The Old Man’s Last Stand: A Father’s Flight from Greedy Heirs Ends in a Sheriff’s Chase

OVER 300 PERSONS ATTENDED THE GERMAN PICNIC AT MILTON'S GROVE SUNDAY.

The steam launch Leo is now under the bankers' loading easier. A large...

The fishing schooner Edward Webster, from Ollalie River, is daily expected to reach that harbor.

The Ship General Knox, Captain T.G. Robby, arrived in port Saturday evening at 5 o'clock, ten days from San Francisco, under charter to load Black Diamond coal.

There were four steamships and one steam schooner in port yesterday—the Willamette, Elder, McArthur and Co., loading coal, and the Alki, loading lumber.

The steamship Willamette, Captain D.O. Blackhorn, arrived from Portland at 8 o'clock yesterday morning, and went directly under the buoys to load another cargo.

The Gloucester fishing schooner Molly Adams, Monson in Captain Jacobs, sailed from Port Townsend to this city on Monday. She went on the beach at Health Cove to have her bottom scraped and copper planed.

Every available coach and carriage was brought into requisition Sunday to carry excursionists to the Oilman mines over the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad. These excursions to the beautiful Squire valley promise to become very popular.

The board of county commissioners adjourned Saturday, and will meet again June 5th. Among the matters to be considered at the next meeting is the awarding of the contract for cribbing at Vashon Island, preparatory to building a wharf there.

The Young Men's Christian Association is going to give a grand excursion on Saturday next over the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railway. The train will stop for three hours at a beautiful spot on the river, thus affording opportunity for a great basket picnic. The fare has been placed at $1.50.

The committee of thirteen having in charge the reunion of pioneers here next month, met last evening. Definite arrangements for the excursion and picnic will be made during the week. The Real Estate Exchange was secured for the holding of the business meetings of the pioneers on the afternoon and evening of June 6th.

PERSONAL. City Attorney Williams returned from the Quinault yesterday. Judge Wood returned from visit to his farm on Hoonah yesterday. H.H. Steele is confined to his residence by a severe attack of neuralgia. Chief Justice Jones, formerly Attorney General, T.J.J. Hamilton, J.M. Forth and W.R. Small went to Snohomish yesterday to attend term of the district court. Captain Seth Henly, of Victoria, only survivor of the Illaah steamship disaster, passed through Seattle yesterday on his way to Squalicum to join his wife, who is visiting her parents there. George H Ward, of Tapping, was in the city last evening and arranged for a watch case of hats at the racetrack next Saturday. Two picked nines of Tacoma and Health printers... will doubtless be the sporting event of the season. Major C.H Barton, city editor of the Tacoma Daily Register, a newspaper man of broad experience and acknowledged ability, spent Sunday in the city. He was satisfied and slightly surprised at the many substantial evidences of prosperity here. Fred Rice Rowell, of Rockland, Maine, an attorney at law, and an old friend and teacher of Mr Thorodyke, coal agent for the Seattle, Shore & Eastern, arrived in Seattle yesterday. He is delighted with the queen city, its bright business prospects and beautiful climate. Sir well intends to make this his future home.

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS. Deeds Executed at the Auditor's Office Yesterday. The following sixteen deeds which were filed for record yesterday, aggregate $7,500 an average of $468 each. Charles Kennett to J.A. Gould... Margaret J. Pontius to John Priden... Mary A. Gillette to George A Pitt... Northern Pacific Railway Company to Charles H Tracy... A mile is smart to John T Givan... Caroline V to Henry K Swafford... Henry R Swafford to Florence V Pontius... United States to Christina Hermansen... Frank L Hall to C.H Clarke... Win Robinson to Nathaniel S Hartley... J.A. Lewellyn to Amy E Issac... A Mackusick to O.C Phinney... G.C Phinney to Robert Heaven... John T Givan to P Frederick and W H Mand... J Edwards to Emery County Investment Company... Harriet Masten to L.J Small...

THE OLD MAN'S STORY. P.V. Thorpe, a pioneer who came to this city many years ago and has spent the intervening years in the territory, had a very peculiar experience in this city yesterday.

In the morning C.H Crockett, who resides near Lake Union, telephoned to Sheriff Cochrane to come out and arrest a crazy man. The sheriff found Mr. Thorpe in Crockett's house and had no trouble in arresting him. In the prisoner's pockets was found $1,700 in money, and to the sheriff and a Post-Intelligencer reporter he made substantially the following statement:

"About a month ago my wife who had been my beloved companion for about forty-three years, died at our ranch near Ellensburg. I have three sons and three daughters. A long time ago I made a will leaving all of the property to my wife in case of my death and she executed a similar instrument bequeathing to me her interest in the estate in case she should drop off. I have three sons and three daughters, all married. They are generally pretty good children, but Bailes has been a black sheep. He is the son of my wife and I know she was a good woman, but I think all the meanness in us both must've got into him. George O'Hara, sort of a low down fellow, got into the family by marrying one of my daughters.

