The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1899-01-05
THREE KILLED, ONE INJURED
Result Of a Desperate Fight
at Seaside.
TRAGEDY CAUSED BY A FIRE
har1es willard Murdered Sheriff
Williams and Deputy Lancrs, and
Was Shot by Deputy Miller.


the Fulton cottage, at this place.
asst Wednesday morning, eliminated
this afternoon in the bloodest tragedy
n the history of this county, as a re-
ut of which three men are cold in
leath and one other is badly wounded.
he dead are:
Sheriff J. W. Williams, Deputy
leriff James Lamers AMI Charles Will
rd.
Deputy Sheriff A. f.. Miller was
rot in the leg.
1t was considered certain by every
le that the burning of the cottage was
r the purpose of concealing a rob-
ry. and suspicion pointed to Charles
lizard as the guilty person, particu.
ly as he was seen short time after
fire coming from the locality with
.heelbarrow load of goods.
Acting on the suspicion then aroused
leriff Williams this morning secured
search warrant. and in company with
enator {. W. Fulton and others, went
Seaside to search Wizards prem
ses, and also all the cottages of which
& e had charge during the winter season.
About O'Clock this afternoon, Sher-
III Williams, Senator Fulton and Dep
uties a. + Miller and James Lamers,
tine two latter being residents of Sea-
side, went to the cottage of Mrs. Susie
Lewiston, where Willard was living,
TO search it.
On rapping at the door they were
answered Immediately by Willard,
who ;old them to wait until he dressed,
but from subsequent events it is certain
he wanted time to get his guns ready
for action. After a few moments he
opened the door, and on being told
what was wanted. told the sheriff. in a
polite manner. that he was welcome to
search any of the residences in his
charge.
Leaving Fulton, Lamers. and the
sheriff in the house, he picked up his
rife. and telling Miller to follow him,
he started for John l.. Carlson cottage
which he had in charge, and which he
said some one had endeayored to break
into. There they were soon afterwards
iNih'' ~ W ~ lfihS anu hllbb. ITO
latter asked Willard to come back to
the Lewiston cottage. He made no
objection.
w. 1t was on nearing the cottage the
second time that the tragedy occurred.
Senator Fulton had identified some
shotgun cartridges in the house as be-
.Gnglng to him, and began questioning
willard as to where he got possession
of them. This nettled Willard, al
though he answered that friend had
given them to him. and he began to get
ugly.
Fulton and Miller went inside the
cottage, leaving Willard, Sheriff Will
liams and Lamers standing outside.
They had just proceeded to the rear
room when two shots were heard in
quick succession, and on running to
he door. Sheriff Williams was seen to
throw up his Lands and fall backwards
over the bank. In front of the house
were Willard and Lamers, in desper-
ate hand-to hand struggle, although
the latter had been shot through the
right groin and was fast growing faint.
and his assailant was fighting with the
OF demon. Fulton sprang
at Wizards head, and pulling him to
the ground jumped on his face. Miller
wrenched the life from his hand threw
it on the ground, and taking out his
revolver beat the desperate over the
head.
Senator Fulton, in the meantime,
picked up the rifle and told Willard to
remain quiet, or he would kill him.
The latter, however, watched his OPP
portunity, and jumping to his feet
started to run away, when Fulton fired,
missing him the first time, but strik-
ing him in the face the second time,
carrying away the greater portion OF
his mouth and nose. Willard fell, APP
parently dead, and Fulton started to
obtain help to cafe for the injured men,
leaving Miller on guard with the rife
in hand. Miller stepped back to aid
Lamers. who was lying on the ground
wounded, when Willard
was noticed to be fumbling with his
belt. Quicker than fash he drew
revolver and fired three bullets, the
first one hitting Miller in the left leg,
just below the hip. Miller returned
the fire with the rifle. the first bullet
inf1icting flesh wound in Wizards
shoulder, and the second hitting him
in the left side. near the groin, killing
him Instantly.
By this time help had arrived, and
an examination was made of the in
jured men. Sheriff Williams was
found to have been shot through the
right breast, and slthough his pulse
was beating feebly when examined, he
showed no further signs OF life. La
mers was shot III the right groin, and
he lived about 80 minutes after being