The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-16
THE PEsHAsTIN TRAGEDY.
Thomas Johnson Talks About the Kill
ing of William Donahoe

ing OF william DOnahoe.
Tacoma. June Is - Special.-Thomas
johnson. the well-known mining man
from Ktttitas county. who killed William
Donahoe at the Peshastin mines June 5
last is a guest at the Hotel Chilberg. Mr.
Johnson waived preliminary examination
as tar as the authorities would allow on
the charge OF murder and is out on s., 900
bail. The preliminary examination before
Justice OF the ePace Boyles. OF Ellensburg,
was finished last Thursday. Mr.. Johnson
is in the city on business matters and in
conference with his friends. OF which he
has a large number IN Tacoma
Not many men in the state are better
known than Mr.. Johnson. He has lived in
kittitas county for the past sixteen years.
During the greater part OF his residence
there he has followed the mining business
In the Peshastin district, about forty miles
from Ellensburg. He is president of the
Shafer Gold and Silver Mining Company.
which owns several valuable claims In the
district.
Mr.. Johnson has heretofore said very lit
tie for publication concerning the tragedy
OF June 5. To the correspondent OF the
Post-Intelligencer he told the story of the
trouble between himself and Donahoe.
which only ended when the latter met
death from Mr.. Johnsen's revolver. He
said:
twelve years. He worked for me some
little time up to six years ago. Since then,
or for period OF five years. there had
been some trouble between US. Five years
ago he entered my store In EIlensburg
under the influence or liquor and demand
ed a sum Of money from me which he
claimed I owed him. / refused 10 pay
II and he drew a gun and threatened TO
kill me. / stepped behind pile OF goods
and he left the store.
ION the placer claim where the shooting
occurred the Shafer Gold Mining Company
has a fifteen-stamp mill. Donahoe once
had a mining claim on the land but as rs
did not perform his assessment work IN
1886 he had a Harry Medford flle a new
claim on IL to hold 1t for him. and hired
him to do the necessary work. Nedford
was not paid. 50 he wanted to sell his
claim, and ] bought e.
''The morning OF the shooting I sent
some men TO do some ground sluicing on
the place. Donahoe drove them away al
the point OF gun. They reported the
matter 10 me and IN about an hour later
went 10 where the men had been work
ing. Donahoe was patroling the trail
with rife in his hand. ] waited for him
20 approach and as he did so he covered
me with rife. cooked IL. and calling me
- --- ordered me to get of the place
in assecond. NV son. who accompanied
me. stepped 70 one side as Donahoe walked
to within fifteen feet OF me and drew a
bead on my breast 1 thought my time
had come. but as ne aimed my son started
to draw his revolver. and Donah0e low
cred his wearon. I than walked back and
got shelter behind the mill. Later in tho
day. after tTausacttng some business with
Receiver Shouay OF the California mill, 1
started toward the postoffice 20 see the
p0stus ster. On a wagon road seventy
feet above the mill Donshos and a man
named Anderson were driving q load OF
ore 10 an arasta owned By Saouty not far
distant from the mill I sndeavsred 20
4yaaa Donaaoe as I knew be was armed.
and I did not want trouble with him.
/ waited till I thought he had crossed the
tran leading from the mill and walked on
Donahoe had stopped his wagon 50 as 70
all0w another team TO pass. ] came upon
him before knew IL Immediately ne
saw me. Donahce drew his gun. l knew
absolutely that he would KIN me X ne
could. and before he could pun the trigger
drew my gun and fred quickly The
bah hit him IL the right breast. lie
Jumped from the wagon IS I ared again.
ard raised Up from the ground under the
WAGON as I fred the last time. n all 1
fired Soar times. three balls hitting him
lie fell dead.
II was purely a case q, self-defense-
I shot 20 save my life. ana had been
second later I would have been kll4ed-
not he"