The Marshal’s Club: A Vagrant’s Death on the Falmouth Harbor

Strange Death of a Steamer Passenger.

When the steamer George E. Starr arrived in this port from Whatcom, there lay on the lower deck the body of a man who had come to an unnatural and strange violence. The story may be briefly told as follows:

The city of Whatcom, which is not provided with a jail, has of late been overrun with vagrants and other hard characters. The only method of dealing with them has been to send them off on the steamers to other cities. This system, while fair to the other cities, has been a source of great relief to Whatcom, as that city has thus rid itself of a set of worthless vagabonds.

On Sunday morning last, the city marshal of Whatcom had gathered together eight vagrants whom he was about to deport from Whatcom for the public good. It was about 6 o'clock when the city marshal marched with his little band of ne’er-do-wells toward the wharf where lay moored the steamer George E. Starr, one of the vagrants named Anderson became thirsty and asked permission of the city marshal to enter the saloon for the purpose of taking a drink. The required permission was given, and he reappeared inside the door.

Then Davis, another of the vagrants, entered the saloon without securing the permission of the marshal. The companions of the deceased say that this act enraged the marshal so that he followed and struck him on the side of the head just over the ear. That Davis then lost his presence of mind, and walked with the rest down to the wharf, and was placed on board the George E. Starr with his seven companions. The effect of the blow at first was to start the blood flowing from the nostrils.

The fare of these eight vagrants was said to be pale, and for the time being nothing more was made of the matter. When the purser went around after the tickets, Davis was able to get up and stupidly fumble in his pocket for his check. Soon thereafter he became so seriously ill as to attract the attention of the passengers, who did everything in their power to aid the unfortunate man. Whiskey was rubbed on his head, and other efforts made to revive him, as he had sunk into a comatose condition. A short time before 10 o'clock, while the steamer was in Falmouth harbor, the spirit of Davis grew greater than divine.

The body was brought on shore, and Chief of Police Mitchell and Coroner Hoot, who had previously been notified by telegraph, were on hand to receive the remains and investigate the manner of death. The chief of police locked up six of the companions of the deceased, and was looking about for the seventh when he was told that one of the vagrants, Anderson, had left the boat at Bellingham.

The coroner took charge of the body and directed it to be conveyed to the undertaking establishment of Crocker Co. As the body was removed from the deck, the following letter addressed to the coroner or the public was found underneath it. It is thought to have been written by one of Davis' companions:

"To the Public: One more the damnable club, in the hands of a cowardly and ignorant officer of the peace, has done its work. To all appearances this man is not a murderer that he should be murdered. Therefore the man who handled the deadly weapon, or damnable club, should forfeit his life and punished to the full extent of the law. He should be hung by the neck until dead in order to set an example for the others who wield the same deadly and damnable weapon. They should be shown the amount of ignorance they, or most of them, are capable of possessing, and also the amount of authority they should possess. Ignorance in regard to the difference between the damnable hardwood club or billy and the human skull or frame, should not by any just law be considered excusable.

Frustrated Humanity."

An examination of the remains showed a contusion on the right side of the head over the ear, and blood still issuing from the nostrils and mouth. There was considerable froth about the mouth, which was evidently superinduced by purging. To all outward appearances the man died from the effects of concussion of the brain.

As Falmouth harbor is outside of King county, Coroner Post decided that he had no authority to hold an Inquest. He counseled with District Attorney Ronald, and a dispatch was sent to Dr. Palhoue, prosecuting attorney for Whatcom and Skagit counties. The latter replied that the body should be sent to the county where the man died, in accordance with section 902 of the Washington code... If it then be found that Davis died from the effects of a blow received at the hands of the marshal, he will be held to answer.

It is claimed by those who knew Davis in Whatcom that he had been on a prolonged spree there, and there is a probability that death may be the result of alcoholism. Davis is said to have been a waiter, and was employed in that capacity for some time past at a Whatcom hotel.