The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-06-14
FATAL SHOOTING ARRAY
At TOPPENISH LAST WEEK
Enragcd Negro Kills a White Man
for Revenge for Imagined
Insult.

Charles Curtis, white man at
Toppenish. last Thursday. the victim
dying within few minutes. Five
shots from Whitley's revolver found
Judgment IN Curtis body. Whitley
attempted to escape. but was over
taken by number of Toppenish citi-
zens, surrendered without persua-
sion, and was brought to North Yaki-
ma and placed in Jail. Saturday he
was arraigned before Justice Tag
gard and was held to the superior
court on the charge of murder,
without bail DR.. Rosser, county
coroner. went to the scene of the
shooting and held an investigation.
He decided that an inquest was I'M
necessary.
Whitley is a fairly intelligent
negro, judging by his appearance and
talk, although he is evidently very
deficient as regards judgment or re-
sponsibility. He takes his arrest
and Incarceration with apparent I'M
concern and intsead of showing re-
morse or regret for the shooting of
Curtis, seems to think he was JUS
titled by reason of fancied insult.
The men were both employed by c.
l.. Dunn, on the latter's ranch near
Toppenish Both were comparative
strangers in the vicinity. Whitley.
who recently came to the state from
Indiana, had been given charge of
the lrrigating ultches on the ranch,
while Whitley worked at any kind of
labor that he was told to do. The
trouble that caused feeling between
the two men, or at least on the part
of Whitley for Curtis. originated last
Tuesday when the negro was told to
go and repair broken ditch. In
giving the order to Whitley, Curtis
is said to have called the negro
Shine" name which &c resented.
Angry words followed, and Whitley
swore he would FIX" Curtis for the
insult. The latter endeavored to
convince him that no insult was in
tended, and the matter was supposed
to have been settled. Nothing fur
Their was thought of it by Curtis. 1t is
believed, until Thursday noon, when
Curtis called at the postoffice for
mail for Mr.. Dunn. On the street
near the drug store he met Whitley,
and was heard to ask him what he
was carrying in his hand Whitley
replied that he had nothing Ac-
cording to bystanders. Curtis said:
Eyes. you have; | see you reaching
for something. NOW, what have
you got there?'
The negro is said to have ex-
claimed, We'll, by -, I'll let you
know" and with these words he
drew revolver from his coat pocket
and began firing at Curtis. The
latter. who was unarmed, turned and
started to run. Whitley followed,
and at range of few ieet fired a
number of shots With the last
Curtis dropped to the ground. He
died within five minutes. without
having spoken.
Whitley struck out at rapid gait
in the direction of Wapato. Think
ing that the dangerous character and
the mood of the man demanded a
force of numbers, party was organ
lied, which started in pursuit He
was soon ovcrtaken, and without the
slightest resistance allowed his CAP
tors to take him back to Toppenish.
where he was confined till Sheriff
Grant arrived and took charge of
him.
Curtis remains We're cared for by
a. L.. Flint, aud in response to mes
sage received from the unfortunate
mans father, who resides in Win
chester, Ind. he was buried here Fri
day. II j. Snively has been re-
tanned as Whitley's counsel