The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-30
Verdict Of the Coroner's Jury in
Morbacher Murder Case.
POINT IS GAINED BY snoMo.
Evidence at InQuest Discloses, How
ever That y Bullet Fitting HIS
Rine Also Corresponded in sise
with Hole In Dead Mans breast
Bone-Accuscd IL an Interested
Hut Cool Spectator During Inquest

aver the remains of Charles ]. Morbacher,
ans waiter who was killed near Lake Union
last Friday afternoon. The jury, after rs
tening to the evidence OF many witnesses
returned a verdict that the deceased met MS
death at the hands Of a person, or persons
unknown. the cause OF the oeatn pe'"s
gunshot wound.
The verdict OF the jury is regarded by the
friends OF Charles w. Shomo. the saloon
keeper who was arrested Saturday on the
charge OF killing Morbacher, in the light OF
victory shomo was present and took
deep interest in the proceedings. though
the inquest was almost devoid of new de-
velopments. The greater part OF the testi-
mouy was rehash Of what has already
been published concerning Shomo. or man
IN his back yard. being seen to fire snot
in the direction Of the spot where MOI
bacher's body was found less than an hour
later.
The testimony of DIR. w. N. Powers and
DR.. Charles b. Ford, who performed the
autopsy upon Morbacher's body brought
out new fact however. This was that
ball which fitted the rife found in Shomos
house. exactly fitted the bullet hole In tho
dead mans breast bone.
story OF the Bullet.
Before putting the two doctors on the
stard, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Fulton,
who conducted the inquest on behalf OF the
state, called Detective Meredith to TESTIFY.
Meredith first told of asking Shomo u ne
had rife, and of Shomo producing that
weapon and turning 1t over to him.
sMr. Meredith" asked Mr.. Fulton, ibid
Won buy a cartridge that fitted the weapon
that Shomo gave your"
Eyes, sir: did," was the reply.
.'Did you fit the cartridge which you
bought in.o the wound in the breast OF the
dead mani" was the next question.
7 n 4 ssxx,ao tIa rafS
perfectly. 1 fitted It not in the flesh. but
in the hole in the breast bone"
In order to corroborate Meredith's testi-
rnony the two doctors were called. They
testified to exactly the same state of facts
concerning the fitting Of the bullet into the
bullet hole Then Chief Reed was caiied.
He testified that he had exhibited the
cartridge which Meredith purchased to
Shonc and that the latter admitted 1t was
the same kind which he used In his rife.
MI Reed stated, however, and he was
corrobora,ed by Meredith that Shomo had
said, when questioned that he had had no
cartridges for the rife last Friday. after
noon. and that aa a matter of fact he had
not had any since he moved into his new
house on Eastlake avenue,
The testimony of the other witnesses ex-
a1nined at the inquest was unimportant:
Prof. Bechdolt, of the university, told OF
having found the body. and Willie Wise
and Willard Duncan two little boys, . ioia
thought, at his pony. which was grazing
in the yard at the time. Neither one OF the
little fellows could talk plain. put their
story was told with great clearness and
detail.
Robert Williams, an elderly man who
lives within plain sight Of Shomo's house.
told of hearing shot on the afternoon of
the killing, and of seeing man In Shomo's
yard in his shirt sleeves and hatless. go
Into the shomo house This 81 man. s VIII,
saw the smoke from the gun In the yard.
Motive stu i'm Doubt.
Not orce during the inquest did Mr.. Full
ton attempt to bring out any evidence that
would tend to disclose Ehomo's motive in
was questioned touching the dead mans
alleged indecent actions In the neighbor-
hood. No interrogatories were put to any
of the witnesses concerning the theory that
Shomo's wife had been annoyed by the
presence and actions of strange man at
a point on the board walk opposite her
prove that Morbacher's presence In the
reighborhood was due to his alleged habit
of meeting certain variety actress there.
J. N. Shaw, tea and coffee merchant
gave rather important testimony. He said
that he was acquainted with Morbacher,
and that the latter. came into his store on
the forenoon of the day of the tragedy.
Morbacher told him, he said, that his wife
was away, and that he enjoyed a few days
OF single life occasionally.
HE told me-" testified Shaw, that he
had date with woman on Eastlake
avenue for that afternoon. asked him
what he was doing out there, and he said
oh. you're looking for information.
was leaving the store at the time. and we
talked no more of the matter.
But" continued Shaw. '.he told one Of
my clerks that he wanted him (the clerk)
to come with him Friday night. and meet
two young ladies out on Eastlake avenue
MY clerk says. however that Morbacher
did not tell E!-a the names of the women,
and that he did not ask Morbacher their
names"
Jury's Quick Work.
The jury was out only few minutes,
bacher had met his death at the hands of
person unknown. Foreman L. r. Lodge,
when questioned as to why the verdict
brought In was that the slayer was I'M
known, said:
1--WE did not feel that we were there for
the purpose of finding Shomo guilty with
out trial, and without hearing of his
side of the story. From the evidence we
could not find that he did the killing"
The investigations of the police yester-
day resulted in the discovery of nothing
new In connection with the case 1t has
mot yet been decided when Shomo will be
given HIS preliminary hearing.
At the inquest yesterday Shomo was the
coolest man charged with grave crime. He
sat apparently unconcerned while The
strongest evidence against him was being
given.
His attorneys, Will H. Morris and s. M.
Shipley, were present but when Mr. Nor
ris attempted to cross-examine the wit
nesses he was stopped by Coroner Sparkling.
who lated that the only attorney who
would be permitted to take part in the
proceedings would be the prosecuting at
torney or his representative.