The Mercer Island Cabin Killing
A man is on trial for the murder of his cabin-mate, claiming self-defense after a violent confrontation over driftwood collection.
Sittia Leoni and Joseph Fuccia were placed on trial yesterday in Judge Humes' court for the murder of George Richards. The defendants demanded separate hearings, and the case of Leoni was taken up first. Prosecuting Attorney John F. Miller and his deputy, A. G. McBride, appeared for the prosecution, and Fred Zick and John H. Elder for the defense. The jury finally chosen was: L. A. Washburn, James M. Williams, Fred Touse, A. W. Coffin, S. D. Gustin, Martin Kile, E. F. Phillips, G. W. Hapgood, C. M. Neff, A. G. White, Thomas Scott and R. Morford.
The killing of Richards by Leoni is admitted by the defense, but a plea of self-defense is interposed. According to the explanation, Richards and Leoni were living on Mercer Island and engaged in collecting logs and driftwood. Richards reportedly treated Leoni in a brutal manner. On April 26, when Leoni announced he was leaving, Richards grew enraged, cursed him, and began to choke him and beat his head against the cabin wall. Leoni, in fear for his life, managed to get hold of a knife and stabbed Richards several times. Leoni ran out, pursued by Richards who had snatched an ax. Leoni then grabbed a gun that stood outside the cabin and fired, killing Richards. The body was later discovered in Lake Washington on June 4.
“Leoni, in fear for his life, managed to get hold of a knife that lay on the floor and stabbed Richards several times.”
Mercer Island was once a wild, isolated place where settlers scavenged for driftwood, a far cry from its current status as a densely populated, high-income enclave. The struggle over property and living conditions in a shared cabin highlights the often-violent reality of early frontier cohabitation.
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