Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1903-03-07
TRAGEDY BROUGHT 70 LIGHT
OCCURRING NEAR PoMERoY,
WASHINGTON, LAST FALL.
Remains Identified as Those of Henry
Lartigue-tis Wife Is Held for the
Muroer-DetaiIs of the Discovery of
Rody-Was Buried With Saddle
Wife Is Dumb on the Subject.

Pomeroy, Wash, March 1.-THE
body found buried in the dooryard OF
the Estes ranch has been exhumed
and identified as that OF Henry Larti-
sue, husband OF Amanda J. Lartigue,
VINO is held for the murder. A coro
ner's jury has decreed that Lartlgue
came TO his death by the wounds oil
an unknown instrument in the hands
OF an unknown assassin.
When Sheriff Strain drove away
from the place with the wife in his
custody a body of neighboring farm
ers Joined Deputy Sheriff Hawkins,
and together they made minute in.
spection of the premises. The Estes
| farm house stands in little plat OF
level ground scarce half an acre in
all, graded out of the side of a steep
bank cut from the hillside by the win
ter freshets that swell Deadman creek,
which flows at it's foot. In this little
plat few flowers grew, and nothing
more.
For some time past the accused wo~
man has offered the ranch for sale or
rent but has always made the condi-
ton that the house, together with this
| dooryard plot should be reserved. This
seemingly insignificant fact gave the
uty sheriff his clue. He reasoned
that If there was any body there it
must be in this yard. He provided
himself with an iron rod several feet
long and went all over this half acre,
sinking this rod into the earth At a
point 40 feet northwest from the cor
ner of the house stood a dead locust
tree. When the iron was thrust be-
meath the roots of this tree it encoun
tered an obstacle. Repeated trials
met with the same resistance. The
iron had struck the saddle, which lay
over the dead mans head.
Willing hands with shovels soon
reached the telltale object and reveal
ed the body of the victim, crowded
face downward under about three feet
OF earth in an old potato hole, used
on ranches to store potatoes in the
winter. Darkness had now fallen on
the scene and the searehers suspend
ed further examination till the arrival
OF the coroner in the morning.
At 81 80 o'clock in the morning, Cor
oner Black having arrived. jury was
empaneled from the Outstanding far
mers and a complete exhumation of the
remains made. The body lay cross
wise in the potato hole, which, being
| dug square, was about foot too short
to contain it at full length, and even
In this position the legs had bad to be
curled under to find room.
No clothing was on the corpse ex-
eept an undershirt and black over
shirt with horizontal white stripes.
Around the neck was blue and white
polka dot bandanna handkerchief,
which article was a never absent ad-
junct to Lartigue's cowboy makeup
during life.
AS the outlines of the form met the
view of the onlookers., many were the
comments on it's unmistakeable resem-
blance to that Of Lartigue. The hair
WIS of medium length and in perfect
order. without DISAGREEMENT, and had
the same blue black hue, and hung In
the same rope like strands, which were
striking and we'll remembered feat
lures Of the appearance of the deceased.
Head MutiIated.
The head and face were horribly NM
tilated. The entire right side was
crushed in. A huge aperture yawned
behind and above the right ear and
another over the left eye. Both jaws
were broken loose from the head and
the skull came to pieces during the
examination.
The theory is that Lartigue was kill
ed while in bed. The remains will be
buried in the potter's field outside of
this city.
Woman Is Silent.
The accused woman maintains the
same sphinxlike demeanor that has
characterized her every act since ar
rest, She was subjected to sweating
process all day yesterday, but nothing
escaped her by word or action to in
dictate the slightest appearance OF
guilt. Not an eyehd quivered or the
slightest change of color showed in
her face as the officers confronted her
with the proofs of the crime Chero-
kee blood runs in her veins. Nothing
seems to break her stoioal behavior
except an occasional profession of ig.
norance OF the entire affair
The officers say they have incrimin-
ating evidence which can not be made
public at present.