Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-09-01
]. F. Sloane
Murdered by
His Own Son

Spokane, Aug. 29.-Brutally MUIR
dered in his bedroom and his body
hauled through the streets in an old
wheelbarrow, to be dumped in an alley
that was the fate of James +.
! Sloane, pioneer merchant and former
member of the Sloane-Paine company.
Sidney Sloane, a son of the murdered
man, is now held at the police station.
The body of the dead man shows that
a cowardly murder had been commit
ted. There were unm berless gashes on
the head, which appeared as though
they had been Inflicted with hatcnet.
Young Sloane has confessed that he
alone killed his father, but said it was
done in the heat of passion, his father
having attacked him when intoxicated.
Young Sloane is only II years old.
Chief of Police Waller believes the
boy cody planned the murder to secure
the $500 which he believed his father
had.
The murder was procalby committed
shortly after midnight, judging from
the condition of the body when it was
found. Mr.. Sloane was fully dressed,
but the pockets appeared to have been
rifed. This however. judging from
the later turn of affairs, was merely a
blind to turn aside suspicion.
1t is said that the boy and the father
gqt into an alteration over money mat
ters, and came to blows. The boy then
grabbed an ak and beat and chopped
the old man to death.
Investigation of the premises reveal
ed the ak and blood saturated rugs
stored away dnder the porch and that
new rugs had been laid down in place
of those covered with blood. Instead
of fleeing, young Sloane busted himself
with covering up all traces of the MUIR
der and it was only the blood stains on
the back porch that gave the police
their clew.
After Staying his father, the boy put
the body in a wheelbarrow and carted
it to the alley half a block away where
he dumped it out, and returned to the
house.
Mr.. Sloane was a native of New
York state, graduate of Yale college,
in which at one time he held chair
as professor of chemistry. In later
years Mr.. Sloane became interested in
mining and within thepast few months
had successfully financed proposition
near Mullan. Idaho, which he believed
would make him and his sons wealthy.
LATER REPORT.
Young Sloane had wanted money.
His father had refused to buy him a
new suit of clothes this week. He de-
termined that at any cost he would
have the golden pieces that bring the
Injuries of the fast life he is reported
to have lived. He believed his father
had $500 in his possession. He deter
mined to have that money. He made
his plans carefully, so he said at one
| time. Then again he said that he saw
his father asleep in his room and the
! idea came to him suddenly. The boy
declares his father was asleep in his
chair in his room in their home. His
head was bowed on his breast and the
sleep was sound. 1t was nearly mid
night and everything in the house was
quiet. Now was the time to secure the
money, then cover up the crime and no
one would ever know.
He crept down stairs, passed over to
the yard of his neighbor and from the
backyard he took an ak. Stealthily he
crept up stairs. He opened the door.
His father was still sleeping. The boy
raised the ak above the man who was
responsible for his being, and brought
the weapon down upon his helpless vic
TINS head. The body of the aged
merchant fell in heap on the rug.
According to the boys testimony
there was no hestitancy then. He went
through his fathers pockets. He re-
moved his money, $50 in all. He then