The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-11-11
st. Clair has His Preliminary Exam
inatiOn at Van Wyck.
TAKEN TO IDAHO CITY.
There was Strong Talk of Lynching, but 1t
Did Not Materlalize.

Additional correspondence received
by the SIGNAL in relation to the
Long Valley murder as follows:
Ed. SIaNAL;-
Long Valley has seen more excite
ment in the past week than ever be-
fore in its history. The people are
very indignant and there was strong
talk of lynching the murderer. He
seemed very indifferent to the crime
he committed and seemed to fear de-
lirum tremens more than anything
else and kept constantly calling for
whiskey and morphine
At the preliminary examination
Mr.. Cross and u. l.. Worthington
each stated to the jury the manner in
which the body was found, of which
you already have an account.
A letter was found on the dead
man addressed to John Decker. 1t
was from Spokane, Wash, and
signed Mary Decker.
The prisoner stated after being
sworn, 81 knew the dead man, his
name is John L Decker first met
him at the Caribou mines, b. G.,
about June 1st, 1897 We started
from Ashcroft, b. G. near two months
ago travelling by team. Mr.. Decker
TOLD me his home was in Landers,
Wyoming / last saw him alive in
the edge of this town near Cross S
barn. When asked If he knew how
John l.. Decker came to his death,
he said, 81 refuse to answer that
question until have legal council,
then | will make statement and
have good deal to say" Wher
shown the bloody clothes he sale
they were his but he did not know
|
how the blood came on them. HI
claimed everything in the outfit
which consisted of one spring. wagon
one set light harness, one brow
horse, one brown mare, camp outfit
=, valise, clothing and bedding.
When arrested there was found o
his person purse containing $12
in gold and greenbacks, 38 calibe
S. &. w. revolver, a knife and
bottle containing poison. He sal
he had lost belt containing 81, %
in Canadian money and check ft
1920. When asked about the bott
z of poison he said Jos. j. Robin
IS gave it to him and told him it W,
l. morphine and would make hi
q sleep. He tried to make it appet
e. that Mr.. j J. Robbins intended
e. ''do him up for his money Jol
rs Smith, one of the witnesses testii'
that he met She prisoner for the fir
nj time at the Payettc lakes in compal
ed with the murdered man, havil
te camped near them on Wednesd
or night, Oct 20, 81 He identif
no the bloody coat and vest, a hat a
watch found in the possession of NJ
St. Clair as looking like the OF
e worn by Mr.. Decker at that time.
jill Joseph j Robin. w. H. Groo
~ and several other witnesses were {
ep amined, their statements recount
'n' in substance the facts which have
ier ready been published concerning
actions of the murderer.
in The verdict of the coroner's j
mt was as follows:
pn. We the undersigned jurors in \
Wyck hall assembled and sworn
~ investigate the cause of death of
'he John i Decker, now lying dead
fore us, do find that he came TO
death from (2) gunshot wounds
EN- left side of his head (either of wi
mes would have proven fatal in our ju
menD and that ihe same were inhit
with murderous intent from a wea
Un- in the hands of one Herman g.
lid Clair Signed,
., JOSHUA MINTHoRN,
CHAs STEWART,
up ASHLEY WAsHBUR,
ARTHUR l. HURD,
j S KIMBALL,
ieo' WILBURS G. WHIT
tiles JAMES T. BEERS, Acting Corone
car The prisoner, St Clair, has
nigh taken to Idaho City where he
probably he tried at the dis
n ,ou,t ,,a.x IL, ooooto, tbora