The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-12-19
SAYS SUITOR SHOT
SELF IN TEMPLE
WITH RIFLE; IS HELD
MRS. HILLIE MAY SIYERLY, FOR
MERLY OF LEAVENWORTH, is
HELD PENDING INVESTIGA-
TION OF DEATH OF CHAPMAN.

Mrs. Hillie May Siverly, AZ, who
lives alone on ranch two miles from
Fnumclaw, was arrested Friday night
and is held in the county jail pending
an investigation into the death of Wal
ter Chapman, 35, Tacoma laborer,
whose body was found, the top of the
head blown off by a rifle bullet, in a
bedroom on the second floor of her
home about 9:30 o'clock Friday morn
ing.
Mrs. Siverly told the county author
tiles that Chapman, an old suitor, had
killed himself. There were no wit
nesses, save Mrs. Siverly's brother,
Charles Christianson, who, coming
from Enumclaw and nearing his sis
ter's house Friday morning, heard
shot, he said, and at the same moment
saw her rush from the back of the
house. Christianson ran upstairs and
found Chapman's body. The man had
been killed instantly.
The first report of the tragedy was
received by the sheriff's office at noon.
Deputies Matt Starwich and Fred
Brown were sent to the Enumclaw.
Later DR.. w. H. Corson, deputy coro-
rer, hurried to the scene.
Chapman's body was sprawled out
between a corner formed by the bed
and bureau. He was completely
dressed. Near the body was a 32.40-
caliber rifle, with the muzzle on the
floor and the butt propped against the
bed No string or other appliance
was attached to the rifle.
The man had been shot through the
right temple The high-powered bull
let, tearing open the top of the skull,
had ranged upward and lodged in the
ceiling. The rifle contained only the
empty shell.
Mrs. Siverly, while nervous, gave
the officers a clear account of her ac.
ouaintance with Chapman and her
version of the events leading up to his
death.
She related that she had known him
for more than a year. Mrs. Siverly
has been separated from her husband
for one year. Before this, she said,
Chapman worked for Siverly and it
was thus they became acquainted.
After she and her husband parted, ad-
ded Mrs. Siverly, she went to The Dal-
les, Or, and there met Chapman and
grew to know him intimately. On an
other occasion she saw him in Tacoma.
At that time, she recited, she and
Chapman were waiting for her hus
hand to divorce her so they could be
married"
Mrs. Siverly declared that twice re-
Gently Chapman had called at her
ranch. Owing to the fact that she
was living alone, feared the neighbors
might gossip and consider it would
provoke the enmity if her brothers,
who were frequent visitors, she said
she told Chapman to leave. Both
times, she affirmed, she had great diff
ficulty in getting rid of him.
Thursday afternoon, narrated Mrs.
Siverly, Chapman appeared unexpect-
edly. When she told him to leave, she
said. he refused and alterntely threat
ened her and cajoled her all evening.
He was trying to persuade her to go
away with him, but she persistently
declined to leave the ranch.
"Finally," Mrs. Siverly told the
authorities, ''it was agreed that he
would go away on the 9 o'clock stage
Friday morning"
Yet, when Friday morning came, she
added, he managed to miss the stage
and returned to the house. This time
she asserted, he fourished a revolver
and threatened to kill her and then
take his own life. She declared she
was in mortal terror of him.
About 9:30, the woman went on, she
and Chapman were standing upstairs.
The dog barked, and Chapman said:
"See who that is"
Mrs. Siverly said she ran down
stairs ana saw hef DfOthef arr icaCh-
ing. At this moment, she related, the
report of a rife rang out. She re-
fused to go upstairs, begging her
brother to see what happened.
Christianson corroborated this fea-
ture Of his sisters story. He deposed
that he was between the mail box and
the house when the shot was heard,
and ran upstairs Immediately, discov-
ering Chapman's body. Christianson
told the coroner he left everything as
it was. so that a complete investiga-
ton might be made.
DR.. Carson found six rifes and two
revolvers on the upper floor Of Mrs.
Siycrly's house. She explained that