself and replied:
Eyes. my hands are up, 1 guess you
want a drink"
Codrick knew full we'll that the despe-
RADIO was after his money. and commenced
fufnbling the silver. turning fsom the
highwayman. Who covered the three men
behind the bar as we'll as he could with his
gun, and sprang on top OF the bar behind
Codrick, and ordered every man in
the house To put up his hands.
SprangeT, who stood at The end of the bar,
tried To make a dive for the door, but the
gun came down ou him. and as the brutal
words, Where are you going, you
--42" fell upon his ears be got back 10 his
place Ia very quick time.
Codreek IL man of nerve and he showed
II at this point. for he turned upon the
man with gun, and looking him full in
the face, said:
II know you, and there are two men
coming"
The man trembled, and he did not dare
pull the trigger Codrsek heard Birdwell
at his side say something about the re-
volyer in the drawer
Blrdwsil turned to take the gun from
the drawer. when the highwaymen
jumped from the bar uttered an oath.
SOME say directed to Birdwell,
and fred. The shot struck the
top OF the bar, burned the
wood and pierced Birdweli's heart.
30 quickly bad the tragedy been enacted
that those in the saloon did not realize
who had been shot. Blrdweli never spoke
or uttered cry. The 4S-cslibcr ball had
done It's work so effectively that be simply
staggered back aud Tell upon the floor.
Codriek grabbed the gun from the drawer.
hat ia the meantime the hlghxAyman
made his way out OF the front door aud
disappeared down Main street
Confusion now re- gned. and those in the
saloon sho tried To get cut came in col
hsion with the crowd trying To get in.
Goirlek stood With his gun in his hand
ami tie form OF Bifdwell lay stretched on
his back on the floor. There were no
signs Of blood on bis clothes. and CodricS
Was under the impression he
had only tainted. Suddenly blood
ouged from hole i'm Birdsell's
breast and the truth became apparent.
Men sero ut his side tn moment and
Codrtek stood gun IN land when Officer
phiibrlck rushed into *the saloon. tie
took In the situation NJ a glance and
thought Ccdriek was mixed up i'm the
shooting. Oct came his gun aud II vas
not until the men commenced to yell:
The murderer has escaped into the
street. = that he was informed CT the true
state Of affairs. Philhrsek was at the cor
ner of Washington aud South Third streets
when tae shooting WAS done. aud had kept
the South Third street. side Of the corner
entrance ia sight rs he came down
the street 50 he knew that
the man had gone down Main
street he gave chase. bat she prey had
disappeared Chicf Rogers. Detectives
Iudihee and Wells we're on hand in few
minutes ana after receiving a description
OF the murderer began the search.
Coroner Horton took charge 81 the re-
mains and. alter taking statements from
several eye-WltuesSe-. all Of whom say
they would recognize the man again.
had the body removed 10 Bonney 4
Stewards moFgue. There vas not a drop
ri blood 0n the door oi the saloon aud
only the bullet marx on the bar AID the
feotmark where the desperate mrs,
pumped told Of the tragedy alter the body
Was removed,
Birdevit MAS = wears cd, unmarried
and native 81 GAINESVILLE, a. lie came To
Seattle ave os s3x years ago. nrst lived
vita William 6ayer Al Soash seattle Ani
finally went 10 WORK for Billy
Cedriek In the Mag saloon. on
Railroad avenue lie went o. Portland
for one year with Codsiek, snd thea e
turned With HIM, lie has ro0gncd Tor
long time at Billy Newman on South
exth street lie VAS quiet and generally
liked. lie leaves mother. enc SISTER aai
oas brother. wbe we're notified last ght
Detective Wells, while rushing ta he
soepe ~ the shooting, fs.l dosa aad his
revolver N&s discharged. He nagros.y
sssApsd severe wound, aud. as 10 was
lss clothes were set on Ire.
4fsa murderer i ttrxcrassasE as Ah<saf : fec