The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-07-04
Sherif's Office Tales Day
OFF While Would BE
Murderer Escapes.
Deputy Detailed to Catch
Criminal Abandons the
Chase.
Aust the law take a holIdayf


y so there IL a man who attempt
ed murder in King county today
who is escaping the consequences
Of his crime.
After q few hours OF half-hearted
work last night the pursuit Of John
willard. aged S.. farmer living
In Maple Valley, al the foot OF
Cedar mountain, who attsmpted
murder. according TO his own wifes
statement. has been Dropped for
the time being
II. A Stone, aged ss, the uncle
Of Mrs. Eva Willard. the victim
81 the crime. ie now In a serious
condition at Renton IN the care 81
Or. G. l.. Dixon His assailant
is stlll AZ liberty.
Willard fired three shots az
Stone yesterday near Cedar noun
tain. only one taking effect. inflict-
Ing 3 flesh wound In his face. He
also beat Stone about the head with
a revolver. and Il IL feared thab
the skull r. injured so that the re-
coyery OF the victim IL still doubt
fui.
Chase 10 Runeled.
The whole affair has been han.
died in very bungling manner by
the sheriffs office. which was i'm
mediateiy notified OF the shootiao.
All concerned in the case say
that they notified Deputy Sheriff
4nH a4ar1h.l L.. LA..o-aa - D..
ton. OF the affair. but he refused to
investigate the case
Mrs. Willard then carne all the
way to Seattle and reported the
matter TO Deputy Prosecuting At
torney John H. Perry. who gave her
immediate attention.
81 Story OF Shooting.
I'VE were starting out for Rem
ton yesterday morning" said Mrs.
Willard. "and my husband gave me
an order TO get a registered letter
that was waiting for him there.
After my uncle aud ! got into
the buggy my husband seemed to
change his mind and grabbed Tho
order from my hand. saying: 4
guess | might Just as well keep
this, since | have signed away just
about everything else
No YOU haven't. John ! an
swered. but he wouldn't listen 10
me Uncle then got out OF the rig
and took his umbrslla and startsa
up the road. and also got out.
John went into the house and
soon after he came out again. but I
didn't notice that he had gun.
He started up the road sitter uncle
and In a short time ! heard three
shots.
"Hurrying 10 see what was the
trouble. | found uncle on his back
In the road. his face covered with
blood, John was still beating him
with a revolver
Threatened His wife.
Don't you come any closer or I
will shoot you. too. he said TO me.
and then started off towards the
woods. In q short time heard two
more shots and | was sure that he
had killed himself
4 was ~ scared that didn't
dare go TO see II he was dead. but
hurried back TO the house and got
the rig and took my uncls o. Rem
ton TO have him cared for"
Mrs. Willard reported the matter
TO the prosecuting attorneys office
in Seattle about o'clock. and the
sherifcs office was Immediately
notiNFf
In spite OF this Il was 5 o'clock
before Deputy Sheriff Oscar Wise.
the only man detailed ON the case.
reached Renton and called upon
Marshal Edwards to get busy
Uncle verifies Story.
They talked to stone. whose ad-
vanoed age adds greatly TO his
and he substantially veri-
fled Mrs Wizards story Of the
affair.
They took a rig and drove cut to
the Willard farm, where Mrs. VIII ?
lard who had already returned
from Seattle. showed fhem the
place where the fleeing criminal
had escaped into the bushes.
These two men, the best that the
sheriffs office OF King county
could detail on what looked like
case. beat the brA1N until
3 90, and then wepA back u their
homes ready 10 ~Slebrate the
Fourth" each in his own manner
All that they had done hesides