The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-02-27
THE OLGA TRAGEDY
RESULTS OF CORONER,S INQUEST
AND PRELIMINARY HEARING
Robertson Represented at the Latter N
J. N. Phillips, of whatcala;,- Robsrt=
gon's Voluntary Statement to the ISL
ander ~ to "the Cause OF the Alter
5. cation.''

The coroner's inquiry into the cause
of the death of John Hand, WHO was
killed by Thos. Robertson near Olga
Monday, February IL, was held at
Olga Wednesday and All autopsy was
also performed upon the body to de-
teFmine the course Of tile fatal bullet.
County Attorney Thackar, H. S. King,
his deputy, Sheriff Firth and County
Auditor Clark went over from here
with the coroner and attended the in
quest and Mr.. Clark took number of
photographs of the scene Of the trag-
edy. The facts developed at the in
quest and at the preliminary examina-
ton held here on the following day
fully cnrroborate in every essential par
ticular the report of the tragedy as
given In the ISLANDER of tbs Goth
inst. The jury empannelled by Cor
oner Wright consisted Of four of the
oldest and best known citizens of the
Olga neighborhood--John Gray, Johu
Davis, r. G. Willis and Payton Red
dick, and their verdict was as follows:
.'We find that John Hand came to his
death as the result of u gunshot wound at
the hands of Thos. Robertson, and we
further find that the shooting of the said
John Hand by Thos. Robertson was will
full and malicious
The autopsy performed by DR.. Wright
showed conclusiyely that Hand was
shot in the back as he was hurrying
along the road in the hope of escaping
from his assailapt, the bullet first pass,
ing through the bag of nails which he
carried over his shoulder.
On the day Of the inquest ]. N. Phil-
lips, of the law firm of Phillips 4 Per-
niger, of Whatcom, arrived here on the
steamer Buckeye and went direct to
the Jail, where he had brief confer.
ence with Robertson, in whose defense
he appeared ut the preliminary exam
ination held here on the following day.
A mortgage for $500 or the Robertson
ranch, in favor of Phillips d Peringer
and signed by Robertson only, was
filed for record at the auditors Office,
prior to Mr.. Phillips return to What.
com. The preliminary examination,
which was held before Justice Larson
at Odd Fellows hall, failed to develop
q scintilla Of evidence in support Of
Robertson's plea Of self defense. The
principal witness for the state was Ella
Moore, who was with her sister, Mrs.
Davis, and Mary Robertson in the
Moore house, in font of which the
tragedy occurred, at the time Of the
shooting. Face to face with Robertson,
the young girl gave her testimony
simply and effectively, without the
least hesitation or equivocation. No
Que who heard her could fail to be i'm
pressed with the truth of her state
ments. The other witnesses were JUS
tice Snowden, Anthony Chlert and
Mr.. Emch. Mary Robertson was pres-
ent, but was not required 10 testify.
Robertson was held for trial In the SUI
perior court and renianded to jail. Un-
der date Of February 21 he addressed
the following communication to the
ISLANDER, relative to his movements
and actions OH the day of the shooting:
To the Editor of The SAN JUAN ISL
ANDER-Dear Sir: In regards to the cause
of the alteration between John Hand
and myself please do not censure me too
much until you know the whole truth Of
the affair. This has been the fourth at
tempt that he has made with deadly wea-
pons to take my life. On the last oaeas.
ion, two years or more ago, he bound me
over to keep the peace, which I kept
faithfully. keeping out Of his way cohtin-
ually. On this occasion you stated that I
was under the effects Of liquor. On the
arrival of the steamer Buckeye from
Whatcom I received gallon of>whisky
from Mr.. Chas. Roeh', which I sent to
him for for medicinal purposes. ~ my
youngest daughter was very sick for four
or five days previous. Mr.. Thos. Leavell
brought it up from the wharf, In com.
pany with Jefferson Moore, the postinas-
ter. He gave it to me on the stoop Of the
store, where I was in conversation with
Mr.. Joseph Reddick in regard 70 some
mineral ledge which wanted to show
him. Iopsned the jug then and offered