The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-11-24

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Murder is the way some Of the
spectators characterize the shooting
of Fred Brown by Policeman Willis.
Others who say they were spectators
defend the officer and declare he was
justified in shooting. 1t is only fair
to say that Officer Willis has host
of enemies on the North Side, where
he patrolled a beat for years.
Yet at least one eyewitness of the
shooting claims to be disinterested
and yet declares the policeman shot
Brown without giving him an oppor-
tunity to save his life by surrender
ing. This witness is Roy Wheeler
driver for the Spokane Steam Laun-
dry. His statement made this morn
ming to a reporter for The Press fol-
lows:
Il was near the corner of Madison
and Broadway when I saw Brown
running with Hoyt after him. A.
that time Brown was running toward
Jefferson street on Broadway with
John Hoyt after him.
"Hoyt appeared to be afraid to get
close to Brown. l took after him and
when he turned on Jefferson street
he started to go between two houses
there.
II caught the man between the
two houses and, taking hold of him,
at first started to walk out from be-
tween the two houses. When we met
Hoyt Brown was tired and was walk
ing alongside of me without trying
to get away.
II asked Hoyt Is this the man .
and he said Yes, that is the man.
Then I turned Brown over to Hoyt,
who seemed to be afraid to take hold
of him. :
"Hoyt spoke to Brown, telling hira
that he'd better wait right there as
a wagon would be after him. Brown
asked what for and Hoyt said, You
know what for all right
Then l told Hoyt he had better
hold to the fellow or he'd get away
from him. Hoyt said he would stay
all right, but that he didn't want To
get close enough to get knife In
him.
AT that Brown started to walk
away and Hoyt made no effort to
catch him, but just walked along be-
hind. Brown crossed the street on
College avenue and went into the old
college grounds.
He seemed to be done up then
When he was ahead of me and climb
ed picket fence to get away from
me he was too tired to jump and he
just laid his body over the pickets
and rolled over the fence.
willis came up as Brown went into
the school yard and kept saying,
Where is he? Where Is he? Some
one, think Hoyt. said, There he
is going there
Brown was then on the walk and
just trotting away. He wasn't rum
ming fast, was hardly out of a walk
and Willis or l or anyone could have
caught him.
willis went up to the gate and
when Brown was just about 20 feet
away Willis pulled his revolver and
shot. Brown fell and Willis walked
up to him and said something about
that teaching him to stop.
Brown said, For Gods sake, hurry
up and get me somewhere. I'm In aw-
full pain
willis said, oh. you're only shot
In the leg
Brown kept holding his hand on
his stomach and groaning. was
about 10 feet from Willis when he
shot and he did not call out for
As,wn to stop or halt. All he said
Where is hep
willis shot Brown In the back and
when Brown fell there were just two
boys. John Hoyt, and I think his
brother. myself and one other man
about there close enough to see
When Brown fell willis turned and
asked If anyone saw the shooting
One boy who lives at 1l10 or l0ll
College avenue said he saw and the
officer went to taking names.
Brown was easy to catch. He was
| completely exhausted and when
caught him first he offered no resist.
ance. He was weak from being q
| dope flend and couldn't run or fight
After he sort OF rolled over the fenc,
and l caught him he was unable to sc
| farther and walked back with me-"
Fred Brown was seen by John Hoyt
| one of the owners of the London De.
partment store on North Monro,
street, shortly before o'clock yes
| terday evening. Hoyt gave chas,
and Brown ran west on College ave-
| nue. to Madison and north 80 Broad
way and back south around n lot nea,
Jefferson street.
Near jefferson Brown was caugh
by Roy Wheeler and turned over I,
IHoyt, who permitted the man to agar
escape.