The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-10-06
rAE MOSCOW JAIL TRAGEDY.

1AI MOSCOW JAIL TRAGEDY.
~ Insane Solder Murders ysiIsv rris.
eAsY.
run particulars regarding the tragedy
that occurred In the Moscow fail last
Monday evening leave no doubt of the
murderers insanity. The report says
that for the past few weeks, since Geo.
n. Hinkley was taken to the peniten-
tiary ut Boise. the jail has had but two
occupants-John Witte, held for trial on
the charge OF selling liquor to an In
dian on the CHur d'Alene reservation.
and Joseph Roberts former soldier OF
Uncle Sam. Roberts had been an In
mate OF the Jail since June 8. 1893. hay.
Ing been brought here to he tried for
the murder OF q fellow soldier at Fort
Sherman. He was adjudged insane at
the session OF the United States court
In May and remanded to the custody Of
the sheriff TO await orders from At
torney General Olney. lie had attemp-
ted to commit suicide several times last
spring before he was declared insane.
but since that time has made no move
In that direction. lie and Witte had
got along together with far less friction
than usual between persons in coniine.
ment.
Owing to the wretched accomoda-
lions of the Jail they were not kept in
their cells except at night, but allowed
the freedom Of the corridor inside the
cage. Witte had been sick for several
days. and Roberts had acted a. his
nurse large part of the time.
Monday evening. when Deputy Dona-
hue wen. TO lock them into their cells
for the night. he found what he sup.
posed was Witte lying motionles on his
bed. Roberts assured him that he was
fast asleep. and assisted in closing the
cell door. and then WAS locked In him
self. The next morning he was up
bright and early, as United States Mar
shal Crutcher and deputy had arrived
the previous evening. and were to leave
with him for Washington, where he
was TO be placed IN an insane asylum.
White could not DO walked when
called and the deputy went to his cell
to Investigate. He made the horrible
discovery that what he had supposed
the night before 10 be Witte was only
the blankets cnnningly arranged to
represent human form, while behind
the trunk. wrapped in blankets, WIS
the dead body msngled in the most
horrible manner and stiff and cold.
Roberts at once stated that IL was "a
miracle performed after an understand,
ing between himself, Witte aud God
Almighty. and after talking the matter
all over with Jesus Christ, the conclu.
sion was that he was TO die, and he
killed him with a Ratchet that would
be found In his cell" lie WAS taken
away by Marshal Crutcher ON the
morning train, In accordance with the
original intention. and Whites body
taken 10 tie morgue, where Coroner
Fnediine summoned jury and began
the inquest. A most diligvns search
revealed no weapon or instrument with
which the deed was committed.
The deputies in the shcriff's Office
assert that Roberts statement with re
gard 10 the Ratchet was false, rs none
was found In the Jail They were nj
lowed one TO cut kindiing with, but
were always required TO return it at
once An examination of Whites
wounds would indicate that Roberts
came into his cell while he was asleep.
and dealt him terrific blow on the
left side Of the head, crushing In the
skull 80 that the brains protruded.
This alone would have caused death
The murderer then, with maniacal
frenzy, proceeded TO cut and slash his
victim, apparently with a dull case
knife. some forty.ave gashes were
found about the neck and throat. aud
there was terrible cut on the chin.
The deed must have been done very
quietly and rapidly, for any unusual
noise would have been noticed in the
Office outside. Roberts must have ar.
ranged the body as discovered, removed
all traces OF his deed, and then gone out
as IL nothing had happened.
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