The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1922-09-09
Kills NeighbOr
in Echo Valley
Schmidt Dies From Wounds
Inflicted by Rapp, Now
in Custody

Bleeding to death from three
wounds inflicted by a neighbor, and
dying alone by the roadside near
his home, Rudolph Schmidt of Echo
valley nevertheless left mute evil
dence of the manner in which he
lost his life. A bullet hole in the
neck, one in the back, and one in
the left leg and hand, give evidence
that he was shot from the back.
A bullet hole in the sweater found
under his head showed that he had
taken off his sweater after being
fatally wounded, folded it as a pill
low, placed it under his head, and
lay face down to bleed to death.
The ground shows that he had walk
ed OF crawled rs yards after being
shot.
DR.. w. A. Olds, who examined the
body Tuesday, found that death had
resulted from the wound through the
back, which perforated the lung. He
stated that death resulted in one to
three hours, and that there was
possibility that his life might have
been saved with immediate surgical
attendance.
Schmidt was a bachelor, aged so,
living in Echo valley about 9 miles
north of Colville, Last Saturday
evening his neighbor John Rapp
phoned to the sheriff's office that
Schmidt had shot at him twice and
he had shot at Schmidt four times
that day, but that no one was hurt.
Deputy Sheriff Ham, in discussing
the matter with him over the phone,
told Rapp that if he desired he
could come in and swear out war
rant for Schmidt and have him
placed under bonds to KEEP the peace.
Tuesday forenoon Rapp came to
town with George Deubel, and told
the officials that not seeing Schmidt
he had gone toward his cabin and
had found the body by the roadside.
Sheriff w. H. Graham, Prosecuting
Attorney o. w. Noble, Deputy Sher-
iffs HARRISON and Daggy, Undertaken
Quinn w. McCord and VIM. Charlton
went to the scene of the shooting
for an investigation. They found the
body as reported, but could locate
no sign of any gun which might have
been possessed by the dead man.
Rapp claimed that Saturday about
II o'clock, as he was going to his
mail box, he stepped into the trail
leading to Schmidt's house, and saw
Schmidt coming down the trail; that
Schmidt shot at him twice with a
revolver, and that he returned the
attack with four shots from his rifle.
The investigating posse established
the fact that the shooting was done
at a distance of 80 feet, instead of
60 as reported by Rapp, and that the
trail where Rapp did the shooting
did not lead to the Rapp place, indl-
eating that Rapp had gone out of his
way when meeting Schmidt
The rifle with which Rapp did the
shooting was a 1920 Winchester,
bought by Rapp the middle of last
week at the Colville Mercantile Co.
for SIT. The rife, 3 empty shells
and some loaded ones are in the
hands of the sheriff.
The self defense story of Rapp is
the only evidence to indicate that the
shooting was in self defense.
On Aug. "a Rapp had charged
Schmidt with insanity, but at hear
ing by Drs. Goetter and Olds it was
decided that Schmidt was sane. 1t
has been reported that Rapp had
accused Schmidt of shooting horse
belonging to Rapp, some months ago.
Rapp is also a bachelor, aged 81,
owning the farm adjoining Schmidt
He is being held under a charge Of
first degree murder.
Schmidt owned 100 acres of land,
with about $1,000 worth of personal
property. His will was made some
years ago by Wentz & Bailey, leav-
ing his estate to three sisters and
brother living in Jagerndorf, c.
Slovesnka. H. r. Wentz is execu-
tor, and the will was filed for
record Wednesday.
Funeral services for Schmidt were
held at the McCord Undertaking
parlors Thursday afternoon, con-
Quoted by Rev. ]. M. Higgins. Music
was furnished by Mrs. ]. c. Harri-