The Dynamite Fiend of Oilman: A Lynch Mob’s Tragic Mistake

THE CLIMAX OF AN OLD FEUD.

The remains of Albert Schaeffer, the dynamite fiend, brought in from Oilman yesterday morning, were visited at Cross' undertaking establishment during the day by hundreds of people anxious to gaze upon the features of one who could conceive and execute such a deed and who expiated his crime in so tragic a manner. He will be buried today in the Potlatch Valley, the county authorities having no objection, although no friendly hand has been raised by Schaeffer's old associates to afford him decent interment.

The body of Annie Bodala, the nine-year-old daughter who was killed in the explosion, was brought in on last night's regular train, and the funeral will take place here today. Mrs. Bodala, John her son, and her child were also brought in and taken to Providence Hospital. Mrs. Bodala is suffering from very severe contusions of the left leg, and bruises about her arm and right side. No bones are broken. If she has incurred no internal injury she will recover. The boy John was injured in the back of the head and he will also recover. The baby was not hurt at all.

Mrs. Bodala reported last night as having very good chances of recovery. It is not yet known definitely as to whether or not his injured leg will have to be amputated, but it is thought it will not.

FUNERAL OF THE BODALAS.

The funeral of the unfortunate Bodalas, or Chulockas, as they are called by their friends, took place yesterday. It had been proposed to bring them to Seattle for burial at the county's expense, but the people of Oilman would not listen to any such proposition and said that if the Newcastle Knights of Labor, of which lodge the brothers were members, would not pay all expenses, they would do it themselves.

SCHAFFER'S PREVIOUS RECORD.

Schaeffer came to Oilman from Chicago less than a year since. It appears that he had known the Bodalas there, and they had had trouble there. The Bodalas moved West in order to remove themselves of the fear of him, but he followed them. It is pretty certain that Schaeffer, while in Chicago, was an anarchist, and thoroughly imbued with the revolutionary principles of that turbulent class of people. Dynamite was with him the proper means for the accomplishment of his purposes, and he advocated its use freely. He was a large man, weighing probably 300 pounds, and was aged about 30.

PREVIOUS EXECUTION.

After Schaeffer was hanged and his body was cut down, it was removed to his shanty. There it remained during the afternoon and night. Some time yesterday morning some one wrapped the rope with which he was strung up about his feet, body and neck, and it was not removed when he was brought to Seattle. So universal is the detestation in which the fiend is held by the people of that vicinity that it was with the greatest difficulty that the coroner could yesterday morning find sufficient help to carry the body to the train. He finally hired a young man to assist him, and Schaeffer's remains were placed in a freight car and conveyed to Potlatch.

When it was proposed to bury Schaeffer at Oilman, the people with one voice declared that the body of such an incarnate villain should not find a resting-place within the precincts of their graveyard. Schaeffer's features are natural and do not appear to be those of a murderer. There is hardly a bruise on his person that would indicate that he met with a violent death at the hands of the executioners.

THE CORONER'S INQUEST.

When Coroner Root arrived at Oilman on Monday night he immediately began his preparations for the inquest over the remains of the victims of the explosion. He impaneled a jury and the proceedings were conducted in O'Connell's store. It transpired during the investigation that Schaeffer possessed two names, one of which was Albert LaBetta. This cognomen is said to have borne in Chicago in 1890. Schaeffer when he came to Oilman used the latter name. Which is the pseudonym cannot be determined.

SCHAFFER'S PAST.

The first witness examined was Mike Habreck. His testimony was in part as follows:

MIKE HABRECK SWORN. Q: Where were you at 3 a.m.? A: In bed. Q: What was LaBetta doing? A: He did not know when LaBetta went out, but he came in about 10 minutes after the explosion. He had been out at the water closet. Was excited so he could not speak well. LaBetta's cabin was about 5 yards away. He was breathing very hard as if he had been running. He never said anything except that he was mad at the persons who were killed.

Q: How long after the explosion until you were there? A: Not until daylight, saw John Chulock and Mike Chulock dead. LaBetta came from a village in this county. Found black powder in cart at the door of LaBetta's cabin. Officers took LaBetta to Cooper's saloon.

Mr. and Mrs. Bodala swore before me as just of the peace, that LaBetta had made threats against them. On complaint and evidence of Bodala and wife, LaBetta was convicted and fined. He refused to pay the fine and was in jail. Immediately upon return to Oilman he threatened to kill Bodala and family, and he was arrested on the complaint of Bodala, convicted and failing to give bail, keep the peace, sent him to jail for three months. Bodala and family were now near said LaBetta and began upon their premises as they were all prepared to leave through fears that LaBetta would carry out his threats the night of the explosion. LaBetta trespassed to come up here because he knew nothing of the explosion until I saw Schaeffer the men and a little girl.

Under the house to kill the entire family.

Andrew Johnson, John Burke, William Hall, M. Murray, Wm. Patton were also sworn, but their testimony adduced nothing additional.

THE VERDICT.

We, the undersigned, being a jury called to inquire into the death of Albert LaBetta, do find that he came to his death by hanging at the hands of party or parties unknown.

O. E. JOHNSON, Foreman. J. H. CRANE, M. MURRAY, P. W. TRICKHAM, T. J. MOSS, J. H. DESHPRE.