The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-22
WHO SHOT STOKES?
Inquiry Into the Heartless MUIR
der of the Old Man.
THE WOODS CLOSELY SEARCHED
Spot Found Where the Murderer stood
Like Hunter I'm a Bitnd-lhe
Bullets Cut the Ferns

From present in9fCaLpns mere may OS
some sensational Developments 10 me
Ransom Stokes murder case within me
next three or four days. In TACT u
would not be s. .2risins II the nindiaas
boys we're discharged al the prei'Enlnar ~
examination nexx Wednesday. ana the
investigation a. TO g.ao killed the Old man
continued with still more vigor-
Within the past TWO or three Gays De-
tective cudlaee has been a. 3unnydaie
working on tie case in behalf OF the
state Yesterday Michael Kelly. one OF
Stokes friends, accompanied by Melvin
G. Winstock and Frank r. IDgersoH, VINO
have been retained Dy the defense, were
at the scene of the murder and made a
thorough investigation of me %Tound IN
the near vicinity and talked with people
who nigh knows things tnat wo1id
throw light on the mysterious tragedy
That they made discoveries OF an an
portant character there Is no question.
but that they also desired TO keep them
to themselves Was evident, beca sse they
thought The state had men out following
up the clues. This being translated
means that the defense thinks hat not
only viii II be able 20 clear the kindlings.
bat take a hand in bringing ne perpe-
traitor Of the crime to justice.
The advantage derived from conduct
ing an Investigation with a nan Ike
Michael Kelly Is apparent 10 any one
who knows him. There Is not an inch
OF ground In the whole country around
sunnydale that he does not know
thoroughly. He Is a fine Voodsman. and
any one who viii take the trouble to
recall the Tom Bianck case will remem-
Der that IL was Kelly who figured out
accurately the location OF Blanck the
morning after the escape.
The Stokes house was first examined.
hut otherwise than discovering that II
was a very filthy place nothing OF spe-
ciai interest was brought 10 light The
trail that leads from the house 20 the
creek where the old man bathed. and
the spot where the body was found, were
gone over the only new conclusion be-
fnk that there was no attempt TO burn
the body
This preliminary work having been
finished. Rel.y commenced going over
The ground very carefully 10 find the
exact spot where TIE murderer stood.
II will he remembered that up 10 this
time there has been considerable talk
hut no definite statement made as 10
the point from which the shot vas fired.
The search brought results sooner than
was anticipated. for about twenty feat
from he junction Of the path with the
brock was found log. which Law across
the brook IN a slanting direction. Close
hy the end on the opposite side OF the
stood was a place that showed human
tracks From the appearances some one
had remained-there. sitting on the log.
for some time. That the party had re-
mAined there more than a few moments
,-as made clear by the fact shat the
ground was trodden down. In a small
area lust after the fashion OF a hunter
who Is behind a blind waiting FOR ducks.
few feet away In the bushes was dis
covered an important clue. but owing
10 the circumstances surrounding the OBJ
timing Of the Information the Post-ln-
felligercer cannot state what II was or
how n will be used In working up the
case.
The mere discovery OF a small piece OF
ground trodden down would not In Itself
he SUFFICIENT TO warrant a statement that
the fatal shot was fred rom that
point. In the case just mentioned. how
ever. there are other points that furnish
the desired corrohorative evidence.
Ferns burned In such manner that
practical woodsman would say u was
the work OF the powdsr were discovered,
and hole through a large fern gave evil
dence Of some projectile having through
rapidly.
4. IL said that II Stokes was just walk
ing back toward his house. shot from
the ambush described would have infiict-
ed the same kind Of a wound that killed
him.
The other discoveries were Of a still
more sensational character. and such
"a would tend 70 show that the murder
was done for he purpose of obtaining
menev from one who was termed "a
mean old cass anyway" II IL Supposed
the plan OF murde- WAS frs, made or
spoken Or In a logging camp rot very
far fr5 n SuuuYdale and that four per-
sons hard the talk One man. Il is
claimed. vso has lived IN the vicinity
OF sunnydaie. and who is known as a
"nghter." made use Of the following ex-
preston
at would be easy TO run over and
shoot him from the bushes when he
went down 20 get some water"
The nan who : said 10 have made use
Of this expression also said that rs
Stokes was a mean man n ala not cat
much % figure II he was killed The
name Of the man Who Is said 20 have
made this talk IL known 90 the attorneys
far the defense. and T. Is pretty certain
the state has the same informa Son,