The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1901-08-08

MOSCOW was the scene OF dreadful
tragedy Sunday morning. In the brief
space ofa few minutes two men lay dead
and two wounded, one fatally. William
Steffen cra1ed by some insane desire shot
DIR. w. w. Watkins in cold blood wound
ed George V. Creighton and when the
officers of the law pursued him shot and
killed Deputy Sheriff w. f. Cool The
sheriff, ]. R. Collins. and posse of men
pursued him to his mothers house,
| wounded him in the leg in running
fight and found him dead a few minutes
later shot in the heart by his own hand.
The killing Of DR.. Watkins was entire
ly unprovoked. All eye witnesses to
the shooting agree that DIR. Watkins was
riding peacefully down the street when
Steffen rode rapidly up to him and called
for hiih to stop. Dr. Watkins pulled up
his horse and the murderer drew a re-
volver and fired at short range. The
first shot pierced the left breast over the
heart. A second shot pierced his
brain. Watkins horse plunged forward
and was caught by the crowd block be-
low. Steffen after the shooting whirled
about rode back and turned onto another
street where he was accosted by Geo. v.
Creighton who asked what the shooting
was about. For reply Steffen again drew
his revolver and fired, the ball striking
Creighton in the fleshy part of the right
arm above the elbow. He then raced
his horse out Of town.
Sheriff J. R. Collins, his deputy w. T..
Cool, Gainford Mix and other prominent
citizens made up the posse that followed
the murderer. Steffen rode east for half
mile then made circle back into the
city, stopping at the residence of Deputy
Sheriff Charles Jones for drink of wa
ter. While he was here Sheriff Collins
rode up and called to Jones that DR.. Wat
kins had been shot and that the mu, derer
had ridden away northward. Steffen
mounted his horse drew his pistol and
said, "Sherif l shot Watkins" He
then ran his horse down the street west
ward, Collins following. At the end of
the street he ran between Cool and Mix
neither Of whom knew he was Watkins
murderer but supposed him to be cne of
the posse. Sheriff Collins called to them
to stop Steffen. Whereupon Steffen
turned and shot twice at Cool both balls
taking effect. He then wheeled his
horse, rode back past Collins and the
two began running fight. One shot
from the sheriff's gun broke the hind
leg of Steffen's horse and the bullet pass
ed through the calf Of Stefen's leg. He
dismounted and took across the fields to
his mothers house.
Sheriff Collins, Gainford Mix, At
torney G. w. Coutts and number Of
citizens pressed in upon the fugitive who
taking refuge in the house opened ERE
upon his assailants. More rifles were
procured and fusillade opened upon
the house. 1t is said fully 400 shots were
fred at the house. During lull in the
firing his mother came out upon the
porch and begged the men to cease firing.
offering to have her son come out and
submit to arrest. The posse consented
and the mother returned to the house.
After few minutes Of quiet her heart
piercing screams were heard by the men in
waiting and supposing her insane son was
numbering his mother they broke cover
and rushed to the house only to find him
dead. A ball had pierced his heart.
DEArH or COOL.
Deputy Sheriff w. F.. Cool never ral-
lied after the shooting. He was taken