The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-09-16
FOUND DEAD in CABIN
BELIEVED To HAVE BEEN
MURDERED IN REVENGE.
Had Been Dead for Month
Watch and Money found with
Him-Sledge Found with
Dead Mans Hair on
It-Other News.

SaCudlIS, w dSus ocpt. Io.-J dS.
H. Wilkinson, a well-known ranch
er, living on the south fork of the
Newauknm River, 16 miles south
east of Chehalis, was murdered in
his lonely cabin about month ago
but the fact was not discovered un-
til yesterday evening. Mat Bal
forr, neighbor, and c. H. Roe,
of Toledo, were passing Wilkinson's
cabin andssstopped to look in. AS
they neared the house, sickening
smell greeted them. On investiga-
ton they could see Wilkinson's
body lying on the floor through the
window.
Word was at once brought to
Cheha)is and Coroner Myer, of
Winlock, notified. This morning
Coroner Mger, Sheriff Urquhart,
DR.. F. II. Casssls and Undertaken
Sttcklin, of Chehalis, drove to Will
kinson's ranch to investigate. G.
H. Roe, Mat. Balfour, III. e. Ran
dali, II. Dorm, jacob Hovies and
F. H. Cassels were summoned as
coroner's jury.
The body was in a bad state OF
decomposition, but was examined
as carefully as possible. The body
lay on the floor near the door of the
cabin. The head was resting on
the mans saddle. Both arms were
crossed as if placed in that position
by the murderer. By Wilkinson's
side was his 25-calibre rife which
had been showed up under the left
armpit. It contained an empty
she'll. The body showed no gun
shot wounds as near as could be
found and the murderer evidently
figured that the discoverers of the
body would conclude Wilkinson
had committed suicide.
An examination of the skull
showed conclusively how the man
had met his death. The scalp was
removed and equarely in the top
of the skull was found hole where
it had been crushed by a heavy
blow-a hole large enough to insert
man s hand. On the left arm
was found evidences. of where
blow had been struck ALEC, appar-
en- ly while Wilkinson was ward.
ing off his assailant. There was al
so scar on the left knee but was
possibly an old wound.
Search of the premises revealed
three pound sledge hammer in the
woodshed adjoining the house. On
this was found enough of the dead
mans hair to prove that with 1t
some one had killed Wilkinson.
The front door of the cabin was
locked, but the back door was not.
The body was partially dressed,
the man having on his trousers and
shirts. 1t is thought the murder
er went to the cabin In the evening
about the time Wilkinson was pre-.
pairing to retire or else awakened
him, and that he partially dressed
himself before admitting the assail-
ant. A small sum Of money was
found and the mans watch was un-
disturbed, showing the motive must
have been revenge.
Wilkinson was last seen, SO far
as now known, four weeks ago yes
terday. He was in the habit of GO
ing to his ranch, where he lived as
a bachelor. and staying awhile,
then going out to Centra1ia. Hama
ford, Chehalis OF other places and
working or visiting with friends.
He was quick tempered man, and
it is said he had one or two bitter
enemies who might have concluded
to get him out of the way. More
light is expected on this phase of
the matter tomorrow when relatives
arrive from Bucoda. The coroner's
jury rendered a verdict that the
man was murdered.
Ashland, Or, Sept. 12.-G. w.
Woody, farmer, about "a years of