The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-01
Chase MYERS HANGED
At Pomeroy, for Numbering
Frank Sherry at Asotin.
BY SETTING FIRE TO A HOTEL.
4 Strong Chain of Cireumstantial
Evidence Convicted Him.
AAe "heelers' Bank, ut Blaine. Fails
Walia waIIa Editor Charged With
Biackmail-Gov. McGraw Pardons
Embezzler Chandler.

"alla Walla- Sept. 30.-At Pomeroy to-
udy CHARLES E. Myers. a farmer was
hanged Tor the murder OF Frank Sherry
over Two years ago. After ascending the
scaHotd Myers made a short address,
seootiy proclaiming his innocence and saw
ins the circumstances were against him
20 TIE last moment he had hopes that
TOY. AcGraw would commute his sen
tehce 10 Imprisonment for life. but he was
disappointed. He claimed TO have been
converted 20 Christianity during his long
incareeratiol, and bade his friends good
oy, saying ne would meet them in heaven.
At y o clock the moose was adjusted TO his
neck, the black cap drawn over his face
ana the trap sprung. In the fall the knot
shifted 10 point below his chin. and he
was slowly strangled TO death, his neck
not being broken
After hanging eight minutes physicians
pronounced him dead. IL was stated By
some who witnessed the execution that
lie was not entirely extinct when the
body was cut down, and If an electric bat
tery had been applied Immediately the
man could have been reslisitated, for
iaint pulse and respiration. il is claimed.
We're perceptihle when the body was plac-
ca IN the coffin. The execution was pri-
Vate. only representatives Of the press and
officials being present.
Charles L. Myers was a German. %
years old, He fed from Germany to es-
cape military duty. but on arriving ia
New York Immediately enlisted in the
Forty-fourth New York infantry and az
Ter TWO years and three months active
service was discharged lie was al
through the Shenandoah valley In 1861 ui-
der Sheridan and took part in the me-
Inorable engagement at Harpers Ferry.
AYERS came TO the Pacific Coast In 1863.
aid in 1871 located at Asotin He was
asssafsaf a I
years OF welded life. during which time
one boy was born TO the couple, Mrs.
Myers ran away with a man named Slim
son One day Stimson and the woman
drove by Myers ranch three times. wav-
ing their handkerchiews and otherwise
tantaliziug him. The third time the couple
drove by Myers shot and killed Stimson.
After long trial Myers was acquitted.
lie followed his wife TO Ellensburg, and
endeavored to persuade her TO return
home with him Mrs. Myers refused. and
he obtained a divorce in that city. lie
married again, but did not get along well
with his wife. and she left him. He set
fire TO the City hotel In Asotin in order to
burn his wife, but she escaped and Sherry
perished. The evidence against Myers
was almost entirely circumstantial. The
witnesses sWore that on the evening of
the fire. which occurred about II y. m. on
March IL. 1888 horse was heard going al
81 rapid rate OF speed cut OF town and to-
ward the farm OF tho defendant. imIne-
diately preceding the alarm of fire. Upon
| investigation suspicion rested upon Myers
and the tracks Of the horse were measured
and found 10 be similar TO those made by
Myers horse. \ red syrup can contain
ing signs Of kerosene and sack contain
ing few grains Of barley and red bean
were found ia an open shed about 80 feet
from the scene of the fire on the morning
following the disaster. Some OF the wit
nesses swore that the can was similar to
one used in Myers house before the fire.
and discovered 10 be missing afterward.
Sacks similar TO this particular one were
also found In the residence of the defend
ant. and beans similar 10 the one found
IN the sack were also found in the house.
The theory OF the prosecution was that
Myers placed his syrup can on the table
on which beans were found scattered. for
the purpose OF filling it with coal oil be-
fore starting on his supposed trip OF de-
struction. Coal oil was discovered in the
can. In the sack. on his saddle and in the
smoke from the burning building. II is
supposed that the bean adhered to the
syrup can when il was placed on the table
and that il Jared OF and remained in the
sack when the can was placed in il 10 be
carried 10 the scene OF the FIRE.
Or. Prices Baking Powder makes food
wholesome for disturbed digestive organs