Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-01-16

and his partner became unsatisfactory |
and rs a result Ward was dispossessed.
Mrs. Goddard however, remained upon |
the ranch. The bond for the purchase |
Of the property had expired ny limita-
tion and the Shissler heirs again came |
into control of the property, Out there /
were still business interests in dispute. |
Ward and Siers also had business |
troubles and suit at law was pending.
A receiver was placed in control of the
property claimed by the Shissler heirs,
and from the receiver Mrs. Goddard |
secured a lease, giving her possessory |
rights as tenant. The conflict of in- |
terests brought about eninity and per-
baps threats of bodily harm. Frank |
Ward was called to the (Shissler rench
by Mrs. Goddard to assist her In the
matter.o
The tragedy of the following day, as
testified to by Elmer Shorthill, the
prosecuting witness, before the cor
oner's jury, and upon which Mrs.
Goddard was held for murder, was
published in the TELLER of May 23rd
rs follows;
ION Sunday morning at 8 o'clock,
Siers, in company with Elmer Short.
hill, Frank kincaid, ]. Nance and
WIN Fay, his employees, departed
| from the Monroe farm ON their way to
Lambert's place, about four miles dis
tant, to get some horses which were
pastured there. Upon reaching the
Shissler farm, the party stopped In
front If the old house, and Siers ell
tered to inspect some personal effects
there. As he returned, Mrs. Goddard
appeared OH the porch Of the Ward
residence and addressed remark to
him, which was unheeded Siers had
carried with HIM from the Monroe
farm u rifle, which he left at the gate
when entering the premises. When
he returned to the highway, before re-
mounting his horse, he filled and lit
his pipe. The party then proceeded on
toward Lambert's, Siers carrying the
rifle. At the barnyard they again
stopped, Siers stating that he wished
to see Mott, who was i'll and who was
quartered in the old granerv. The
men asked Siers if they would go on to
Lambert's, and he told them that, rs
he was desrous of moving Mott to tine
Monroe place. and would likely need
some assistance, they had better await
his return. He then passed through
the gateway, opening INTO the barn
yard, leaving his rifle leaning against
the fence, and proceeded on through
, the yard toward the door of the gran
cry. The barnyard is about $50 feet
square and two sides of the lot are
lined with low buildings, on one side
the buildings being used for granery
purposes, which are enclosed, and on
the other low sheds used for feeding
| or hi inh -fsk,x
to reach was at the point where gran
, cry and sheds meet. Siers had crossed
the vacant lot and had nearly reached
the door of the granery when he wa
confronted Ward with revolver in his
hand. A few words passed betwee,
them and almost Immediately Mrs
). Goddard entered the yard through
, doorway opening into the sheds, and
4 engaging heatedly into the converse
.' ton for a moment, passed on toward
the gate where Siers' men were stand
q ing. She stepped about forty feet from
:. Siers, who was between her and Ward
and addressing remark attracted hi
:, attention. Siers turned toward her
Il and, AS he did, Ward raised his revolve
}. and fired two shots at him. Sier
=, reached for his revolver which was un
, der his vest, and in closing in on War,
u fired three shots In return. Mrs. God
# dard, ns soon as Ward firid, rushed +
q the scene, a revolver from her wais
:, placed it near Siers' back, firing sever,
" shots in rapid succession. He fell fol
ward, and Ward grasping him witt
"a one hand, beat him with the othe
over the head with a revolver, receiv
~ ing words of encouragement from Mr.,
Goddard. Siers was killed-and whe
ar Ward released his grasp he fell face VI
v wards on the ground. AS soon rs tb
=, fight began. Freddy Goddard, IA sixtee
'' year old son of Mrs. Goddard, appeare
in the doorway of the shed, having
,e rifle in his hand, and ordered the me
,R at the gate not to enter the yard, and
shot from his gun passed over the
heads. Shorthil! jumped over tt
"a fence aud picked up the rifle, and, ain
a, ing it toward those fighting, snappe
ii. the trigger, but the gun was not loade'
d. He hastily put cartridge in the barr
ly and raising the gun filed. 1t was
tn that time that Ward released Siers an
IN the boy Fred, following to his moth
I'd to run, the three returned hastily thro
RS the doors in which they came and ra
a. toward the Ward residence. which vi
ce about $50 feet distant. Siers' associat
ke ran to the place where he had falle
j |
ds The post mortem examination on Il
he bodies of Ward and Siers disclosed III
OF fact that the former was killed
:, Siers, and that Siers met his death
he the hands of Mrs. Goddard.
of SiorthilPs testimony outlined Il
w position of the State, and was support
in detail by his companions and Z
i'm evidence of Mr.. Mott and Mr.. Boy.
i'll Mrs. Goddard laid no ground of d
'd- fence before the coroner's jury, al
s 'oo she, her daughter Mrs. Ward, al
to son, Fred, were held on the charge
he murder. The preliminary examil
he ton was held before Probate Jud
ar "a Stookey and Mrs. Goddard was bou
lr, over to the grand jury without ba