The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-06-17
MINK WAS HERE
MURDERER IN ILLINOIS LEF
WAllA WALLA TWO
WEEKS AGO.
Identity Established This Morning oy
Attorney Mills, Who Helped HIM
Get His Money.

Fred Mink, mentioned in dispatches
from Pittsfeld. H., Monday as beng
surrounded in a deserted house after
having shot and killed Newton W:
Harris, a farmer of that place, WORKED
around Walla Walla for over month
and left this city only two weeks ago
for Pittsfied. The identity OF the
young man was established this morn
ing b. Attorney E. C. Mills, who aid
ed him in securing a legacy OF s4oo.lo
from the estate of Isaac w. Jones OF
Pittsfield, Mink being minor heir.
Mink came into my office about the
middle of last month and engaged me
to secure legacy of $40S.15 from the
estate of Isaac w. Jones at Pitttsfield.
Ill., Mr.. Mills said this morning
The papers were signed and about
two weeks later Mink got his money.
That was about the first Of this month
He left soon afterward and | never
heard Of him until yesterday, when
dispatches mentioned the murder at
Pittsfield and him being surrounded
| by sheriff 5 posse on the outskirts
Of the town.
From what Mink told me | beHeVe
| he was in Walla Walla for some little
| time, working for a ranching firm west
of the city. He did not say what he
was out in this country for, but |
supposed he was like many other east
| ern boys, came out to see the country
and secured job on ranch. He
did not say anything about returning
home, but he probably went straight
| from Walla Walla to Pitttsfeld.'
The dispatch from Pittsfield, giving
an account Of the murder is as fol-
| lows:
AS the result of a double killing
| committed here yesterday, Fred MINK,
u years old. is besieged in deserted
| house on the edge of town. while a
mob and a sheriff's posse are seeking
to effect his capture. The members
| of the mob declare they will lynch
| him, and the sheriff and his deputies
are trying to make him prisoner and
take him to jail Mink shot and killed
| Newton W. Harris. a farmer living
near town, and then killed his step
mother. Rage over the refusal OF
Harris to allow him to pay attentions
to his daughter is thought 70 have in
| spired one killing but the death OF
| Mrs Mink is not explained.
| Mink, who is y years old, returned
from the state of Washington. Be
fore leaving home for the west he paid
attentions to Beulah, the daughter OF
Mr. Harris, and his suit had been dis
couraged by the father. Since his re-
turn Mink has declared that he intend
ed to even up scores.
Mr.. Harris was in his pasture lot
yesterday when Mink crept up behind
him. He was armed with a rifle. and
from the shelter Of a fence he fired
on the unsuspecting farmer, who fell
Mink then ran to the PROSTATE man
and shot him four times in the back
and side as he lay on the ground
Alarmed by the firing. Mrs. Harris ran
from the house, a short distance away
and started toward her husband
Mink drew a revolver as she approach
ed and fired one shot. missing her
Then he ran from the field and disap
peared in the woods near by.
A search was instituted for Mink
and a number of people went to his
home. Forcing an entrance they dis
covered the body of Mrs. Mink lying
on the floor. She had been shot a
number OF times and was dead when
found. The citizens organized a strong
posse, heavily armed. to search for
Mink, and he was found hiding in a
barn on the edge Of town. AS the
crowd approached he showed himself
at window and told his pursuers that
he would kill the first man that ap
preached the house. He showed his
rife and revolver, and fired a shot at
one man. who tried to run around the
corner of the house to get at him from
behind. The sheriff insists that he
will make every effort TO prevent a
lynching.