The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1922-07-29
SHOT IN BACK
MAY Be FATAL
C. t. SOMMERLOTT IN SERIOUS
CONDITION AS RESULT OF
ATTEMPT TO KILL

c. T. Sommerlott, a sawmill owner
living beyond the Red school house
near Mill creek, was shot through
the back early Wednesday morning,
the bullet entering from the back
and passing through lung and the
upper lobe of the liver, and then
through two by six timber which
Mr.. Sommerlott was carrying at the
time of the shooting. William Foss-
berg, upon whom suspicion was
placed, was caught near the Hall
bridge just beyond Palmer siding
before noon on the day of the shoot
ing. He admitted the crime, saying
that Mr.. Sommerlott owed him some
money, which he wouldn't pay, and
that he intended to "get" Sommerlott
before he became so feeble that he
couldn't. Fossberg is being held
in the county Jail. The charges
which will be placed against him de-
pend largely upon whether or not
Mr.. Sommerlott recovers. In case
he recovers the charge will very like
ly be assault in the first degree; II
death results, first degree murder
will be the charge.
1t is not known whether or not
the victim will recover, but the doc
tors in charge believe that his chance
for recovery is good. At the time
of the shooting he was not expected
to live for any length of time, but
his unusually hardy constitution has
brought him through theamcst. critical
period. Although he was y shot
through the back with 1890. bullet
at short range, the bullet passing
through both a lung and the liver,
he has not been unconscious at any
time.
The motive for the shooting is
rather unusual. Fossberg claims
that Sommerlott owes him some
money in the form Of note for
about $45O, and that he has refused
to pay it. Fossherg brought action
against Sommerlott some time ago to
recover the amount Of the note.
When it came up in court it was
shown that the note would not be
due until next summer. l.. b. Dom
ley defended Sommerlott in the ac-
ton, and Fossberg has threatened to
"get" Donley, too. After he was
in the custody of the sheriff he said
that his only regret was that he had
not waited until he had the chance
at Donley at the same time. Glen
Sommerlott, son of the injured man,
says that Mr.. Sommerlott does not
owe Fossberg more than $500. The
Sommerlotts and Fossberg have been
rather closely connected in aAbusi-
ness way for some time. One year
they leased the place on which SOM
merlott now lives for 5000 cash, each
to share half. The seasonw dry,
and the crops were so poor that
nothing was made on the deal. This
may have been the beginning of lat
er financial complications. Since
that time he has worked for the Som
merlotts on numerous occasions, and
ate dinner there a few days before
the shooting. At that time he
seemed in the best of spirits and
when he left apparently carried no
grudge. Nothing had transpired
up to the time of the shooting to
warn Sommerlott that anything was
wrong.
Events leading up to the shooting
were soon traced by the sheriff's Of
flee, and suspicion placed on Foss-
berg Immediately. Deputy Sheriff
Ledgerwood had taken the prisoners
in the county Jail to breakfast Mon
day morning. While they were eat
ing in the City cafe, Fossberg went
by carrying gun. The waitress
said, II wonder If he is going to
kill someone" in a joking way and
they all laughed and forget it at
the time.