The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-11-23
WILLARD BOYD HELD TO
FACE CHARGE OF MURDER
Justice Nichols Decides There Is Suf-
ficient Grounds for the Presump-
ton of Guilt.
The maid that loves
Goes out to sea upon shattered plank,
And puts her trust in miracles Tor safety.

Young.
Willard Boyd was held without bail
to the sperior court converting in this
city December I, to answer to the
charge of murder i'll the first degree at
the end of two days preliminary trial
before Justice of the Peace Nichols, the
decision being given last Friday even
ing. Justice Nichols, in rendering his
decision, said in substance:
Il will say this much, gentlemen, that
if it were seemly and proper 1 would
like to have something to say about
the heartessness, inhumanity and utter
moral depravity made apparent to the
court by the testimony in this case.
One thing, evidently, we can all agree
upon, and that is that one little, frail
human life was taken, and now the
vengeful arm of the law is reaching
out for the criminal. There is no doubt
that an olfense has been committed,
and this court is called upon to decide
whether or not, under the evidence,
there is probable cause for holding the
defendant guilty of murder as charged
in the complaint"
He then proceeded to compliment At
torney Snively, representing the de-
PENDANT. for his critical, searching and
far reaching cross-eXamination of the
principal witness for the state, Blanche
McCallum He held that there was no
missing links in the circumstantial por-
ton of the evidence, decided that an
offense had been committed, and that
there was probable cause for charging
the defendant, Willard Boyd, with the
offense alleged in the complaint. namely,
murder in the first degree, and there
fore committed him to the custody of
the sheriff without bonds, to be held to
appear and answer at the next term of
the superior court to the charge as spec
flied.
The preliminary was of much greater
duration than is usual for hearings, and
details were gone into in the eXamina-
tions with as much minuteness and care
as they will be when the case comes to
trial in the higher court. III. J. Snively
conducted the defense. and County At
torney Parker prosecuted, being assist
ed by Attorney Nestal Snyder. The
principal witness was the states. Miss
Blanche McCallum, the young girl who
it is alleged was seduced before becom
ing of lawful age of consent. and who
has had two children, of botn of whom
Willard Boyd, is claimed to be the faith
err, although she is but 10 years old at
this time. Other witnesses were DIR. p.
Frank. who was county health officer at
the time the remains of an infant child
which the state will endeavor to prove
was that of Blanche McCallum and Mil
on the Schanno ditch, and who exam
ined the remains; Tom Young. a Chi
nese, who was proprietor of the Yaki-
ma lodging house in which the infant is
said to have been born; Justice Tag
gard, who was acting coroner. and
viewed the remains of the infant refer
red to, and William higgins, farm
nand, who Miss McCallum swore was
with Willard Boyd on one occasion when
the latter called upon her in the room
at the Yakima lodging house, the even
ing before the child was born.
The story told in the justice court
whether it is all true or not is one that
could not be listened to without shud-
der. 1t is as old as the world. and it
tells of the depths of depravity to which
man will 60 to crafty the lowest pas
sions, and the extreme lengths of sac
rifice Il woman will endure for the OBJ
ject, often unworthy, of her love. The
story rs the justice heard it was this
Blanche McCallum. an innocent and,
in regard to world knowledge, ignorant
little country girl, met with Willard
Boyd some six years ago. As their ac-
quaintance grew she learned to love aud
trust in him. and yielded to his every
wish with Il readiness that proved the
almost mysterious power he held over
her. Her father says that it seemed for
several years past as if Blanche was
under hypnotic spell thrown around
her by Boyd, and which she could not
or at least did not attempt to break,
although beseeched to do so by her
father and mother, who seem to nave
centered the hopes of their declining
years in Blanche, their only child. Ac-
cording to ner testimony. she gave tirth
to child on the 25th day of May, 1908
in a room at the Yakima lodging house
better known as the Kangaroo guine
through the terrible ordeal unattended
save by the man who claimed to love
her, and who was the author of her
shame and distress, unsootned by TIC