Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-07-22
Murder of c. e. Thatcher.

One Of the most cold biooded muir
der in the history Of the country was
prpetrated at Lapwai last Friday
night when two masked robbers and
,ssssins fired the shots that killed
n srles Il. Thatcher. About ten
o'clock Friday evening, two masked
nell appeared at the back door of
thatcher Il Kings store ut Lapwai
and demanded that they throw up
Hher hands. They did 80 aud were
learched. The robbers then demanded
hat the safe be opened. Mr.. Thatcher
proceeded to do so but tainted. Mr..
King then tried the door and while he
rss busy at the combination Mr.
hatcher struggled to get up and two
hots were fired, both of which would
lave proved fatal. He tell without
tord and the assassins fled and have
Dot yet been apprehended.
Word was immediately sent by tele-
bone to Lewiston and Sheriff Barton
pd posse of men were soon hasten
* toward the scene of the murder.
oroner Strong went out at once aud
b inquest was held. Two wounds
Fere on the body. One shot entered
he face on inch below the left eve and
he bail was found in the back of the
beck near the spinal column. The
ther shot entered the body from the
aek about one inch and three-quar-
ers from the center of the back and
elow the shoulder on the left side.
This ball just protruding beneath the
Kin few inches above the heart.
Mr.. King was the unwilling and
helpless witness of this terrible tragedy
nd bis testimony before the coroner's
urv Is substantially as follows: 1t
must have been $50 or 10 o'clock. The
ront doors of the store had been closed
Or the night. / was about Is feet from
|he back door and had just begun read
ing book. Mr.. Thatcher was stand
(ng near the door. A command was
made, Throw up your hands" Two
masked men with reviewers stepped
into the room and Mr.. Thatcher was
Fommanded to step into the room to
Ghere | was. Both of us were
Pearched. One of the men stepped to
(he safe but finding it locked he
Prdered NJ. Thatcher to open it. Mr..
thatcher stepped to the safe, funded
u the lock little aud remarked that
e could not open 1t if his life depended
Pn it. Oue Of the men, the shorter
Phe, told him his life did depend on it.
At this minute Mr.. Thatcher fell for.
Ra!d in faint. The robber stopped
over him ana told him that shamming
couldn't 90, but convinced that the
att was real, he ordered me to open
|he safe. tried it aud worked ner-
Fouslv, the muzzle of Il revolver being
esr my bead all the while. / heard
MI. Thatcher making some incoherent
nutterirg then followed a struggle,
wo shots in quick succession and the
oobers fled. I went to Mr.. Thatcher.
ne was dead. He neither spoke or
moved after he fell"
Inc men wore masks made of an old
Foat Inning. One OF these and hat
s'e found near the door Mr.. King
Fah give no description of the robbers
P'hef Than that one was II tall and one
snort man. The sheriff aud Il large
''sse OF meg secured the hills and
canyons without avail for the first few
'ass after the tragedy and the searc!,
sui being continued without avail.
ne county commissioners of Nez Perce
I'uhty have offered reward of $1,000
" The apprehension al conviction Of
NC murderers. To this the state adds
HOO more.
onar'es +. Thatcher was the eldest
y" OF the late &. A. Thatcher. He was
"ah IN the prime Of life, man of
'''''ng integrity, All honored and
espec,ed citizen. His body was
''usht to town Saturday morning
"u the members of his family sum-
"ned. His wife and children were
sung in Tacoma. They arrived in
e city Sunday night. Mrs. Kittie
sister, and Curtis
;so a'cner were called from Spokane,
IT,. thatcher. of Granyeville, and
,a,y Thatcher. of Genesee, all
,h Ut the deceased, were present
una ne nome OF the mother where the
Ih "eI "a was held Monday morning
ssr r oahks and JnO. p. VolImer's store
l... c"sed during the ceremonies and
Ia hge number Of friends were present
had az testimony of the respect they
In" ,r the dead aud to extend syinpa-
wno,a the stricken relatives. he
arr community is thoroughly
.,o". by the awful tragedy and no
IN VIII be lef: unturned in the effort
thss.ppreheud the assass,ns aud bring
wv" |" speedy justice.