The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-05-25
Old John Siers Shot and Killed
by Mrs. Goddard.
THE RESULT OF AN OLD FEUD
Siers' Friend Used Rifle With Deadly
Effect on the Woman and Her
Son-in-LaW.

IeWlSlons May ga Tragedy which |
has no parallel in the annals of crime |
in Idaho and which has aroused intense |
indignation in this community is the |
sensation of the hour.
John Siers, Familiarity known as
"Buena," on account of his deeds of |
valor at the famous battle of Buena
Vista, is dead, with two bullet wounds
in his back; NJ. r. Ward, one of his as
sailants, is probably fatally wounded
from Winchester bullets through the
stomach, and Mrs. Goddard, who slew
Siers, is in Jail awaiting the action
of the coroner's jury which is
now holding an inquest over Siers.
The trouble is the outcome of a feud
of long standing, but was aggravated
by a more recent disagreement about
$50 worth of personal property which
Mrs. Goddard and Siers claimed
Ten years ago the firm of Schissler &
Siers was reputed to be the wealthiest
in north Idaho, possessing lands, stock
and money in great abundance and be-
ing influential in all public matters.
Schissler died six years ago, the joint
property of the estate was settled up,
and among other property was a farm
was sold for $40, 900 to NJ F. Ward,
son-in-law of Mrs. Goddard, and Siers
was to be the beneficiary of the sale.
Ward bought the place on time and has
never been able to pay up, and recent
ly Fred W. Piper, a son of Judge Piper
of Moscow, was appointed receiver
pending a settlement of the claim.
Mrs. Goddard's brother, a Mr.. Mott,
~ Of
has been living on the Waha place for
some time and recently became i'll.
Trouble arose between him and his sis
ter and he was put out of the house and
forced to take up quarters in the barn.
Siers wished to call on his friend and
to settle up some other matters, as he
intended to leave shortly for Montana.
and made an appointment to meet Re-
ceiver Piper at the Waha place.
Yesterday, in company with three
friends, Siers drove to the farm. An
ticipating trouble, he took with him a
Winchester rifle and a revolver. He
did not drive into the Enclosure about
/ the house and barn, but left his friends
! in the wagon on the road. Before 60
ing in he leaned his Winchester against
! the fence. 1t was the intention of Siers
to visit his sick friend in the barn, Re-
/ ceiver Piper not being on the ground.
When fairly on the way to the door,
/ Ward, who was ambushed, opened fire
on him with a revolver SierS turned
to face him and drew his own gun. AS
he was endeavoring to locate his con-
cealed antagonist Mrs. Goddard, who
was also invisible at first. came up from
behind and fired two shots from her re-
volver into Siers' back, infiicting fatal
wounds. AS the dying man was sink
ing to the ground Ward rushed up and
began to club Siers over the head with
his revolver.
The fusilade happened so quickly
that Siers' friends in the road had no
time to interfere, but when Ward COM
menced to club the wounded man one
of them, said to be a Mr.. Shorthill, ran
TO the fence where the rife was lean
ing and began to shoot at Siers' assail-
ants. His aim was deadly. Ward was
sent to the earth with two bullets in his
stomach and the pistol hand of Mrs
Goddard was shattered at the wrist.
This stopped a further attack or
Siers, but reinforcements for the Cod
dard faction came from an unexpected
quarter. Her 13-year-old son, perceiv-
ing the wounds inflicted on his mother
rushed from the house armed with a
Winchester rifle and revolver and
chased Shorthill to the Lake house, q
summer resort three miles from the
scene of the tragedy, where Shorthil
finally evaded him.
AS soon as assistance could be ha6
the two wounded assailants of Sier:
and the body of their victim were
brought to town.
Ward has three bullet wounds in the
stomach, but it is not yet known how
serious they may be, nor is it known
whether Mrs. Goddard will lose he
hand.
A coroner's jury is now holding an in
quest on the body of Siers. The bullets
found fitted the pistol of Mrs
Goddard and there is little doubt bu
that she was the sole cause of his death
Mr.. Mott, her brother, denounces tn
affair as a cold-blooded murder, ant
the neighbors, and in fact the majorit,
of citizens, believe the same way.
Siers was unmarried and was sup
posed to be wealthy having large cat
tie interests in Montana in addition t
, the property about Lewiston.
Mrs. Goddard is a widow, her hus
band having been dead some time, an
= she and her son-in-law were conduct
ing the farm where the tragedy oc
J CURED.
: Berliner Decision Reversed.
191-+o, Nov 1o-V,ba TTnifad Cfo fo