The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-04

G. A Mesgs. formerly owner or the kort
Madison -nIg. was killed last night at the
go, ~ S-rsng street. OF the wafer front
He was found lying On tie deck of the
steamer gspia Transit. his head N q pool
Of blood. IL was evident that he had gone
OF the END OF the wharf In the darkness.
and struck head first No one saw hlm
fan. no enc heard him cry out ouc that
death WIS accidental - indicated strong
ly nv the fact that a magnificent gold
watch with a diamond push. and long.
cold gold chain. IN addition TO money,
were found on his person His identity
was not established until be was taken
10 Rntre-~orth's undertaking rooms.
where a man who knew him said that there
was no question about Il being the Ma6i-
son MIL man. The watch also had the ini-
tials q. A. M A pass. issued by the
ed by II. =. jackson for the year 1897 ard
addressed 20 @. A. Meigx. was IN his vest
pocket. Letters one OF which was from
Battle & ShIpley. in regard 10 the libel
recently fled against the steamer Detroit.
which is owned by Aelgs, showed his fden-
tity 10 be Meigs.
Despite three hours search last night
by Deputy Coroner c. B. Yandell and a
Post-InteIiigencer reporter. no positive
evidence was found 10 explain Mr.. Meigs'
presence IN the city, but the letter on his
person from Battle e. Shinley was OF such
3 nature that II might be assumed with
reason that he came over 10 see about the
libel against the Detroit. One Of the wa
ter front men told a Post-Tnteliigencer re-
porter that the Detroit was tied up az a
wharf near where Mesgs was found dead
II might have been that the unfortunate
old man was trying 70 find the Detroit
and being confused by the darkness and
shadows got the wrong dock and walked
10 his death. One thing Is certain, he did
not register az the Rainier-Grand. the
Stevens. the Northern or the Butler hotel.
because a reporter went 10 each pace for
the purpose OF getting track Of him.
No one could be found along the water
front who remembered having seen MIR.
Meigs walking towsrd the wharf. At the
time OF the killing the Rapid Transit was
deserted. The night Waterman s. L.
West. young man Of excellent appear
ancs ard speech. was out at supper. He
tod Post-Ints,ligencs reporter that he
returned 10 the boat at 7:+5 o'clock Tho
tide was going out. The deck OF the freight
steamer was about eight feet below the
Level OF the wharf. There was practically
no space betweea the wharf and boat.
Finding the Body.
West got on board by walking down q
"
nailed down 70 the slide He stepped over
tire low side ran OF the boat and was sur
prised to see a human form stretched out
face down on the deck. few feet TO the
south OF the tramway. One leg OF the man
rested on the rail-.
West went over 10 the man and looked
ct him by the uncertain light. There was
some dark stuff around bis head on the
deck. West took & closer look and saw
that the white whiskers and hair OF the
silent figure were smeared also with that
dark stuff. Es knew that IL was blood.
He shuddered.
Then he turned the body over. II was
that OF heavy man. He felt for the heart.
II was stu. The pulse gave no response.
West went ashore and notified Patrolmsn
Thorn. who sent an alarm to the police
station. Another alarm was sent 10 the
coroner's office.
The news did not spread rapidly, and
Only a few water front men gathered. A
boy at the boat house only a few hundred
feet away was surprised when a reporter
asked him II he knew anything about a
man being killed. The reporter felt him.
self lucky to get back up on Railroad ave-
nue. with its long line OF cars. false shad-
ows and numerous colorei lights without
falling into the bay. There was light in
the Office that used to be occupied by F..
Z. Caine. young man there said that
he had not heard of any accident. He re-
called that no had heard some people talk
ing out on the wharf al the south OF the
Office. Down at the fire boat the men had
heard that some one had fallen of q
wharf and broken his neck. They had no
Idea where the wharf was.
Dismal scene.
II Is really a dismal path ont TO the end
OF the wharf at the foot Of Spring street.
Iii al IL s,fa ha
reporter found II after a while. A little
group OF men stood on the edge OF the
wnarf looking down on the deck of the
Rapid Transit. where by the dim light OF
the lanterns could be seen the form OF a
man clad IN q black ovsrcoat and black
clothes his venerable white hair and
whiskers ciotted with blood. The reporter
crawled cautiously down the tramway and
was hauled aboard the boat by the dep
uty coroner. The men stood IA little
group around the silent form. They were
specializing as to how he met his death.
II wonder If he was pushed or said
one man.
There was a moments silence Then
someone remarked that an inquest nigh,
settle fiat point. Some papers were re-
moved from the inside pocket Of the coat.
One was a letter from Battle e. Shipley.
1t addressed the recipient as @. A Meigs.
Port Madison. Then the pass was dis
covered The sight OF magnificent gold
watch with n solid gold chain that was
long enough 10 20 around the mans BODY
set az rest all fears that ii was a case ot
murder for money. When the body was
lifted up 70 be put in the receiving hox
some money fell out OF the trousers peck
cts. II was no small task to carry the
heavy load UP the tramway. but il was
finally done After some unanesxvsrfuz
the eead-wagon wEs driven across the
numerous railroad tracks without heins
struck ~ = train. and the body was tsksr
10 Butferworth's undertaking rooms. Here
r vas Identified
Body severely Bruised.
After the blood was removed from ths
head IL was found that there were severe
bruises on the left temple extending dowr
20 the cheek bore. There WAS q purec
appearance Of the skin under tue right
eve. showing that there had been a SET.
ting CT blood in that locality. The necA
had not been dixlor&t~d. IS WIS nrst sup
posed. nor were there Indications Of con.
cJasssan q the brain The blood had sowet
from the mouth. nose aud left earth.
ear n particular. A. present IL IS irnposSi
be 20 give the exact cause OF death. hnf
As Mr. MelEs was al old mar proha bis
s. oF ovex. Il Is not q hara matter 90 SOUR
cat that an esxht-faot fall coupled viii
TIE fact that be struck OF has head. va
enough 20 cause his death.
lie was dressed n black oroz acloth an
the ansst OF linen he bad g. b, In cash
On ore 90 TIRE ksYs n us possession wer'
TIE letters N NJ c." proaab , EaeaElns
Madison Mi COMPANY
telegram vas sent last xat - a,
eeaa mans family a. PERI Madison.
\ reporter. - s11eRVorsDx 20 ind GU
- 81 facts n te@ case -asss zr~~ss1 a.