The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1918-12-06
REVIVING AN OLD CRIME.

Deputy Sheriff Eli Wilson was in
town from Okanogan Tuesday sub
poenaing witnesses for the rehearing
that Frank Musselman is to have in
the superior court on the 18th Of this
month, and quite a number of Oroville
citizens will have to be at the county
seat on the date mentioned. How
Musselman ever secured rehearIng
after being found guilty and sentenced
to the penitentiary for one of tn. most
| frightful murders ever committed in
this county is past finding out. 1t Is
the working of the intricacies of the
law that is not understood by the lay
man. But the higher court has so
ruled and the prisoner will have a
fair hearing, Notwithstanding the en-
ormity of his crime and the feeling
of bitterness that still exists in this
upper country against the perpetrator.
The following account Of the crime
for which Musselman was sentenced
is taken from the Gazette of July 13,
1917:
The most shocking and cold blOoded
murder of which there is any record
in Okanogan county was committed
last Friday evening about $3.50 o'clock
at the home of n A. Doyle, who lives
on the east side of the OkanOgan river
some two miles and one-half south OF
Oroville, when. without provocation,
or a word of warning, Frank Mussel-
man, man 20 years of age, shot to
death Miss Opal Harmeson. sister Of
Mrs. Doyle, aged 19.
The cause of the murder was the re-
fusal of the victim 70 encourage the
advances of the murderer, who has
been a persistent Suitor for several
years, and who made a proposal of
or three years ago.
The families of the murderer and
the victim were residents of Douglas,
North Dakota, and as neighbors. the
families were quite intimate. 1t was
at Douglas that Musselman showed
attention to the young girl. She re-
fused him because she said she could
not love him, and discontinued going
with him. Miss Harmeson came out
to visit her sister, Mrs. Doyle. and a
brother living in Oroville, George
Harmeson, last fall, and had intended
returning to her home in North Dako-
ia Saturday On Thursday, June Is.
stated that he had had business IN
Kalispel aud from there he went to
Spokane. While in Spokane he .decid-
ed, nccefcing to his story, 70 go out
and look for land, and being near
Oroville concluded to come here and
visit George Harmeson, 4 brother Of
the dea | girl, and was a guest in the
Harmeson household.
The murdered girl was not with
Musselman at any time during his
visit. Friday afternoon about $3.50
O'Clock he arrived at the Doyle home.
Miss Harnie son was in town at the
time and did not return until 6 o'clock.
Musselman remained at the Doyles
for supper and besides Mr.. and Mrs.
Doyle, Miss Haimeson and Musselman
Mr.. Doyle's mother, Mrs. N. J. Doyle,
a paralytic, ard her daughter. Miss
Eldora Doyle, were present at supper.
After supper Mrs. Doyle MIXED and
separated the cream and took the milk
to feed hog at pen some f50 feet
north of the house. While there she
was Joined by Miss Harreson. Mus
selman had announced that it was his
intention to leave in the morning, and
when he left the house and walked
down the nil to the yard where the
women were standing, Mrs. Doyle ad"
vised her sister to bid him good bye
AS he joined the women Ms Doyle
remarked that they had two pigs but
one of them mad died, and go she was
feeding the remaining one an extra
amount. She leaned over - scratch
the pigs back when she was startled
by pistol shot, and turning around
saw her siste: falling to the ground.
She started toward the murdered, who
had his weapon in his hand, shouting
Frank Mussleman, you have killed
Opal He pointed the pistol at her.
She fell back and Musselman crossed
a small creek that passes through the
premises and headed toward the pub
lie road. Mrs. Doyle shouted to her
husband, who at once followed the re-
treating murderer. Upon overtaking
Musselman Doyle asked why he had
shot Opal, and the murderer replied.
'You know why" He then turned the
gun upon Doyle, who was unarmed