The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-07

A murder, supposed 10 nave Dteu tiic
outcome of fight among thieves. was
committed yesterday between ! a. m. ana
/ D. m. An unknown man was found in
a cabin known to have been occupied for
several weeks by a band of local crooks
about the latter hour, with bullet hole
through his stomach. The cabin bore evil
dences of a desperate death struggle.
The stove was knocked over and the
furniture was broken and strewn over the
floor.
The police and sheriff's Office, both Of
which have worked on the case. have lit
tie idea who the victim was. The last
seen OF him he was at a saloon at %ent
early Tuesday morning in company with
Charles Clark and Charles Crane. two men
said by Detective Cudihee to be highway
men. and two other men who are I'M
known. The whole party was shaking dice.
and men who were In the saloon say that
the man who was afterward found dead
seemed to be a stranger. Once they claim
to have heard one of the FIVE say, Let
him win once" referring to the dead man.
That the motive for the killing was not
robbery. however, is proven by the fact
that 50 In money was found on the body.
Tho cabin in question Is owned by Ly-
sander Smith, a well-known resident of
Kent For several weeks he has rented
1t to men whom he did not know. Among
the members OF the party who have slept
and stopped at the house on different &C.
casion are Joe Golden and Mel Coffeen.
alias Weston, both young crooks well
known to the police. Neither Weston nor
Golden, from all that can be learned. were
at Kent the night OF the murder. and ev-
cry member of the gang disappeared yes
terday before the discovery OF the body
Yesterday afternoon Smith, the owner of
the cabin. happened to pass by the door.
There was no sound within. and Smith
opened the door and looked in. To his
horror he discovered the dead body on the
floor. and the room showed that the man
had not died without resistance. The sher-
IFS Office was at once notified and Sher-
if Van De Vanter Deputy Sheriff Burke
and Detective Cudihee RESPONDED to the
call. on arriving at the cabin they made
"A thorough search of the premises. They
found FIVE bullet holes in the roof and
sides of the building. which contains but
one room.
The description given by people who saw
the five men In the saloon early in the
morning convinced Cudihee that two Of
the party were Crane and Clark, whom
he had arrested several weeks ago. That
Clark was one OF the men was ascertain
ed positively when some of the clothes
which he had on when arrested last. and
which he wore when his picture was taxi
en- for the rogues' gallery, were found In
the cabin.
The officers ascertained that n young
man named Rockwell. who lives at Au-
burn, and who was formerly a news agent
on the Northern Pacific, had been in the
habit of visiting the cabin, and he viii be
brought to the city this morning and dues-
toned as to his knowledge OF the person
mel OF the gang.
The dead man was five feet seven inches
in height and weighed $50 pounds. His
hair was of a reddish color. His nose was
crooked, and he wore light mustache.
He had on a dark coat and vest. light
trousers and a wooden shirt. His body
was brought to the city last night.
The Identity of the dead man Is shrouded
in much mystery. The police believe he
was arrested with Joe Golden for vagran-
cy several days ago. and that he forfeited
his bond. officer Mayou, who made the
arrest, will look at the body today. for the
purpose of identifying 1t If he can. Golden
could not be found last night. He was re-
leased from the city Jail last Saturday.
Clark and Crane. the two men believed
to have been implicated in or to have had
knowledge OF the killing, are claimed TO
! be highwaymen who have operated in the
vicinity of Spokane and in Idaho panhan-
die towns. They came TO this city several
weeks ago, and their presence here was
made known TO the police They stopped
mt an old windmill building on Jackson
street, and Detectives Cudihee, wappen-
stein. Phillips and Williams raided the
place one afternoon. catching them and
Joe Golden. Nothing was done with them
further than TO give them warning 10
get out OF town. Since then they have not
been seen here frequently. though Golden
has made this city his headquarters.