The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-01-18
SELF DEFENSE THE VERDICT

SELF DEFENSE THE VERDICT
Coroner's Inquest Results in Finding
That Rancher Bowinkleman's
Deed Was Justifable.
One woman and i've men, compris-
ing the coroner's jury which viewed
the remains of John Meeboer, the
dead rancher at Black Rock Springs
and heard testimony in the case,
brought in a verdict Saturday And
ing that Meeboer came to his death
from a wound received from a gun
in the hands of Fenry Bowinkleman,
who they found shot in self defense.
Bowinkleman was returned "a
jail, where he is held pending efforts
being made by friends to have him
released on bail. The prisoners at
torney, Frank Luce. was in confer
ence with him for some time Satur-
day evening. 1t was then too late
to get bail and no effort will be
made to secure Bowinkleman's re-
lease until Monday morning.
Long Ride to Inquest.
After the shooting which occurred
Friday noon at Black Rock Springs
about thirty miles east of North
Yakima, Bowingleman, with friend
named E. M. Dickson. who had
been living with hing during the past
year, came to this city and gave
himself up to Sheriff Day.
At eight o'clock Saturday morn
ing, Sheriff Day, in charge of the
nv M Ax,
Lennox Ward, prosecuting attorney,
and Justice Heman D. Hunt, who. in
the absence of Coroner Shaw, acted
as coroner. left the Jail in an auto
mobile for Black Rock.
Arriving at the home of the par
ents of the dead man, after a cold
ride, Justice Hunt impanelled a jury
composed of Miss Zelda Whitmore,
a school teacher, and William Ball,
Absolom Vanderlinde, I. Vanderlinde,
William Doescher and George Harris.
residents in and near Black Rock.
Only Eyewitness Testifles.
c. F. Matthews. the only witness
to the shooting, was the first called
on to testify. He had gone to Black
Rock Springs, from which most of
tho people whereabouts obtained their
water supply, and there found Henry
Bowinkleman and John Meeboer,
with their teams after water. Nee
boer, the witness testified, began IL
quarrel with Bowinkleman, calling
him to account for circulating stories
derogatory to his character.
Following this by an attack on
Bowinkleman, who was clad in a
heavy fur coat and unable to defend
himself, Meeboer pressed his oppon-
ent, who ran back to the wagon,
where he secured his rifle. Al
Bowinkleman held the rifle at his ,hir
pointed at Meebqe4 :, Matthews tesff-
1fed that he grasped the gun and at
tempted to take it from the owner.
trying at the same time to quiet the
two angry men. Bowinkleman stood
a little above his opponent. with his
forefinger on the trigger and thumb
on the hammer of the gun. The at
tempt of the witness Matthews. to
take the gun from Bowinkleman,
caused it to be cooked and dis
charged, the bullet penetrating the
abdomen of Meeboer two inches to
the right Of the navel and lodging
in the back. AS the shot was fired
and when he started to fall. MeAboer
grasped the barrel of the rifle and
only then did he touch the gun, so
Matthews testified. This contradicts
statements made previously that the
dead man had grappled with his op-
ponent and in trying to secure the
gun, discharged it.
The Verdict.
Samuel White. another witness.
briefly testified as to measurments at
the scene Of the conflict. and Peter
Meeboer, brother of the dead man.
told of long standing trouble the
two men had had over horse.
When Justice Hunt instructed the
jury. he told them to merely find a
verdict as to the facts as brought
out in the testimony.
The jury went further and decided
the shooting was done in self de-
Tense, but they failed to mention
where the victim received the
wound The prisoner was not called
to testify. After viewing the body
of Meeboer. which was left at the
home of his parents. the party re-
arrived about four o'clock in the aft
ernoon.
His Friends story.
E. M. Dickson. yho has a home
stead near Barrow Springs. nine
miles from Black Rock, but who had
been living with Bowinkleman, de-
clared that his friend was an "all
around, first class man." that he was
not quarrelsome, and that he had
many friends.
Mr.. Dickson said Bowinkleman
had been keeping a hotel. where
practically everybod y coming
through that way stopped with him.
for he was quite popular. For some
time he had been trying to get away
and take UP a desert claim. but had
been unable to do so. on that ac-
count According to his friend Dick
son, Bowinkleman, when Meeboer
began to abuse him vilely and cal,
him to account for circulating
stories, said take me to the man
who says I told those stories and
1 will confront him. If anybody says
1 have been slandering you, they
lie" Bowinkleman told Dickson
that when Meeboer came at him he
tried to get off his coat to defend
himself, but was unable to do SO.
Through Meeboer's open coat he
saw the sling of his assailant's re-
volver and then decided to get his