Cold Case: The Skokomish Peddler Murder
A murder trial abruptly concludes as the judge dismisses the case for lack of evidence.
The trial of Ned Waterman for the murder of Nadir, the peddler, near the Skokomish reservation last September, was abruptly concluded this afternoon. Judge Irwin dismissed the case because of lack of evidence. The prosecution was unable to bring out sufficient evidence to connect the defendant with the murder. Many witnesses, mainly Indians, were in attendance.
“Judge Irwin dismissed the case because of lack of evidence.”
This case illustrates the difficulty of the judicial process in late 19th-century Washington, especially regarding investigations involving Indigenous witnesses. The dismissal highlights the tension between colonial law and local realities, leaving the death of the peddler, Nadir, an enduring local mystery.
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