The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-29

THE sAMISH MURDER.
Wheeler's Ante Mortem Statement-He
Was an ex-Conyict.

w H> an GN-NcnNIcis
Mount Vernon, Oct 2s.-Special-The
features OF today in the Samish murder
trial were the production of the dying
statement OF Wheeler and the startling
evidence that Wheeler was a convict. The
prosecution closed its case with the tes-
timony Of the surgeon who attended
Nhgler. and The defense opened its case
win the principal defendant, Edwin Bald
win.
Or. Smith. Of Anacortes. testified that
Wheeler had died OF peritonitis produced
by a gunshot wound through the abdo-
men or numerous bruises IN the side
caused by kicks. There were three bullet
wounds. and many cuts and bruises
n. VI. Woodbury., OF Anacortes, at
Wheeler's request. wrote out the following
statement, which was signed just before
Wheeler's death:
"Alonzo Wheeler. I'm solemn conviction
and In expectation OF impending and near
approaching death. and realizing the re-
sponsibility which rests upon him in MAX
Ing the following statement Of the facts
that he knows concerning the cause OF
his death. says that on the 9Th day of
August. 1885, just before the arrival Of the
stea State of Washington at the wharf
at Samish, in Skagft county. on the Fri
day morning. going from Whatcom toward
Anacortes, this said Alonzo Wheeler and
White. his companion, started from
?
dock. They soon saw in front of them Ed
Baldwin and Ozro Perkins. and coming
behind him Warden, a sop-in-law of Bald
win. and one Loop: that when White and
himself came 20 the place leading down
Il where White kept his boats, White left
him and went TO Loop after his boat.
aud atfiaut. Wheeler went along the ap-
proach leading 10 the warehouse on the
Samish dock; that almost as soon rs " hite
icft him Ed Baldwin. OZro Perkins and
Loop ran up 20 him (Wheeler) and began
70 strike and beat him on the head with
canes and n club. that he tried 20 escape.
but they pressed upon him. and Baldwin
struck him with a heavy cane and tried
20 bit him again. when he CWheeler) drew
his revolver and fired al Baldwin and
thinks he hit him In his forehead. but was
too much dazed by the beating he had re-
ceived 10 be sure where he did hit Bald
win; that re CWheelerl shen ran around the
warehouse, with Baldwin. Perkins and
Loop in close pursuit. and as Wheeler
turned thS eorGer OF The warehouse Bald
wFl shot him fn the side. Then he fell
down. and Baldwin shot again and hit
him IN his foot Then he (WheeIerl fell
again. and Perkins and Loop kicked him
in tho side and abdomen ard over tbe ewes
and said thew Were going 20 kill him and
threatened 10 throw Whardnrer Dean OF
into the water II he intcrfered Baldwin
who had been around the building out of
s.eht for q time, returned and rs he
ONheeler) lgy on the floor % che dock
with Perkins ard Loon beating him. Fald-
win fired at and hit him again. This last
wound was in his CWheeler's) abdomen,
and the bail seemed % him ~ so through
has BODY. After this he became faint and
da1ed, nd rs unable 20 tell or remember
distinctly what did occur tili ne found the
boaunen putting him upon the hoat that
brought him 20 Anacortes. And ne further
says tnat ~ this solemn moment, when
h faces death and expects 20 die. he sol
EMMY swcars by the God before whom ne
expects 20 soon appear that the above IS
q true statement OF the sTray which end
e1 50 seriously for him. 4 Wheeler VIE
nesses. ". n. MCCalium. JOAN "a. stan
lev"
Counsel for the defendants Objected ,o
The introduction of the dying statement.
Upon the ground that Wheeler had bo,a
= convict. and under the statutes his tes-
tlmony or dyiuE statement vas nor eH-
m ssioie. C0uuss} then submitted 3 ce-ti-
f@d copy q a judgment against Alcnze
Wneeier fGr cattle stealing IN Whifra7
county IA fSS7. committing him 81 thp
pea8eBtiary Ter eighteen months. Thav
claim also that the prison record shows
that che couvict had two toes roua and
thai the Wheeler in his case was similar
lv marked The defense also claims that
Wheeler had q small memorandum book
Sc whtch he had written on the fatal dsy
certain Esrecfious 20 be observed sf ANY
thaE happened 60 him. The defense want
fhz memorandum 70 prove that Wheeler
bad planned the attack The beck. how
ever IS IN the possession ~ Nhaeirr's
NFsther ia Oregon TIE test iulony uf t.t3-
Nh Baldwin hrcnght cut ltttle that f.
new. The original troWele. he SAID. he-
tween htfn ard Wheeler had arisen ever
Wheeler killing his dog. Cen the morning
eR..e a. Fsee Lar Asr-
gt.7 tha attack Baldwin - q be "a rof
shrot ~ Wheeler white he VAS down.
chRrgn hv fhe states witnesses Reid
"a u fnla - f.Ilrserasls Ihresfs az lr4lEn.-