The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-21
DUNCAN Run DOWN AT LAST.
A Landlord who Seized His Ledger's
Trunk IL Caught.

William c. Duncan. who says he Is
an artist, but who is much better known
as a Populist cur'hstone orator. occupied
cell at the city Jail Saturday on the
charge OF stealing Minnie Traver's
trunk. The case would not be OF spe-
cial interest only for the hong string OF
incidents connected with it and long
chase he has given the officers of the
law.
Duncan Is a tall. fine-looking man.
with a wavy mustache and the airs OF
an aristocrsat. He is married. and used
to live In three-roomed house de-
scrlbed In court as consisting of q par
lT. dining room and kitchen. The par
ior was occupied for some time by Min
ME Travers, a tall. nicely formed wo-
man, who had a child about years
old. Mrs. Trayers desired to take up
her abode elsewhere. and there arose
dispute about the amount OF money
she owed Duncan She claimed that he
was offered payment OF two weeks
rent, but refused to settle on that basis.
In order to secure the debt Duncan re-
fused 10 give AIRS. Travers her trunk,
which contained all her own clothes
and those of the baby.
Mrs. Travers is determined woman,
50 she swo1'e out a writ of repsevin De-
cenfDer IL, in Justice Caldwell's court.
and on December "A secured judgment
against Duncan for SEQ During the
hearing of the case considerable SYM
pathy was elected for her, owing to
thu condition OF the child. which ran
about the court room clad IN a very alb
bTeviated costume. Duncan argued his
own case. maintaining that he kept
lodging house and therefore had a lien
on Mrs. Trayers' effects. This developed
the fact that his "lodging house had
only three rooms and was not recog-
nized as in the general category OF
such establishments. The decision or
the court, although against Duncan, did
not make him deliver over the trunk
either to Mrs. Travers or the constable,
the latter certifying that the trunk had
been spirited away. This left Mrs. Ira
yer:s In sad plight, for she was with
out work and had no money wherewith
to purchase clothes to cover the naked
ness OF her little one
When the matter was placed before
Prosecuting Attorney Miller. he was
wruth, so to speak. at the way the
woman had been treated, and imne-
diately filed a complaint in Justice Cald-
wells court charging Duncan with pet
ty larceny Constable Terry King
hunted high and low for him, but in
some manner unknown Duncan had
been apprised of what was going on
and kept In hiding. 1t was claimed at
that time that he Nd gone 70 Victoria.
The warrant grew dusty. and with the
change in county officials 1t looked as
IL the affair was dead letter. Mrs.
Travers went TO Tacoma. where she pro-
cured work
Duncan evidently thought he was safe
and again reappearei In the city Sat
tiriay night the poultry show attracted
HIM He went and was admlring the
ff1e blooded chandeliers and cute little
chickens as they came out of artifciaIly
heated eggs. when Officer Birisall
walked quietly up to him and served
the dusty old warrant. The arrest was
made 80 quietly that few IL any people
realized what was transpiring. Dun
can took the unexpected and disagree
abe turn IN affairs with as good grace
as possible under the circumstances.
and disappeared in the city Jail. l,augh-
ty to the last.