The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-04-16
i MISERABLE ENDING.
Death Of Murphy After a Pro
fracted Spree.
FLETCHER HELD ON SUSPICION.
Frank Statement by the Accrued. who
Denies cuipabfiity-An Inqairy e
he Held By the Coroner.

John T. Fletcher. proprietor oil the zen
saloon, located In the kinnesr build
ing. a. 2i3 South Third street, Was
placed under arrest last evening by Detec-
tive Cudihee on suspicion OF having In
f;icsed injuries upon Richard Murphy. .
raborer. that resulted IN his death At the
comfy hospital yesterday morning.
Fletcher denies having had any trouble
with Murphy and 10 confident the post
r1ortem examination will free him from
al blame.
Murphy. Who was . Great Northern Ia
borer at Leaven worth, on the Cascade
division of the Great Northern railroad,
came 10 the city about week ago LAST
Saturday and Immediately commenced to
drink. He had with him two time cheeks,
one for sii.3J and the other for Sit. MUIR
phy as introduced TO Fletcher by Frank
Casey, friend Of both, who succeeded in
getting Fletcher 10 cash the $ll time
check for Murphy. Murphy continued
having good time, but nothing unusual
occurred so far as the police or
public knew until last Friday morning.
when the police received information from
tao sources that sick man was in the
rear room of the Gem saloon and had bet
ter be taken to the hospital Lieut.. HUI
was first informed OF the affair by Casey,
Murphy's friend. who simply said that
Murphy was Ill and wanted TO go TO the
hospital. The Lieutenant; went In and
found him sitting in . chair, doubled up
and seemingly in great pain. He said
that he fell down and hurt himself, but
would give no further explanation. I'm the
meantime Officer Powers was informed
that man was in the Gem saloon, pracsi-
caly under restraint. and that he had
been kicked in the stomach by Fletcher on
account Of dispute over money that the
man claimed to have deposited. Powers
reported the matter TO Capt. Bren-
nan, who went to the saloon and
saw the alleged victim. who was sitting in
the same chair as when Lieut.. HUFF came
in and still sufie ring from pains in the alb
domen. The captain took him into q
adiet corner and tried to question him. but
elected little else than that be had been
seuffiing. Suddenly tho man. who said
his name was Murphy. said: please get
me out OF here" While the captain was
gone to call the patrol wagon. Officer
Powers went in and was about to go out
when Murphy called him back and re-
pested his request to be taken away from
the saloon. adding also that he had de-
posted $2s behind the bar. and had been
hurt while wrestling. He did not, how
ever. say with whom he was contesting.
When at police headquarters Murphy
seemed relieved Of something that was
troubling his mind, and talked freely with
Capt Brennan. The captain says MUIR
pay said that he (Murphy) got into =
wrestling match with Fletcher, and be-
yond remembering that Fletcher said.
blank until he came to his senses in the
back room of the saloon. He vas stretched
upon the floor and was covered with dust.
He admitted that he was SO intoxicated
that he had a very dim idea Of what had
happened. In explaining what had hap
peaed before the wrestling match. he said
that he had two time checks. one of which
Fletcher cashed. and when he wanted tho
. money on the other he was told that he
had lost it. After while Fletcher told
him that he knew who had the check, and
II Murphy would give So he could get 1t
back. The money was put up and he got
the check. According to his idea Of the
matter ut the time he was taken from the
saloon he had about 81 due him from
Fletcher, who had held the check and al
lowed him to get drinks on IL.
Murphy suffered pains from the time he
entered the police station until he was
taken To the county hospital Friday after
noon and Jailer Steper SAYS that Murphy
told hlm that he had been kicked and
thrown out of the Gem saloon. There was
no mention. however. of who abused him.
After Murphy was taken to tho county
hospital he did not improve and yesterday
morning he was taken with an internal
hemerrhage which resulted In his death.
DR. Whiting decided that under the cir
substances post mortem would be ad-
visahie aad SO informed Chief Willard of
the police. The chief Immediately sent
werd for all officers who knew anything
OF the case 10 report TO him Immediately.
For about a half hour last night things
were very lively at headquarters. and then
the chief suddenly said TO Detective Cudi-
hee II wish you would bring Fletcher
10 the stsnon and hold him pending an in
sestigaton of this matter" The detective
found Fletcher Mt his saloon and told him
what had happened. Mr. Fletcher accom-
panied Cndlhee To headquarters and Was
Interviewed By Chief Willard. Fletcher
vas granted a short time to III up his bus
lness before being put behind the bars.
By permission of The chief \ Posr- isTEi-
iisGNCFR reporter was allowed to inter
view Mr.. Fletcher who is a broad-shou!-
deEed, heavy, short man of rather pleas
ant address
Yes. SAID Mr. Fletcher, 81 arm per-
isetly willing 10 make statement. he
| sSGse feel that am in no way to blame
Tor Murphy's death. About a week ago he
vas Introduced 20 me by Frank Casey. who
asked nae 10 cash time check for Muir
pay. Casey vouched for IL being good
and |. contrary 10 my usual custom. gave
Murphy Sill ~ for the check, which had
teen gwen him AZ lesvenworth Tor work
done on the Great Northern. They went
ont for breakfast and. If l remember
/ right, the money lasted two or three days.
Finally Murphy discovered that he had
lost his second time check for $ib. and
vent io the Great Northern Office and had
Payment stopped. lie asked me aecus
iae matter aud | told him that knew of
ainan Who had found time check. MIR
pew agreed 10 give S. IL get IL back, and
/ hhslIy dgi -. Then ne wanted me "a
essa Ide cheek, but | refused. However.
sent with him 10 the Great Northern
'Hife and they would not cash the check.
Is he hsd neglected To have is registered
~ tsaVeHworih. Murphy then gave me
we eaecS and told me 10 keep II aud see
70 having F; recorded.
i think 1t vas last Wednesday after
boon ihAy Re grabbed ina nv the coat AND
gave ne a Jerk. He MAS intoxicated and
VAS IN iup | Of course did a. aay man
l soa1d DO under the circumstances and
sesF1st Nith him Tor a moment re-ustin