The San Francisco call., 1898-02-03


 Well, I'm here for business. ] . heard all that you have said"
 Call went on to say that k believed :: it best to divide the provisions and
 each one go by himself Tanner at this
 moment stepped a little forward, say
 ing:
 "No - man can bring me up here and throw me out in the cold" With these words he drew his re-
 Yolver and fired three shots. Lee was
 standing in. front of their little Yukon stove, with his hands behind his back, warming himself. Call sat near the
 stove and to Lees right. with his el-
 bows on his knees, his hands clasped
 and hanging slightly below the level
 of. the knees. Haines sat in the center, his legs crossed, and close to the back
 of the tent He was smoking. Pierce
 sat to the left of the tent and near its
 left wall
 Three shots were fired by Tanner al-
 most as quickly as one could clap his hands three times At the second re-
 port of his revolver the lantern which was hanging from the ridge-pole of the
 tent. was extinguished Lee fell for ward and in the direction of Tanner Call fell backward and to his right side Lees falling forward was prob ably the means of saving the life of Raines. as it most likely disarranged Tanners aim, the light going out as !: Lee fell. Haines. in falling backward, felt the swish of the ball as it passed his face. He fell upon a small hand saw which he graSped and with it made a slit in the back of the tent, through which he plunged headfore- most. He landed in the five-foot snow bank which surrounded the tent and from. which he could not escape with out Tanner seeing him. Pierce. still sat as he had been sitting when Tanner made his appearance. He said after ward that he was afraid to move for fear Tanner might hear him and fire at the noise.
 After firing the shots Tanner stepped out of the cabin about nine yards and stood flourishing his revolver. as Mo Intyre rushed up. The latter said:
 My God, Doc, you've killed some of the boys
 To this Tanner replied: ''Yes, I had to protect myself They were going to throw me out in the cold and I had to defend myself"
 At this juncture a number of the other prospectors came with lights and OF Dr. Edward leaving Tanner. some one asked Tanner if he had done the shooting. He answered:
 ''Yes. boys. I did the deed I suppose you'll hang me, but I had good cause for doing it"
 Tanner was placed in charge of Me Intyre and W. B. Martin and put into one of the cabins under their guard.
 AS soon as it was discovered that some of the men were shot, Dr. Press ley was brought to the scene of the tragedy. but before he could arrive Lee. who had fingered about ten min utes after being found, was dead. Call had apparently been instantly killed, having been shot an inch above the right nipple. the ball ranging down ward along the spine and passing out above the hip. This ball was found in the tent by a man named Hall. Lee was shot within an inch of the same place, the ball not being found. The third. bullet passed through the back of the tent and at the height of a i mans head when sitting down. This was the one fired at Haines, and the hole. is just to the left of the rip. made by him in escaping from the tent . The bodies of the murdered men were laid. out in 1.-the tent and at 9 o'clock a summons was sent through out the camp to notify everyone of the murder and of. the trial which would ] be. held that same night At Il o'clock every. man in. the camp was in the largest cabin, which had been arranged as .: court room. All but: one, who was to. act as the prosecuting attorney, acted as jurors, of which there were thirty eight.
 Tanner was brought from the cabin where he had been placed and was put on trial for his life A lawyer from Texas, H: c. King; acted as attorney for the people, Tanner desiring to de- fend himself. He was allowed to do so.
 After the prosecution had stated to all present what had occurred, Tanner was told to state his. case and defend himself. He began by saying:
 Gentlemen, am an honorable and honest man. I am no train-robber or horsethief While I was still a child Of only: a few years I was left an or phan l: have always had to make my own way through life. I hay,s no friends and no relations, no one cares for me. and, I care for no one. met these men in Seattle and Joined their party, spending all the money I had in coming here. This man (pointing at Hainesl was to buy us six months supply of food each. lie only bought enough for three months. I heard them talking of putting me out of the party and planning to kill me. I de- termined to protect myself. I did not intend to allow them to bring me LID here and then abandon me. I went | into the: tent and you know what fol- lowed"
 A vote was then taken by the jury. All declared Tanner guilty; twenty nine were for hanging at once and nine voted to send Tanner to Sitka. AS the majority of the jurors had voted to hang him at the camp it was so de- cided. Tanner was given till 10: 30 a. m. to make his peace and do, any writing that he might wish to. Tanner was again placed in charge of Mcintyre and Martin and: taken to his cabin L