Since my wife's death these two have been pestering the life out of me. I was naturally broke up badly about my wife's dying, but before she was fairly cold George and Bailes began hotherin' me about the property. They wanted me to make the most of it over to them and I would not do it, for I've got to be just and look out for the rest of the children as well as a little for myself. They found they could not get me to consent and then put up a WHIPPING JOKE on me, and if they did not drive me crazy it is no fault of theirs. They made up a story that I had outraged a half-breed girl fourteen years of age, and continually threatened to have me arrested if I did not make over to them two-thirds of the property. They bounded me so that I could not stand it any longer. Although I knew it was not true I did not know what they might do, and I could not stand such a scandal at my time of life, even though I could prove that it was false.

My son-in-law, E Stout, of Yale, British Columbia, was at my house last week and I got so worried about the trouble that when he started for home last Saturday I decided to go along and stay in British Columbia awhile where I could have some peace, and get some rest. C.A. Hplawn another son-in-law who lives twelve miles this side of Ellensburg, came along to attend to some business out here. We reached Seattle Sunday noon. Bailes and O'Hara had been taking a trip over this way and I understand were on the point of starting back home when they heard that we were in town and they at once began at me. I did not see them but they sent messages to me through Mr. Hplawn. They reiterated their threats that they would have me arrested for rape and hounded me to that I was more anxious than ever to get away from them.

Early yesterday morning I thought of a man named Long, whom I had heard lived near Union, who owed me some money and I started out to find him. I kept thinking about the disgrace and scandal that the boys would bring on me if they fulfilled their threats and when I came to a house that in my judgment looked as though it might be occupied by an honest man, I knocked at the door and it was opened by a man whom I have since learned was Crockett. I told him what trouble I was in and appealed to his humanity to help me. I had about $1700 in my pocket and told him that I would pay a good price to be taken to Victoria in a boat and struck a bargain with him for which I paid him.

After we started down town to charter a boat Crockett told me to step into the bush and remain until he secured the boat and returned for me. I waited in the bush for a long time and then went back to Crockett's house. Before I got there I saw Crockett and one of his children, but by the time I got into the house they had run somewhere and the house was empty. I went to a neighbor's and asked if they had seen Crockett, and they said no.

I don't know why any one should think I was crafty. Shortly after I was arrested. I submitted at once, although I could not understand what it was for, and it was the first time I ever had hand run on these old wrists."

"What were you doing with the revolver that Mr. Crockett says you had in your hand when he saw you the second time, and when they all ran from the house?" asked the reporter.

"I don't like to say anything about that now, for it cannot matter much, but I suppose it will all have to come out. When Crockett did not return, I feared all kinds of things and thought he might have gone down to find Long and O'Hara, and I concluded if they came to arrest me, and make public the scandal they had threatened, I would put that revolver here (pointing to his forehead) and run THE BUCK."

"But I did not harbor that thought long, but decided to see this thing through and show this persecution up."

Mr. Thorpe had a long talk with Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Pile and Sheriff Cochrane later, and he told his touching story so rationally that he was discharged from custody and the large sum of money that had been taken from him was returned to his custody. His statement is very connected, as shown by his assertion that he had about $1700 when he started out, while over $800 was found on him when arrested, which would leave a balance of $900 which he claims to have paid Crockett.

Immediately after his release Mr. Thorpe moved out a warrant for Crockett's arrest. The latter was found without difficulty, and had a brief examination in Justice Selberg's court last evening. He furnished bail for his appearance at 9 o'clock this morning. Mr. Crockett was formerly an express driver, but for sometime past has been dealing inattle. He bears a good reputation and tells quite a different story.

From Mr. Thorpe's side: "I am not as I was dressed this morning there was a knock at the door. I opened it and found an old man there whom I have since learned was Mr. Thorpe. He said he seemed to be a younger man than I'd... I probably was, and he then told me the story of his persecution by his son and son-in-law and when he finished he sat down and said he would end the whole business then. I stopped him and talked to him until I quieted him, and finally asked him if he would not like me to go down and see his wife and O'Hara and attempt to arrange matters. He said he wished I would and offered me $50 for the service which I refused. He spoke of wanting to get someone to take him to Victoria, but I told him that if we could not fix things with the boys and he was resolved to go to British Columbia, he might better take the steamer. He did not offer me $50 or any sum to take him to Victoria and I not take a cent of his money. After talking two days the man stepped off into some brush and said he would wait there until I returned. I went to the nearest telephone and telephoned to the Sheriff's office that there was a crazy man there. The sheriff was called in and I went back to the house to set my coat as I had stated off purposely drove directly after I saw the old man coming with a revolver in his hand. We all ran out over to a box and I went down and put the handcuffs on the man and arrested him."

Crockett claims he had no jurisdiction over Kittitas county cases and could do nothing. It was that very day this morning the men consulted an attorney in this city, in order to having their father arrested for rape. A thorough conversation with the family troubles it was learned that a half-breed girl—now 18 years old, according to the young men's statements, is willing to swear that their father...