The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-07-28
MURDER WEAPON
IS DISCOVERED;
SLAYER UNBOUND
Capt. Lott Killed With Knot
ted Club-Oficers Find
it Where Body Was.

and about one ana One-nal1 inches
in diameter sometime last Tuesday
night. These facts were brought
out by discoveries made by Federal
officials last night who are pressing
their investigation today with all
possible vigor.
The murder weapon was found
late yesterday afternoon by U. 5.
Marshal George d. Beaumont ana
his deputies within seven feet OF
where the body was picked up
Wednesday evening. 1t Is a dry
we'll seasoned piece of wood, appar-
emily cast up on the beach by
previous tides. On each end were
knots projecting about an inch, one
triangular shaped and the other
roughly rounded. Both ends of the
club were smeared withhold and
strands of hair from the murdered
mans head still cling to the
weapon.
Struck Terrific Blow.
Apparently the murderer struck
his victim with terrific force as
short piece of the club was broken
off. This broken piece was found
and fitted to the club perfectly
After the breaking. from indications
on the club, the murderer reversed
the weapon and completed his work
with the rounded, 1notted end.
The two knot projections are be-
hr on ioia oil
the jagged holes found in capt
Lofts skull.
Slayer Visited Cabin.
Further confirmation that the
SLAYER did reverse the position OF
his weapon after it broke, and
probably because of its breaking,
was found on a closer examination
of the cabin yesterday afternoon.
A search of the cabin revealed a
blood-stained pair of socks, on
which, according to Marshal Beau
mont, the murderer undoubtedly
must have cleaned his hands.
The weapon used was found In
clump of devils clubs and celery
stalks SO close to the body as to
indicate that 1t was almost care
lessly dropped after the assault ana
without any attempt to throw II
away or effort at concealment. Lit
tie effort would have been required
to have thrown it into the Channel
which was but short distance
away.
Nav Have Called From Window.
Evidences of the presence oil
someone at a rear window of the
house were also found in yester-
days Investigation. The trampled
condition of small plant growth be-
meath the window inclines the Of
lficials to believe that the murderer
nfrst approached the cabin from the
1rear and either knowingly or ac-
, cidentally aroused it's inmate from
sleep and then slipped back to the
front of the cabin to await the
coming of Capt Lott.
The latter evidently came directly
out OF his cabin. But pipe found
near the scene OF the assault which
answers the description Of one used
by the Captain, together with an
open tin OF tobacco in the bed
room, is said to indicate that he
was apparently not alarmed and In
no haste to get outside of the
cabin as he is believed to at least
have lighted the pipe before leaving.
The route taken by the Captain
from the cabin door was along
plank walk lying along the front
of the building. At the end of the
walk is stone step. He was
struck and killed almost as soon as
he left this step as his feet when
touching 1t. At the point he was
found there Is an old and unused
path leaving the beaten path at
right angles. 1t is now believed
the murderer stood in this old trail,
shielded by devils clubs and other
heavy plant growth and as Capt.
Lott passed him struck from the
rear
No Clue to Murderer.
Marshal Beaumont said today that
there was no trace yet of the iden-
tity OF the murderer. Despite the
fact that men from both his office
and that of the District Attorney
have been hard at work since yes
terday not thing has been learned
which SO far leads to even a sus-
picion as TO the slayor's identity.
The theory that. Capt Lott was
robbed after being killed was weak
ened somewhat by the finding in
the cabin OF a cup containing s29.
slayer could have overlooked this in
slayer could have overlook this in
his visit to the cabin and have
taken only such possessions as were
found in the clothing or lying loose
in the room.
Time Is Fixed.
That the killing was done some
time Tuesday night after 9 o'clock
was settled by visitors at the cabin
on that night. Two men, II. J. Nc