The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-14
George West, a Crook, Believed
to Know Much About It.
HIS ALLEGED STATEMENTS.
Ofhcers That He Was mt Mimic
When the Crime Was Committed,
and That He Aided O'Brien, the
Alleged Murderer, in His Attempt
to Escape-west Denies the story.

Confined in the county jail is prisoner
who the police believe could, II he would,
supply considerable information concern
ing the supposed murder Of Linn Reife,
+. W. Clayson and Lineman Olson on the
Yukon trail late last December. me
prisoners name is George West, alias
George Welser, alias THE Clear KID.
The belief OF the police is based on state
rnents which Policemen Burkman and
Ryan claim West made to them on sun
day night. March Is.
on that date occurred the attempted
burglary of the room OF III. j.. Lincoln
I'm the First Avenue hotel, for which
West and John MCGOWAN were afterward
arrested That night, the two ofhcers
claim, West came down TO the water
front and hailed Burkman, with whom he
was we'll acquainted Burkman was con-
sidering putting him in jail on general
principles, but changed his mind. and en-
gagged him In conversation instead,
The two officers say that West told
them he had returned from Alaska only
a few days before. and that he had been
ION the ground at Mimic when the
Relfe- Clayson-O Olson murder occurred.
The officers say that West went on 10
state that he was well acquainted with
O'Brien, who was under arrest on the
charge OF committing the murder. and
that O'Brien came to him at Mimic ana
told him that he tO'Brien) was wanted
for the murder and must get away.
West. according to the officers, stated
that he had loaned a sleigh and provi-
sions to OBrien so that the latter could
make his escape. O'Brfen was captured,
however, a short time later.
The officers say that West did not tell
them In 80 many words that O'Brien had
confessed the murder to him, but That
he left them under that impression. They
attached little Importance TO what he
said Mt the time. and did not mention
the subject until yesterday. when. after
talking the matter over, they laid 1t be-
fore Chief Reed.
Two days subsequent TO Vests alleged
conversation with Ryan ana Burkman
charge OF being implicated In the Lincoln
burglary. and was bound over to the SUI
perior court, He will be. tried April r.
some length with West last night at the
county Jail concerning his alleged state
ments. He denied all knowledge of
O'Brien's connection with the Mimic muir
der, and said that the time he helped
O'Brien to escape was over a year ago In
Dawson. when the latter was serving a
term ION the woodpile' for petty theft
1.-THE only thing l told Burkman," said
West. was that | knew O'Brien. Why.
] haven't seen him for over year. much
less Mt Mimic at the time of the Relfe
murder And even II ! had" he added.
"fd rather do ten years than see him
swing"
West does not deny that he Is n pro-
fessional crook. Officer Burkman knew
him well In Alaska and arrested him here
Gated cate in robbery at Nome. ''' West " Was
discharged by United States Commits
rioner Kiefer and at once left for Skag-
way. whore he elaine he was when tho
While In skagway West was arrested
on the charge of robbing a woman OF the
town of her diamonds. lie was dis