Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1904-04-01
A REMINISCENCE
Salem Statesman Recalls Facts Con.
nected With First Murder
in Polk County.

The recent visit of w. s. Gillian. q
Walla Walla, to the scenes of his
early life in the Willamette valley re.
calls the prominent part he took in
the development of the country in the
times when it is said some people
settled down in this country because
they could not settle up where they
came from, says the Salem Statesman.
At the time of his visit to Salem in
January last, the published report of
the TACT alluded to his being the first
sheriff of Polk county, and that, as
such, he officiated at the first legal ex-
ecution which ever took place in our
sister balllwick across the river. An
inspection of the files Of the Statesman
Tor that date reveals the fact that the
murdered man was named Serenus
Hooker, and his murderer was William
Everman.
Hooker owned a farm across the
Rickreall, but mile or two south Of
the present town of Dixie, not far from
the Nesmith home, and having missed
a watch which had been taken from
his house did not hesitate to publicly
say that Everman was the thief. The
accusation coming to Everman's ears
he threatened to kill Hooker for it.
Not long afterward Hooker was found
IN his field dead, having been shot
Twice. Very naturally, Everman was
suspected of the murder aud inquiry
brought the information that the day
before he had started to California. or
mad pretended to, in company with his
brother Hiram and two other men
named Smith and Coe.
A party consisting of Hen Owens.
j. N. Burch and James Foster imme- L
dlately started south in search of the
men and G. w. Baskett went
to the mouth of the Columbia river to
watch outgoing vessels. The murder
occurred on Friday, February 10, 1852,
and the pursuing party overlook the
fugltives on Deer creek, in the
Umpqua country near where Rosepurg
now is, and they were arrested at the
house of man named Walker, on the
Monday following. The were brought
to Dallas and the preliminary trial
was had before Justice Of the Peace
Lovelady on March IA, who bound
them over to be tried in a higher
court.
In the meantime, as the Statesman
OF February "a, 1862, says, "they were
lodged in Jail, if the upper story of the
courthouse may be called a jail"
Judge 0. G. Pratt presided at the
rial and the accused men we're de
ended by David Logan. r. P. Boise
vas prosecuting attorney and he was
ssisted by Matthew P. Deadly. VIM. i
Iverman was sentenced to be hung,
is brother Hiram pleaded guilty I
s an accomplice and was sentenced s
three years in the penitentiary, c
lille Smith pleaded not guilty, but the S
Try disagreed in his case-eleven for Ii
onviction and one for acquittal. They P
9th applied for change of venue T
hich was granted-to Yamhill coun- N
but before the trial Smith jumped Il
ON the second story of the court D
ouse and escaped, but was recaptured
thin few days in Yamhill county pl
his second trial he was convicted hi
murder in the first degree and SEN st
need to be hung, but was afterward hi
ardoned by Governor Gaines.
Before his execution Everman made
full confession, detailing how he went
Z Hooker's field where he was plow- ri
g with two yoke of oxen. AS he TT
1proached the fence at one side of II
e field, Everman secreted himself in n.
old "hog house, "and as Hooker was fl
rning his team around Everman IT