The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-01-24
TO ENTER PLEA Of GUILTY
To MOST SERIOUS CHARGE
CHARLES FRANZEN OF WApATO CONFESSES
One of the Most Revolving Cases Ever Known in
State of Washington Discovered in
Reservation Town.

PROBABLY the VlleSC case LnaL mas
ever come before the courts in the
state of Washington was uncovered
by Sheriff Grant and Prosecuting At
torney Krutz yesterday. AS result
of this investigation Charles Franzen
of Wapato will plead guilty in the
upon the members of his own fami-
ly. The case is SO disgusting that
1t is impossible for the Herald to
deal with the particulars and it can
be said that there has never been so
revolving a case come up within the
experience of the local authorities
either here or elsewhere. Fran
zen was for some time the section
boss for the Northern Pacific rail-
way at Wapato, but for the last few
years has been living in that town
and doing such work as he was able
to find on ranches and farms in the
reighborhood. On last Thursday
Sheriff Grant was called up by sop e
Of the citizens of Wapato and old
,nat there was a family in that own
that was in very bad circumstances
and asked Il Ne could not make it a
point to com down and see what he
could do at the first OPP ort1nity
On Saturday Sheriff Grant was able
to make the trip to the little reserva-
ton town and investigate the matter
He found Franzen and his family,
with the exception of the eldest girl,
who was working in Parker Bot
tom, living in two rooms which were
so vile that to use the sheriff's own
expression, he would not stable a
cow in them. The neighbors said
that for weeks past Franzen had
been drunk and that the money
which the oldest girl earned and sent
to the other children to use for the
necessities of life was taken by him
and spent for liquor. The story was
also told Grant at the same time
picion that Franzen was wronging
his own daughters. There was no
proof of this, however, and in order
to see what he could find out in the
matter, the sheriff took Franzen in
his buggy and brought him to this
city, where he was thoroughly ques-
toned by the county officers, but
he made a complete der II of all
wrongdoing. He took solemn
pledge, before several parties as wit
nesses, that he would never touch
another drop of liquor. After this
he was allowed to return to Wapato
with the understanding that he
should look after his family better
than he had in the past.
On Monday the sheriff received
another telephone call and was told
that he must send some one there
Immediately, as Franzen was in his
house drunk with pistol and had
threatened the lives of the two
younger girls of the family. A man
came to Yakima Immediately in
response to a request from the
sheriff and swore out warrant
charging Franzen with making
threats to kill, the object being
to hold him on this charge until a
more serious one could be filed.
Without waiting for this, however,
Deputy Jack Kaufman was sent to
Wapato as fast as pair Of horses
could take him, with instructions to
arrest Franzen II it was necessary in
order to prevent trouble. without a
warrant, but otherwise to let him
stay until morning and then to bring
him to Yakima on the warrant mem
toned. Kaufman, on his arrival.
found that the man had quieted
down and he did not bring him to
this city until Tuesday morning.
When he reached Yakima he was
placed in the county Jail to await de-
velopments.
Another element that caused
Sheriff Grant great deal of uneasi-