Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-08-22
MYSTERIOUS MURDER.
Swan KnoOtSOn Shot to Death Near
Florence.

loWH tAau Iney hau discovered the I
dead body Of Swan kDootson on
the Salmon river road about six I
miles from Florence and liom APP
pearances he had been dead about |
"a hours. Deputy Sheriff VIII
liams and Coroner Nickel left the |
following morning foi. the scene Of
the tragedy but they were unable
to discover any thing that would
tend to lead to the discovery of the
guilty party.
Knootson had left his home.
which is about one mile from the
Salmon river bridge. earl, -atur-
day morning with two pack horses
loaded with beef for Florence.
When found he was lying ii the
road with three bullet hcies through
his body, one through each arin
and one pack horse lying Il lew
feet away shot through the head.
Some crushed brush. near the road
where the assassin had con-
cealed himself while waiting far
his victim but he left no clue to
his identity.
Knootson came to this county in
1895 from Spokane during the con-
struction of the Elk City and Sal
mon river wagon roads He after
wards married a Mrs, Scott and
settled on small ranch near the
Salmon river bridge where he
kept road station and sold veget-
ables and meat i'll the mining
camps. He was industrious and
honest but had tie reputation Of
being rather quarlsome having
severely whipped two or three OF
his neighbors on different occas
ions.
An unsuccessful attempt was
made on his life last fall when a
horse which he was riding was
shot under him but no trace of the
assailant could then be found.
The fruit trees hereabouts are
loaded down to the ground with
the heaviest and finest crops ever
grown in this section of the state.
On Sunday last a refreshing
shower fell for about an hour. 1t
was followed Tuesday afternoon
by a thunder shower during which
considerable rain fell for an hour.
The atmosphere has since CON
siderably cooled, and little fire
towards evening is appreciated.
A. j. Payne, of the firm of
Payne & Washburn, formerly in
business here, arrived from Lewis
ton Monday en- route to the Hump
to represent his mining claims in
that camp. Mr.. Payne has sue
ceeded in Incorporating some of
the more promising Of his Hump
interests.
Commissioner W. II. Cassidy
came in from the Salmon river
wagon road yesterday and informs
us that it is now completed to
Rapid river and will probably be
finished throughout, between Sept
1st and 18th. The road is now
ready for travel and Il large num-
Der of wagons have already passed
over the route.
The Big Buffalo Cash Store is
the place To buy your groceries and
goods of all kinds for the hay and
harvest season, can save you money
on every article. Prices lower
than the lowest. To the farmers
and miners now is the time 10 get
in your fall and winter supplies
while the roads are good and goods
cheap. w. Il. Schmadeka. Pro-
prietor.
Frank McGrane has returned
from Lewiston where he delivered
over 100 head of horses to Robert
Walsh who is buying for foreign
governments, principally England,
where there is a great shortage of
cavalry horses. This is the Sec
ond lot Mr. McGsane has sold to
this company and he will continue
to buy for s,ill another shipment
next month.
The committee appointed 10 arr
range for holding farmers institutes
at regular intervals in this city
met at the residence OF II. II.
Pogue last Saturday and prepared |
a constitution and bylaws They
have set Saturday, sep enbef p,
as the date for holding Il mass
to effect permanent organ
ization. An Interesting program
will be arranged and ali are IN
vited to be present.
Born.
GoLDsroNa-At Lewiston, We'd