The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-08
MIGHT BE MURDER.


the beoAn Oh W n-Dn-
The coroner's inquest over the death OF
chariis Wilson. the old miner whose body
was found tn the attic OF little barn q,
tho rear OF Daniel Bakers residence on
Fifth avenue south on Monday morning.
II disclosing facts that may reyeai an Url-
intentional murder. and one that vii
prey on the mind OF the perpetrator for
tho balance OF his afe. or course the idea
OF murder Ii only supposittonal. but II Is
borne out by facts. which. although they
do not speak. furnish a clue that may lead
10 something mora DEFINITE. The facts
are nothing more nor less than the dis
eovery of an internal heznorrhage In the
body OF the dead man and the presence
OF burns on the lower portion of the body.
This alone would not indicate a great
deal. but when IL Is known that on the
night OF July at about II o'clock woman
was seen to place firecrachers on the par
son OF an unknown man lying In the fIey
running between Yealer way and Wash
inxton street and shoot them of, the case
assumes . more serious aspect No enc
has been found up TO the present time
that knows positively who the man was
or what became OF him after tile woman
was made to stop her pranks. The act OF
placing the flrecrackers near the face and
body OF the man was Witnessed by three
or four men, one of whom was Reginald
naker. runner FOR the New Engisni ho-
tel the man who made the woman stop.
Baker told what he saw al the inquest
yesterday. but his testimony was much
mixed. That Is. that portion OF the testi-
mony in regard TO the Identification OF the
man he saw In the alley. He said he had
seen the body OF the dead man. but did
not think IL was the same one that he saw
In the alley. He was not positive that
I, was not. as the only means he had OF
seeing the mans face was when the fire.
crackers would fare. Then be could see
that the man had Hight mustache. tho
rest Of his face being clean shaven. He
was told. he said. that the name Of the
man IN the alley was Mitchell. but forgot
who told him. or In fact anything. only
that he heard II somewhere.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Morris
asked the witness n he had seen this
Mitchell since. and he answered that he
probably had. and said he might be in the
room ut that time.
well. where IL hee.' said Morris.
II think that IL the man. answered
Baker. pointing 70 n gentleman sitting
IN the corner with a fun brown beard. to-
tally unilke the description he bad given
from the fare OF the flreeracker This
caused A smile 20 float about the room.
showing almost conclusively tha, the Wit
ness had not the fainteAi recollection OF
the mans appearance. This little incl
dent strengthened the optnion that the
witness was not positive that the dead
man was not the man ne saw IN the alley.
although he held thai the men were no.
the eams-
George Matthews. who probably knew
wilson better than any one IN the city.
testified 20 finding the remains. and paint
81 a sad picture OF the noble character %
his friend who ne said. was too proud 20
beg. bur get his food from swsn barrels IN
alleys and places. He said deceased drank
az times. bat that when 10 last saw hi.n
alive. on Thursday. he was perfectly so
her These few sentences asa not Indicate
rs.ssch 70 the casual listener. but they show
ea that the deceased was used 70 being In
alleys ard n taking an occasional drink.
and NAV have been IN the alley IN cues
ton on fhe night OF Jaly Z and may have
fallen tato a stapor from either hauer or
weakness.
Al al soarnmen' was taken a. O'Clock
until this morning AZ $50. m order 20 give
cslief ~ Police Reed "a opportunity % Sc
cure additional evidence The CHIEF has
taken hold OF ire case with great earnest
ness and has detailed his best men 10
work IL up. Coroner Asksm and Dr.
kocn made an Agtopsy on the body during
eha evening and found that an Internal
he-norrhaxs had taken place. filling the
lungs and heart with blood. The stomach
VAS found 70 - perfectly ary. not even
anv faice being found This would sndi-
cafe that Wilson had rot hat anything 20
"a; Tor some time before his death. and
that Some shock must have caused the
heFnerrhage. Coroner AskaTn. when asked
~ -,fcn thing as large firecrscker fired
against \ mans hotv. with ths stomach
fn the condition Or Wilson's. would cause
/. harnorrhax~ said. Yes. I believe x
would And s0at makes me think that
something az the kind raigst have hap
ueraa were ~ burns on TIE deceasec's
h.,.ly ana hands" TIE fnaU~st vii be
called a. $50 tals morning. a. Butter
wArth.s undertaking pArlors.