The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-24
Long List Of Murders Which
Law Has Not Avenged
20 HANGING FOR MANY YEARS.
Lynehing the Only Break In the hong
Line of Failures Of Justice.
wine Mardsrers. Cenvteted or Aeeasscs
In the County jail, and Not oss
Executed fer Nearly Esghsssn Years
--Eesnit OF the Law's Delsya

There are now in the county Jail nine
men chars ed with committing murder In
this counxy, and Of that number four.
Thomas Blsuck, Henry Craemer. William
Hoau.e. and c. w. Sordstrom have been
xentenced TO be hanged for their crimes.
bat have thus far escaped the death pen
Atty through the diiatory tactics OF their
attorneys OF this number Bisnek 10 the
only one who has pleaded guilty AS
charged, but If precedent can be regarded
ss any authority. he viii never expsaie
his rnisdeed on tbs gaiiowa IL has nov
been nearly sightesn years since the last
legal execution, and from present indIca-
tons ii may be ns long again before the
peopie will be treated 10 another such ex-
hibition OF sturdy Justice. The other I'VE
men In the county Jail charged with hav-
ing taken the lives of human beings are
William A. Wilcox, James Murphy, Zen
shire Aoki, shiosaku satow and fiochi
Nakamaru- The record In brief OF these
nine men since they we're arrested 10 as
follows:
NINE nURpgnEss II JAIL
Thomas Blanck. shot and killed Charles
IL. Bridwell. n barten der, October 3, 1884;
information charging murder In the nrst
degree October 8; plea Of guilty on ARIA gn-
menf: motion for cb ange oil venue over
ruled; verdict Of guilty October II. and
thereafter sentenced TO DO hanged Decani-
her 7; notice Of appeal TO supreme court
November ..
Henry Craemer. murdered Mrs. Phil
Iipena Mesler and her baby boy Fritz, in
South Seattle. by be ating with hammer
August II, 1894; information charging
murder in the first degree August %. ver-
diet of guilty September IL: notice OF new
.. - bar z
bat date not set
William Holmes. murdered William
RUSSELL January 70. 1894; Information
issued February L. verdict of guilty OF
murder In the first degree: sentenced TO
death February ~: motion for new trial
March "a: motion In arrest OF judgment
July e; notice OF appeal July %.
Charles W. Nordsfrom, killed William
Mason by shooting November q. 1891:
information charging murder In the nrsI
degree December 4: verdict OF guilty as
charged January II, 1892 motion for new
ment April 2, Judgment affirmed by SUI
prems court March IL. 1894: notice of
appeai TO the su preme court OF the United
States August Is, 1894.
William A. WILCOX. murdered Charlotte
Fetting September 4. 1873. by choking
and stranglng; information issued De
csmher -. 1893: found guilty of man
slaughter February 10. 1894; sentenced to
twenty years hard labor March - 1884,:
appeal To supreme court on denial OF new
trial now pending.
James Murphy, shot and MORALLY
wounded Philip j. Dave July -. is92 in~
formation charging murder In tn. first
degree August Ii; verdict of murder in
the second degree and sentence TO fifteen
years imprisonment. new trial granted
BY supreme court June 20. fs9t; order
transferring prisoner from penitentiary 10
King county Jail August |. 1894.
Zenshlro Aoki. 5hiosaku Satow and
yiochi Nakemaru. accused of numbering
Zemzo Mayeda. known as Japanese
Charley" at Auburn. August 3. isas: IN
formation charging murder in the first
degree September Is. awaiting trial.
Fvrs wosEs WERE VICTIMS.
The fate OF old Mrs. Charlotte Fetting
In September a year ago. who Was ehoked
20 death for few hundred dollars she IA al
ssyed, followed by tho terrible murder of
Mrs. Phillipena Meller and her infant SON
by Henry craemer. and the daring assas-
sination OF bartender Bridweli six weeks
ago by Highwayman Thomas Blanck, is a
record OF crime that of itself needs atone
ment. 1t is q significant circumstance
that since 1877 there has not been legal
execution in this county. although muir
ders are an almost common oceur-
renee This is no fault OF the police
or the peace officers Of the county,
for with bat few exceptions, the murdsrers
have been pursued with due diligence,
captured and put in the hands of the
courts for prosecution. Nor has due
prosecution been lacking as a rule. but
when once the criminals became involved
in the mares Of the law, IL has seemed as
though they could not emerge to their
legally appointed goei--she gailows. Once
during this period of eighteen years. the
people, weary with the verdiets OF weak.
sentimental iuries. or with the laws
technical delays. rose In their might, aud.
on the occasion OF a succession of robber-
les and murders. took possession OF three
ssif-eonfessed murderers and hung them
from tree. and for time the city WAS
free from crime.
THE sxscuTfoN oY THOMPSON.
The last legal execution in this county
occurred At lime when Judge J. Il. Lewis
Was on The bench and L. Y. Wyckor Was
sheriff. The murderer was a coal miner
namet Thompson who was employed in
the kenton mines. Ia 1877 Thompson had
quarrel with another, aud in the fight
which followed he was whipped. lie did
not take bis medicine. however and, arm
ing himself With a butcher knlie Which he
secured from the cook house. he lay IN
wait for bis enemy. As he came unsus.
rectingiy along Thompson sprsng upon
him, haG vas kcps from striking the deadly
blow hy g man named Dexter. who seized
him from behind. Instantly Thompson
turned On Dexter and sank the butchsg
knife ia his body 10 the hilt. and then,
giving the weapon twist, broke the blade
OF In the body. aud. With = cry of pain,
Dexter sank to the ground and died
Thompson vas Immediately hrough, "a
this city and tried before Judge Lewis
and within week he Was executed.
The sahjosned record Of tie homicide,
in King conn1y for which no person has
paid the death penalty wili probably strike
the average citizen villa wonder, bat on.
iux 10 the Incompetence Of the records
even this is incomplete. Ho9ever. the
sasteNtng viii give fair 3dcA Il the int
rnnnisy muraersrs have snsovea ia King
county. While 8 number Of murder, acre
cemmissea between ISL snd iss8. iaere j.
40 reeosd % thea IN the eosrtAaas~, As tAs
records wsss aos completely kept up IA
those DAYS
THE cavSvys arRpER RkcoKn
George H. Males. received al county
isA AsFea s. isss. foF ths murder al Ces.
raaa Aad fsssxu; discharged Anrli Ia
isss. ~ she aastFlet court No oghes
arrests
AiesFt Frisaesich arrestesi Iaiv Ia isS7.
for the murder 81 Julius ScAererlng, srasd
and seatsaesa 80 hAng. za1 supreme e0ars
srantea nsu sraAi sgted agasn ard ssa-
n