The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-18
colfax Gazette. August 8.

War broke out among the rarr1ers IN
the vicinity OF johnson on Friday evening
last, resulting in the going away Of
Charles Parks. Owen Horton. W. III. Gil
lespie and James Ellis. who were camped
on the Lewis farms, about three miles
from Johnson, as agents of c. \. Leighton.
on July - the sheriff sold over GO acres
OF land belonging 10 George W, Jesse Fl.
and II. J. Lewis. on foreclosure or mort
gage for about s7aa. The land was bought
in by the r1ortgagee. C. A. Leighton. On
July 27 Leighton. through his attorney. be
fore Judge Moore moved that the sale be
confirmed. among other things alleging
that the crop was ready TO harvest The
motion was denied. Messrs. Parks. Hor-
ton. Gillespie and Ellis on July - Were
taken 70 the land and. as alleged by Leigh
ton. entered into peaceful possession Of
the land and growing crop. The I-ewises
and their tenants did not look upon the
matter in the same light. The presence OF
the four agents was irGsome 10 the ten
ants ard their families, and due notffica-
ton OF that fact was made the AGENTS sew
eral times q dav. On Thursday two OF the
tenants drove into one of the grain fields
10 begin heading. and Agent Gillespie. fol-
lowing instructions, warned them not to
begin cutting the grain. which was claimed
as belonging 10 the mortgage purchaser.
No attention was naid 70 his warning and
the header hummed cheerily on. Mr.. Gill
lespie continued TO warn them. and as reg
ulsrlv the tenants continued 10 disregard
that warning.
Things went on in this way until Friday.
AGENTS Parks and Horton were located at
one vIace. while the other two were
camped In the grain field half a mile or so
away. About 10:3N that night the first
named two were awakened by crowd or
TWENTY-FIVE determined looking men. Parks
and Horton were notified that ii was time
for them 10 go and they were induced to
pack their blankets and walk TO Ewarts-
Vile that night. coming to Colfax Satur-
dav morning Gillespie and Ellis. who
were sleeping among the thorn trees on
the edge of the grain field. were awakened
about midnight by the IaSsage of a crowd
OF men, who were hunting their resting
place. and passed within ten feet of them
without discovering their bed. After this
crowd had passed Gillespie and Ellis
dressed quietly and crossed the road TO
another grain field. After remaining in
hiding there for some time the two young
men struck out. walking through the night
until sunrise when they reached Pullman
and breakfast The crowd that awoke
Parks and Horton made no attempt at con-
cealment and although they said no harm
was intended each was armed with whip
or duirt No other weapons were shown.
Saturday Sheriff John I.athrum and j.
NJ Hill went to the Lewis place and the
former made a demand for the surrender
of the property in the interest of the mort
gage purchaser. Possession was refused,
and Monday morning motion for confirma-
ton Of sale and writ of assistance was de-
MED by Judge Sturdevant. the judge con-
tending that the adjournment of court by
Judge Sullivan suspended the rules until
his return and confirmation could not be
secured until September. The writ was
also denied because the sale had not been
confirmed and the mortgage purchaser
had no right to possession until the sale
had been confirmed.
From the records it appears that the
mortgage foreclosed was second or COM
mission mortgage. the first mortgage.
with unpaid interest, amounting 10 nearly
$4,000 From Mr.. Frew. the agent of the
company who holds the mortgages. the
Gazette learns that the intention was to
take the crop of grain on the foreclosed
land. harvest and sell it. and apply tho
amount received beyond the cost of har-
vesting to the payment of the first mort
gage giving the Lewises a contract for
the land upon the payment of the amount
owing rs so reduced The trouble with
this plan was that the land this year had
been farmed by renters, who claimed the
ownership of two-thirds of the crop. II
the plan of the mortgage holders had
worked these renters would have been
stripped of the fruits of their labor. 1t
was this fact that brought on the action
of Friday night last