The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-07

Special Dispatch TO the observation-disclosures.
COUPEyILLE, Wash. May 6.-News
reached here last evening of mysterious
and brutal murder, committed on the
Bradley farm, near the little town OF
Chicago. so long ago that were II not lor
the mute evidence of a crushed skull, the
hand that took the life OF a fellow being
could laugh at the officers OF the law.
At the best, 1t will be most difficult
matter TO solve the mystery, for the only
clue TO the identity OF the murdered man.
who was thrown into we'll forty ieet
deep, is a scrap OF paper containing the
words: Bennett National bank, New
Whatcom March ). 1894, Finley Garrison
And after all the bones OF the murdered
man NAV not be those of Garrison, al
though the eoroner's jury believes they
are.
How long the crushed skull with the tell
tale scraps of paper have lain in the Well
is a matter of conjecture, but there Is
positive proof that the we'll has been COW
cred securely for fully two years. Inc
most reliable information obtainable
places the date of the awful deed back
perhaps three years. but up TO the present
time no one has dared 10 come out and
state his suspicious as 10 the probable
identity of the murderer.
II is a long time since the People OF
Coupeville and Chicago have been so
wrought up, and as the investigation into
the gruesome mystery goes on there is an
increase in the determination to find out
the facts that led up to such a vile deed.
The deed was done in lonely and iso-
lated place. and has the characteristic
brutality of the work done by that
butcher. Ashe or Butler, the Blue Noun
tain iend who is now back In Australia
to meet death on the gallows. Why 1t
was done remains TO be seen. and until
the life of Finley Garrison is made known
it will be a difficult matter to make much
progress.
The Bradley farm has not been occupied
for a long time, and If Bradley had not
sold Ii TO a man named Charles Emerson
the public would not have been any the
wiser as to the crime that the old well
concealed.
Emerson took possession of his purchase
a few days ago. and on last Tuesday de-
cided to clean out the old well. The COW
ering, which was put on with nails two
years ago, in order that stock rowing
over the farm might not fall in, was re-
moved.
When Emerson reached the bottom Of
the black pit he was Mortified to discover
the remains of human being. The flesh
was nearly gone. but the skeleton was
there in all its ghastliness.
Emerson sent up to the surface some OF
had been crushed by some heavy instru-
ment.
The discovery was Immediately reported
to Coroner w. l.. White, who went to the
well and instituted an official investigation.
All the bones were taken out The cloth
ing, IL there had been any, had rotted
away, thus destroying important clues as
to the identity of the victim Among the
debris however, which was removed were
discovered some rotten and water-soaked
scraps of paper. As near as could be de-
termined. the paper was a certificate Of
deposit, issued by the Bennett National
bank, of New Whatcom. March 5. 1894
The name Finley Garrison was discov-
cred on one piece of paper.
The coroner impaneled a jury and held
an inquest. The jury decided that Ii be-
lieved the body 10 be that of Finley Gar
rison. and that he was killed by some one
unknown and the body thrown into the
we'll