The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-05-23
one Murder Followed by Another.
and That by Suicide-COn-
test for the Estate.

Since the celebrated Ticheborne trial no
case of like nature has excited such uai-
versai interest in law circles in this coua-
try. The final adjudication was announc-
ed in dispatch from Olympia to yestar-
days Spokesman-Review. as follows:
"a case growing out of litigation over |
the Wyant estate, from Spokane was de- |
cided by the supreme court in favor of |
appellant John r. Wyant. The elder
Wyant died in Spokane leaving an es-
tate there, and several respondents claim
ed the same as brothers and sisters. The
point of contention in this case was that
appellant was not the son of deceased
and that deceased died chidless. The
court does not decide any of the questions
raised for the reason that the lower court
erred in finding that appellant was not a
son of deceased. On this point the court
is so we'll satisfied as to enter judgment
of reversal"
The history of the Wyant family is re-
plete with romance and tragedy. John
Wyant killed a boy in Missouri for steal
ing watermelons and fled as a fugitive
from justice. The story Of that tragedy is
that he went to Missouri from Virginia
in 1868. He was then mere boy. In 1859
he was working on the farm Of Captain
Smith The captain had been pestered
by boys invading his melon patch. He in
structed John to go out and stand guard
over night. A white boy with several
coored boys, came along toward mid
night and Wyant opened fire. The white
boy fell and when Wyant heard that he
was dead he left the country. A reward Of
$1,000 was offered for his apprehension.
Four or five years later he came to light
in Kansas, where he was married. The
result of that union was the boy when
the supreme court has declared, after
long litigation, to be the legitimate heir
Murdered by Smith.
John Wyant was killed near Spangle,
Spokane county, by j. D. Smith. The
slayer was convicted of murder in the first
degree. After exhausting all the remedies
of the law and while the death watch was
upon him and the sounds OF the nam
mers employed in the construction or MS
gallows were ringing In his ears, care
less jailer permitted him to walk out or
prison and flee for his life AS he passed
through the kitchen of the Jail trusty
saw him and gave the alarm. An excited
throng pursued him to the margin OF the
river. Realizing the lmpOSSlbllty on
swimming across the rapid stream, ne
drew from his pocket a razor, when he
had been negligently allowed to retain III
his cell, and cut his throat from ear &c
Before his pursuers had reached
him the crystal waters were crlmsoneo
with blood and Smith was dead
Claims the Estate.
John F. Wyant, the victor in the IONS
litigation over John Wyants properly
applied to the law firm of Jones, Bet "
Quinn in the early part of last year, claim
ing to be the son of John Wyant. Al tn',
time there was an application before
the probate department OF the superb
court to distribute among the heirs th
estate. The heirs appearing as claim
ants were brothers and sisters of the de
ceased John Wyant. The young ma
informed the attorneys that ms uhcl
and aunt, John r. and A. A. Wyanl
would support his claim. The uncle JON
H., he said, was at kaSlO, 3. G., ana III
aunt A. A., was back III Iowa, and a
they had raised him from childhood Wer
competent witnesses. He said ne coui
also prove his birth by witness names
Starr
The attorneys thereupon filed petl
ton for an order distributing the estat
to him as the sole and legal heir at law
The petition was resisted by the intereste
parties, with the exception of Joseph II
and A. A. Wyant. they being five or 81
IN number. In support of the petltlon u,
testimony Of the uncle and aunt was d.
duced as to their having reared John +
Wyant from the time he was years OF
until he was 16. Starr teSt1ned tnat II
Knew John Wyant at Spangle ana ais
mat the latter had previously worked ~
the witness Starts father in Iowa.
mat time John Wyant was living Win
woman whom he represented as MS VIII
During the residence of Wyant and VIII
on the ranch Mrs. Wyant gave birth to
BOY child. Five or six months thereafte
she died. A few months after the buris
Sohn Wyant left Starts ranch, taking tn
10Y with him and stating that he woui
m lake him to some relatives In Kansa
ms witness did not know whether In
claimant was the same child or not.
Hugh Medcalf testified that while In