The Indictment of Harry Baer

Harry Baer, of Spokane Falls, who shot and killed 'Big Mac' McCroasen in January, has been indicted by the grand jury for murder in the second degree. The murder occurred in front of Dutch Jake's saloon, which is owned by Goetz and Baer. At the time the coroner’s jury rendered a verdict of justifiable homicide, but citizens took the case up and the verdict was reopened, with the result that Baer was held to await the action of the grand jury. It is possible the indictment for murder could have been secured but for the peculiar circumstance. When the case came before the coroner the second time, Attorney Graves was asked to draw up the verdict of the jury. He did so and held him for murder in the second degree. It afterwards transpired that Graves was Baer’s attorney. The grand jury could not go back of the record.