The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-25
ClV|LLE MURDERER DEAD.
SURROUNDED BIZ DEPrTIEs, he
TAKES HIS OWN LIFE
CnaersAeYiR Wright Believes That
the killing Was Accidental, But
Circumstances Point to IN Act
81 Deliberate Self-Destructtoa.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Inte,..gencer.
COLvIiIAE, Aug. A-Thomas White
head. who tried yesterday morning 10
murder his mistress. Susan A. Flsmrning.
and then made bis escape into the country
en- route for the nearest British Columbia
point VAS overhaulsd by Deputy Sheriff
J. s. Wright ard Charley Thompson az a
miners cabin At the head OF Deep creek
about twenty miles out OF town, ahou.
noon yesterday.
Deputy Wright. while returning from
che inquest over the remains Of August
Gr5sve;t In the morning. met Whitehead III
the road abou; five miles out OF Town.
passed the time OF day With him. but
knew nothing of the attempted murder un-
I'll his arr!va. In town an hour later.
Whitehead vas atoot AT the time. ouc
: later secured a horse from a farmer with
whom he was acquainted and proceeded
more rapidly on his journey. but a bottle
Ct whisky which re had with him seemed
to dull his senses 10 the fact that 10 ioits-
on the way would insure his capture by
his purs;Iers.
When the two deputies rode up to the
cabin they had first made sure that White
head was there, and that his capture was
certain. Wright covered the front door
Of Vie cabin with Winchester al a short
was there, but when the order came to
surrender Whitehead, instead Of complying
with the request OF the officers. dashed
Through q window at the side OF the build
lng and got back OF the cabin before il
could be determined who he was. An in
slant later the report Of revolver came
from the back Of the cabin and the scene
closed by the discovery OF the fugitive
assassin stretched upon the ground in the
agoniss OF death with pisto. sho, through
his brain. The bullet had entered his
nos'ril and gone out At the crown Of his
head. -
While the general theory was to the eff
feet that the man. on finding escape abso-
luteiy cut Off. deliberately took his own
life. Deputy Sheriff Wright. VINO saw him
turn the corner Of the house. says such
was not the case. He says that White
head showed every indication Of a man pre-
pairing 10 take a formidable stand against
the officers. bat just as he turned the cor
ner he stepped into hole, and in the act
Of stumbling to the ground the pistol was
thrown to his face ana accidentally dis
charged
Deputy Wright obtained conveyance
and had the body OF the dead man brought
to town. arriving al dark. The remains
were taken TO jail for the night and buried
today with little ceremony.
Whitehead was a Cornishrnan and
miner aged about 40 years. and had been in
this county about four years. Mrs. Flem-
ming, the victim Of yesterday mornings
tragedy. lis st;f. in a critical condition. but
the chances ere more favorable for her re-
c0yery. The bah entered the neck just back
OF the left ear, passing directly through
behind the spinal structure. cutting the
cords of the neck. The woman can speak
but has not sufficient control of her vocal
organs 10 tell the story of how the shoot
ing happened.