The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-05-30

With my little detail of men and
the signed order of the chief to draw
two men from any station in the city
in case of danger, / started out one
dark night, fairly as black as ink
with sleet and heavy wind thai
made the trip more desperate than
it would have seemed on a pleasan
evening. | was careful to tell no
one where we were bound for, merely
taking the boys on an Elston avenue
car to spot in the city that ! had
never visited before. 1t was the
home of Niedemeier that we were
seeking when we alighted al a lone
ly place, alone on what seemed to be
a large prairie. We looked long
time for the number of the street to
which Marks had directed us, but
there was only one house in the
neghborhood and that was as dark
as pitch. 1t was in the shadow of a
long brick building and looked as
though it might be vacant.
1t was the home of Pete Neide-
meier. There was no doubt about it,
And he had been pronounced the
bodest and most dangerous one Of
the trio. Nevertheless, we had start
ed out to get the news and We mus
do it or become the laughing stock Of
the city. l told the boys, as we en-
tered the front yard what we had to
do. | told them that Niedemeier
might possibly be in the house and
that he would shoot on sight if he
had the slightest intimation that we
were after him. But they all gritted
their teeth and hoping against fact.
they divided. One went to the front
door, one to the back and the 9th
ers stationed themselves where they
could watch the windows of the little
brick cottage.
Nervously, but with my hand on
my gun, silently stepped up to the
front door There was no light Wis
ible, but l could hear the sound of
voices on the inside. Then, with my
heart in my mouth, l knocked at the
door There was a scuffle, the sound
of door closed very softly, and
then the front door opened ever so
slightly and a tall, dark Accomplishment
young man with black moustache
asked what 7 wanted
SIS Pete here?" I whispered soft
~.
who are your" he queried
Il just want to know if Pete is
here" ! answered.
NO, he is not, but this is where
he lives" Then the man started to
close the door, but l had inserted my
foot in the opening and insisted upon
entering. It was only after l had
told him my errand that he consent
ed. 1t was rather unfair, no doubt,
of me TO tell him what l wanted in
the way that did, but the situation
was desperate found that his name
was Paul and that he was brother
to Pete.
Paul." l said, Il am a newspaper
man and came out to put Pete wise
to the fact that something has hap
pened and want to see him and
warn him.
Then for the first time Paul heard
tile story Of his brothers fearful
crime; and the old father and moth
er. Germans, bol OF mem, unable
to understand except what Paul
translated to them, weak with age
and now prostrated with grief, heard
their sons mare CONNIE Lea with the
most dastardly deed that Lad shocked
the city in a score OF years.
While | was telling the story /
had admitted the photographer and
other boys. and when I had finished
asked il We might take a fiash-lght
picture Of Pete's bed room. They
consented They pointed 10 the door
Of his room / started to open it,
when I heard window raised a
noise like some one in A hurry, and
then with my hand on the Goor knob
failed to open the door because III
- locked on the inside. | had all
ready sent for two polio officers,
and just at this time they arreel.
With their assistance the doc was
forced and We entered he room
where the car barn murders and ro' Z
berry were planned. To our amaze
nent we found evidence that Niede-
meier had just departed. /. was 1
fortunate thing for us thai he Ia |
left, for we found and conhseated a
small arsenal, hundreds Of rounds Of
ammunition and every evidence that
he would have shot on sight had he
been forced To do so
Pau1 admitted that Pete had inst