A Murder Near Auburn, a Suspect Who Almost Walked, and a Translator Called In
The killing of a Japanese man near Auburn left investigators with little cooperation and a suspect named Joe; a Japanese-born interpreter was brought in as officials waited for more evidence.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The developments of yesterday in the Auburn murder case were favorable to the last suspect, Joe, arrested night before last by Deputy Sheriff Jack McDonald. The interview had with him by Prosecuting Attorney Miller and Sheriff Wooley through an interpreter was not entirely satisfactory, but brought out a point or two in favor of the prisoner. He said that when he got up he found out that Charley had been murdered and immediately went to the camp of some Japanese about three miles away to let them know what had happened. The same evening he came back to the cabin with two Japanese and was then arrested. Deputy Sheriff Jack McDonald was in the city yesterday morning, and Prosecuting Attorney Miller said that from him he learned that what Joe said about returning to the cabin with the two Japanese was true. This, of course, put Joe in a better position than he has hitherto held.
The officials have had great difficulty in obtaining information about the previous history of the murdered man and his relations with other Japanese. It seems as if every Japanese around Auburn had suddenly become dumb. They either don't know how to talk or won't for fear of getting into trouble themselves or placing some one else's head in jeopardy. To make conversation easier with the Japanese the state has secured the services of Mrs. F. W. Harreil, of Gilman. She was born in Japan and can talk the language fluently. It was she who did such heroic service for the state during the now almost forgotten murder case of Mori Kouiske. Mrs. Harreil arrived in the city last evening and is at Mr. Wesley Wilson's residence.
The remains of the dead man were buried yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock from Bonney Stewart's undertaking rooms. The inquest will not be held until the state has more evidence in its possession. In a few days Coroner Horton will have a picture of the wounds made on Zeuga Mayeda by his assassin.
“It seems as if every Japanese around Auburn had suddenly become dumb. They either don't know how to talk or won't for fear of getting into trouble themselves or placing some one else's head in jeopardy.”
A violent death in a small Washington town exposed the fragility of trust between an immigrant community and the law: the victim's neighbors would not talk, and the state had to bring in a Japanese-born interpreter. The case is a reminder that language and fear have always shaped who gets a fair investigation—then as now.
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