The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-04-12

After working out every ,tangi-
BILE clue in their possession as to
the identity and the probable mo-
tive of the murderers of James
A. Frace, whose body riddled with
bullets was found Saturday be-
meath a fir tree about mile from
his home, police detectives have
come to but one conclusion.
James Frace was shot down a
short distance from Traces sta
ton, Just after he had descended
from a Regents Park car, and
while he was walking down the
road towards his home. He was
then carried to wagon waiting
at the edge of the woods, and
hauled through an unused wood
road towards Regents Park.
When his assassins had reach
ed a spot opposite the old Chi
nese swamp, they stopped, drag
ged the body from the wagon bed,
and carried it down the side hill
for twenty feet, dropping 1t be-
meath the fir tree and propping
the head of the old man against
the tree trunk.
Body Full Of Bullets.
Then the murderers proceeded
to fill the mans body full of the
steel-jacketed bullets which are
only used ON automatic pistols.
Positive of the death of the old
man, the murderers placed his
package of meat beside him, COM
posed his body In a more natural
position, and departed, going in
their wagon by the same route
which the came.
There is no doubt but that the
murder was the result of long
premeditation, and was caused by
bitter enmity. Despite all the
facts in their knowledge, the de-
tectives who have been constantly
employed on the mystery are still
in the dark, but some progress has
been made and a warrant may be
asked for at any time.
Shot at Eight Times.
An autopsy held yesterday re-
vealed the fact that "Old Jim"
Frace had been fired at eight
times, each shot having been fred
from the same weapon. The shot
which probably killed Frace was
fred from the road at his left as
he was walking homeward. 1t
entered his left eve, and passed
through the head. The other
shots were as follows: Through
the chest, lodging in the fieshy
part of the back; along the top
of the head, grazing the skin; in
the left shoulder; through the left
arm, breaking the bone; In the
Uranium, Immediately below the
right ear; in the right leg;
through the top of the Uranium.
Detectives at Work.
Captain of Detectives John
Fitzgerald and Detective William
Fack1er visited the scene of the
murder today and spent several
hours in their investigation. The
statement of a small boy, that he
had overheard two men neaI
Frace's home talking late one
night several weeks ago, and
heard one remark, There is moth
1uS uOlnS tonight, 10 uOt COuSlu-
cred nightly important. Neither
Is the testimony of two other per-
sons, who say that they have seen
two suspicious characters in the
neighborhood recently, believed
to be of much Importance.
1t has been learned that James
Frace purchased his meat We'd
nesday evening. but left 1t in a
drug store at Eleventh and X
streets. He went as far as Proc
tor street on the car, when he re-
membered about his meat, and got
of, taking the same car back to
X street upon its return trip.
After securing his package, he
again stepped aboard the same car
and rode to the station which
bears his name. He did not act
peculiarly, say the street car en-
ployes. but was In even a better
humor than was his won't.
Return From Scene.
Detectives Fitzgerald and Fack-
Ter returned from the scene of the
murder at noon but stated that
they had found no new clues.
The detectives, however, have not
ceased their. Investigation apd are
now following q lead which may
loveaop into something tangible