The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1907-07-19
MURDER IS COMMITTED
Body of Unknown Man Found
in Grain Field.
Supposed to BE Greek Laborer-
Two Greek Companions Sus-
pected of Crime.

Tuesday evening Coroner Crawford re-
ceived word that the dead body OF a
man had been found in a field near Pa
louise and asking him to come and in
vestigate. He hitched up his team and
left at once, returning Wednesday. 1t
seems that the two SONS of j. n. Berry,
who were running a moving machine on
the Berry farm, just east of PalOuse,
found the body of an unknown man ~
ing in the field. The body was not more
than a rod from the public highway.
The police force of Palouse was notified
and investigation proved beyond doubt
that the man had been murdered. A
bullet, probably from q 30 caliber re-
vOlver, had entered the left eye, and had
gone directly through the head, coming
out behind. The body had apparently
been lying where it was found for four or
five days, according to the report OF Mr..
Crawford
Aside from the bullet wound there are
other evidences of murder. A large pool
of blood, dried in the hot sun, was found
near the fence, and pieces Of clothing had
been left on the wires where the body
was dragged through. Tracks were also
visible, showing that two men had done
the work. The pockets had been gone
through and turned inside out, and
neither money nor q piece OF paper by
which the murdered man could be
identified was left. The man was feet
6 inches in height. of fair complexion
and rather heavy. He wore a dark blue
shirt, two pairs Of OveraIIs and pair Of
heavy shoes, without socks. One shoe
had been removed, and was within few
inches of the foot from which it had been
taken.
Mr.. Crawford held an inquest and the
body was buried in the potter's field.
Wednesday morning Deputy Sheriff
Daley started for PalOuse to investi-
gate. His investigation may bring re
suits. 1t was found out that on July IL
Jim George, 20 years old, Mike jim, his
brother, % years of age, and NelshO
JOsey, all Greeks, had drawn their checks
from the Spokane & Inland at PalOuse,
where they had been at work, with the
avOwed intention Of returning to their
native land. Jim George drew $500,
Mike Jim $500 and the last named $500
Later the brothers we're seen alone, and
when asked about NelshO Josey profess
ed to know nothing about him. Their
actions were suspicious. Besides, the
several tracks around where the body
was found correspondent with footwear
generally worn by the two suspected
men. There seems little room for doubt
that they enticed the murdered man up
the road where they shot him, and then
dragged the body through the barhed
wire fence into the tall grass, hoping to
get out OF the country before it was dis
covered.
These facts we're laid before the county
commissioners, who told the sheriff to
offer a reward CT 5000 and they would
ratify his action. Sheriff Ratliff went to
Spokane Wednesday evening hoping to
get some clue of the men, as well as to
get the assistance of the Spokane
authorities.
Deputy Sheriff Daley returned from
Palouse yesterday morning. Nothing
new had transpired then.
LATER-Since the above was in type
1T Is learned that furrier in Spokane
says that man answering the descrip-
ton Of Mike Jim came to his place of
business and wanted to buy a money
belt. That was couple of days ago.
Deputy Sheriff Daley returned to Pa
louise yesterday afternoon to take the
Greek who fret gave description of de-
parting men to Spokane to identity Mike
Jim and his companion, who are expect
ed to be found and arrested at any time.
Another circumstance has come to
light. pencil belonging to Mike jim
was found in the field where the body lay.
There can be little doubt that the officers
are on the right scent.