The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1895-08-17
IT is NO NEARER SOLUTION
Evidence Offered So Far Not Sufficient
to Hold the Men Accused
OF Crime.

ton in the most sensational murder |
case ever tried in this section was be-
gun at 10 o'clock this morning in the
court Of Justice Parkes. The formal
charge of murder was entered last
Monday. Since that time the state has
been collecting testimony and awaiting
the arrival of important witnesses. The
story first put out concerning the origin
of the fire was soon thrown aside by
the authorities, and theory construct
ed which made robbery and murder
the principal elements in the affair.
They contend that instead of drunk
en- man tumbling about in the dark
and carelessly dropping burning
matches near cans of gasoline, the
great conflagration was started by con-
scienceless wretches who had gone to
the room of guest of the hotel, plung-
ed a knife into his breast or otherwise
took his life, and then, to cover the
terrible deed from the searching invest
igation which was sure to follow, fired
the building and brought death to four
human beings.
No theory was necessary regarding
the death of these persons, for the
their bodies on the sidewalk and the
coroner had returned a verdict. In ar
irving at that verdict, however, there
were brought out facts which justified
the suspicion that foul murder had
been committed. The conviction grew
in the minds of all, and there were
heard loud demands for the minutest
inquiry. The district attorney, John
oo nfHnionf a.
tective from Portland to assist the
sheriff and his deputies. Since Thurs
day, August 8, the day after the fire,
this city has been a veritable beehive
of industry as the various clues were
followed, and everything unearthed
which could possibly throw light on
the tragedy. Every person in any way
connected with the affair, every guest
of the hotel, every person accustomed
to frequent the place, and every stran-
ger who was seen in town on that even
ing who could in any manner be sus-
pected Of connection with the awful
crime was locked up, openly or secret
ly. People who little dream Of such
thing have. been traced in their
| movements on the evening Of August
| z and the night that followed. The
heinous character of the crime rendered
| this sleuth-like ferretting out Of all
| the details necessary.
George H. Clacking was young man
| of excellent character who had built
| up a good reputation in Cascade Locks,
where he had resided for nine months.
Being of a saving disposition, and re-
ceiving SO per day at steady work, he
was able to add to the $500 he took to
the Locks with him, until he counted
up $1,000 of hard and honestly earned
money laid away in the bank. Mr..
| Clacking was about Is years old. He
| had always been an industrious man,
| and as he had toiled he had looked for
| ward to the time when he could start
| in business for himself. Work became
| slack on the government contract OF
| Day Brothers, and SO he decided to
| start out to hunt a business location
and. realize his long cherished hopes.
Boarding the train coming east, he rode
| as far as Pendleton. Here he stopped,
and with newly made friend went to
the Transfer house, a hotel which has
been patronized by all classes-workine
men loafers, gamblers, thieves and
thugs. The proprietor, Rees Heycock
was, SO all people here believe. an hon.
est man, who merely neglected to
make inquiry into the character OF
his guests. There were good men and
there were bad men among the guests
Clacking brought money from the
Locks to Pendleton. He was known