The Body in the Hen House: An Unidentified Murder Near Eagle Harbor

Port Blakely, Jan. 9.—Special.—The discovery of the mutilated and half-cremated remains of a well-dressed unknown man near Eagle Harbor on Monday has resulted in an investigation tending to prove the man the victim of the most diabolical murder in the history of Kitsap County. It is supposed that the man was waylaid, murdered and robbed, but inasmuch as his identity is unknown it follows that there is no clue to his slayer. The victim was well dressed and apparently about 40 years old. Nothing was found on the remains which would lead to identification, except two pairs of spectacles, one of steel and the other a gold-rimmed pair bearing the stamped initials “M. C. J.” It is believed the man had been dead a month or more. The coroner’s jury brought in a verdict of foul play, and the remains were interred in the Port Blakely cemetery this morning, the grave being marked simply by a slab at the head, on which was written “Unknown.”

The body was found last Monday by Robert Kimpets, a farmer living near Port Blakely, who was out hunting near the Gibson place, about two miles from the harbor. At one time Gibson was employed in the mills here, but later abandoned his ranch and with his numerous family moved to Seattle, where he is supposed to be now living. His place consists of a few acres cleared, on which now stands a dilapidated and deserted farmhouse, and nearby is a small house in sad need of repair, being the only buildings in the neighborhood.

As Kimpets crossed the clearing his attention was attracted by an obnoxious odor which came from the direction of the hen house, the door of which was missing and the roof half gone. Inside the house, lying on its back, was the half-decomposed and partly burned body of a man. The feet had been gnawed off by animals and birds, and the hands and whole right side of the body were burned away. The fire did not reach his chin, but the whole head was far gone with decay. It was apparent to Kimpets that the man had been murdered and then taken to the hen house, where his slayer had evidently built a fire on his breast for the purpose of concealing his crime by burning the body. Near the body were the two pairs of spectacles, and in a corner was a torn copy of the Post-Intelligencer of December 18 last. Kimpets secured the glasses, wrapped them in the paper and notified Dr. C. C. Keilam of Port Blakely, coroner of Kitsap County. Dr. Keilam hastened to the scene and impaneled a jury from Port Madison and proceeded to investigate the case.

An examination of the body resulted in the finding of nothing except a corkscrew and a cork, the pockets of the coat, vest and trousers being completely destroyed by fire, and, even if any papers had been left, they could not have escaped the flames which mutilated the body. A hole was found in the head, which the coroner believes was made by the entering of a bullet, but the condition of the remains would not admit of successful probing, and the bullet could not be found. The man was evidently quite well dressed. He probably was about 5 feet 9 inches in height and weighed 160 pounds. The forehead was high and sloping, and there was a matted growth of fine, dark hair. The moustache was dark and the face smooth-shaven. Nearby was a black felt hat, and on the body were a white shirt and collar, a necktie of dark material, a dark cutaway coat and trousers of dark diagonal material. The back of the body was not burned, and this aided the coroner in gaining so accurate a description of the manner in which the man was clothed. Some notice was taken of the man’s undershirt, which may be the ultimate means of identification. The garment was a thick check material, and was probably made at home. The drawers were gray woolen. On the feet were a pair of old congress gaiters, which the coroner does not believe were ever worn by the victim. He is of the opinion that the murderer appropriated the shoes, leaving his own. He thinks that it would be quite natural that the other clothing would not be taken, as it would be too easily identified.

After presenting all the evidence possible, the coroner submitted the matter to the jury, and the following verdict was rendered: “We the undersigned jury find that the body unknown to us came to his death by either a bullet or some sharp instrument entering his right temple, delivered by some person or persons unknown to us.” Signed: W. P. Morton, John Hoffman, Sherman Carlson, F. Green, C. J. Morrison, B. Bicarie.

The coroner is quite certain that the victim was not a millman, for he knows all the men here. It is believed by some that he must have been a peddler, but no special evidence is given in support of this theory. Others say that he must have been from Seattle or some other place, but this is hardly consistent, for a sportsman would not go hunting in a good suit of clothes, white shirt, etc. His identity will probably remain a mystery until the investigating genius of his murderer is forced to make a confession. The murder must have been committed in the vicinity of Eagle Harbor and the body conveyed to the dismal spot where it was found.