The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-02-10
JEALOUSY ONLY REASON
FOR WILL 4. BREEzE'S MURDER
INQUEST TESTIMONY INDICATES II
Hour of Probable Death-Crime
Still Shrouded in Mystery.

The coroner's inquest over the re-
mains of Will P. Breeze was held in
the undertaking parlors of the Flint
Shaw Co. Monday afternoon. The
jury, composed of Mayor p M. Arm
bruster, H. H. Schott, |. H. Dills, Il.
u. Wyman, Walter Newton and Will
liam Cliff. returned a verdict that
Will p. Breeze had come to his
death on December 22, 1905, from
the effects of a blow on the head
with heavy instrument in the hands
of person or persons unknown to
the jury. A dozen witnesses were
examined, and the taking of the tes-
timony occupied the major part of
the afternoon.
The last seen of Breeze alive was
on the afternoon of December % at
the Northern Pacific depot, between
2 and o'clock. Every move of the
murdered man on the night preced-
ing the crime was traced by his COM
panions, and up to the time of his
disappearance there is no break in
the testimony. From the depot,
where he went to bid Gladys German
and her companion, known as "Ma-
bel" good bye before their depart
ure for Ellensburg. it is supposed
that he went to the Washington hotel
to settle the room accounts of his
companions of the night before.
From this point all trace of Breeze's
movements are lost.
In the mass of testimony and cross
examination at the inquest there was
not bit of evidence that showed a
motive for the crime, or that the
dead man mad an enemy. There had
been no quarrel in the affair of the
night before. Acquaintance testi-
fled that there was no sign in Breeze's
actions of jealousy over the German
woman, or that he had a rival for
her hand. The authorities have no
tangible clue to work upon.
1t was shown in the testimony
that Breeze was infatuated with the
German woman, and had made visits
to Ellensburg to see her. The meet
ing in this city on the eve of the
tragedy was in the nature of a fare
well party, before the German wo-
man left for her home in Chicago.
The police believe that Breeze was
murdered by rival for the hand of
the woman, or a consort about to be
Tilted for the murdered man. Jeal-
Ousy is believed to be the only plaus-
i5le motive for the crime, and that
the murderer, believing that the Cor
man woman and Breeze had made
arrangements to leave for the east
together, waylaid and murdered him.
A new bit Of testimony was intro
duced at the inquest which may cast
some light on the affair. Three boys
rabbit hunting in the south part of
the city on December %, testified
that while Lear the place where the
body was found, they saw man, ap-
parently sitting up in the snow. One
of them had remarked, Gee, look at
the swell guy" They hurried back
to their homes and thought nothing
more of the man until reading the
newspapers last week The body was
found in depression in the ground,
and was lying at an angle. A per-
son so yards away could easily mis-
take his position for a sitting pos
ture. The time which elapsed be-
tween the time Breeze left the depot
and the time he was seen by the rab-
VII uu'ttCio II tStlmdteu at ABOUT one
hour
The police believe that Breeze was
murdered in this city, taken to the
lonely spot in vehicle, and placed
in the position he was found by the
murderer or murderers. The posi-
tion of the body, in natural sleeping
position, with coat lapels turned up,
and on a spot hard of access, would
indicate that more than one man was
implicated. Another theory is that
Breeze was enticed into a cab while
drugged or intoxicated. taken to the
spot and murdered. If the story of
the boy hunters is reliable, Breeze
was dealt the blow that ended his life
shortly after he left the German wo-
man and her companion at the depot.
The question of offering a reward
for the apprehension of the murderer
or murderers will probably be taken
up with Acting Governor Hay at once
by the proper authorities. An effort
will also be made to get in touch
with the German woman, who is now
in Chicago. Other clues in course of
development are. being followed by
the authorities