The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-07-26
UNSUITABLE HOMICIDE
The COronef'S Jury Finds That George
Bosdet Was Acting In Self Defense.
mrs. SALLlE SEAMANS TALE OF WOE.
Her Husband Frequently Made Her
suffer from Violent Assault and
Had that Morning. stabbed Her
with a Knife.

WIN Nhtte.
"He approached me at the door, smil-
ing in a sneering manner, and said: is
this your room? It's dandy Then he
slammed shut the door, pushed me over
upon the bed, and with the remark,
'Sallie, Pm going to kill you placed a
revolver to my side" That was the
most thrilling sentence in the testimony
given by Mrs. Seaman when called as the
first witness before the coroner's jury
empanelled on Thursday, July 10 to sit
upon the body and hear testimony con-
corning the death of David Seaman, who
fell during a struggle with Mr.. George
Bosdet, he having interfered in a quar-
rel between husband and wife.
The city hall was packed to the doors
when Coroner Taggard and his jury be-
gan their investigations. The jury sum-
moned was: Samuel Chappell, foreman ;
Ed F. White, Ben p. Watson and l.. E.
sperry. Nye Taegsrd acted as reporter
for the state, which was represented by
Prosecutor Rockford; while Messrs.
Whitson & Parker appeared for the de-
PENDANT.
Mrs. Seaman was the first witness
called. She gave her testimony in clear,
though somewhat weak voice, and her
every utterance was closely attended by
the large crowd of auditors. She began
her story with the narration Of her trouble
early on the dav OF the shooting. Her
husband had been abusing her unmerci-
fully; had been beating her; had thrown
her down and trampled upon her; had
set his heel into her side so that the
marks were plainly visible; had ''stuck a
knife" into her arm. She was nervous,
weak, and utterly worn out, and she felt
that she could not longer stand such
abuse. She had made up her mind to
leave her husband several times before,
but never had the courage to do so, as
she always felt that he would carry out
his oft-repeated threat and kill her. At
ter being abused in the morning she had
gone to her friend Mrs. Clark and had
said to her that she was going to leave
her husband, and wanted her to 70 as
company in search OF living apartment.
Mrs. Clark consented, and the two ad-
journed to the large Caldwell building,
where they engaged room, Mrs. Seaman
asking that it be held for only an hour, at
the end OF which time she would return
and claim it, if at all. Her reason for
putting time limit upon the rental prop
osition was a feeling Of indecsion as to
the righteousness of her action. She felt,
she said, that she would not leave her
husband If he were at all kindly in his
manner toward her upon her return.
She had lived with him for thirteen years
and she had borne much frt m him; con-
sequently she felt she should not be hasty
in leaving. When she went home, how
ever, and told him what she purposed do
ing, he abused her shamefully' again,
ending with the statement that he would
soon have another woman. She packed
some of her things and left, going to
Agent Bosdet and telling him that she
would take the room, giving him her
name and some money, and taking his
receipt for the rent. She had started
home in the late afternoon for more OF her
goods, and had nearly reached the house
when she was accosted by one OF the
boarders named Williams, who begged
her not to return, as her husband would
surely kill her. She took his advice,
turned around and walked to her new
home. As she neared it she heard foot
steps stumbling along behind her. She
felt that it was her husband, although
she could not look behind to see, on ac-
count of strange sensation OF dread
which possessed her. She hurried up
stairs to her room, followed by the patter-
ing feet. Then came the sentence which
begging this article.
"When l felt the pistol pressing against
my side," she said, II screamed for help.
cried 'murderp and caught the weapon
with both my hands. A man came to
the door (Bosdet) and said: Here Here
We can't have this going on here. This
must STOP My husband said who
are your I'm the manager OF this
building Yes, said my husband, you
are the man that coaxed her to come here,
you - Then the man tried to
take the pistol away from US. 1 told him
| would give 1t to him il he wouldn't let
my husband have it. Then he asked my
husband to give it up and he said /
won't do it'll kill you both , at the
same time striking the man an awful
blow in the face. The mans head fell
forward, and my husband struck him
two or three times on the back
of the hesd-terrible blows. The
man tried to back out of the door and
my husband followed. could not tell
how the pistol was held, as both had
their hands upon it. My husband still
continued to rain blows upon the man g
head, pushing him against the wall in the
hall. Then the pistol went of, twice.
The FIRST time I did not think anybody
was hurt; but the second time my hus-