Found Dead in the Cabin at Downs' Landing

William Downs, one of the pioneers of this section, committed suicide on Monday night at his home, about six miles north of Newport, on the Pend Oreille River. He took carbolic acid.

His dead body was found on the floor of his cabin about 8 o'clock on Tuesday morning by Iver Hansen, a neighbor. In his hand was a tin cup. On the floor near the body some of the acid had been spilled. The room smelled strongly of the acid. There were no burns on the dead man's face, but it is certain that he drank the poison.

In the cabin at the time that Hansen discovered the body was a man named Shannon, a lumberjack who works for Jack Quinn at the latter's camp, a mile or so from Brown's ranch. Shannon and Downs had been to Newport on Monday and had returned to the ranch together. Both had been drinking rather heavily.

Shannon stated that he had gone to sleep in the barn, that he had become cold and had gone to the house to secure more comfortable quarters. He found Downs on the floor, but did not know that he was dead until Hansen told him. He got in the bed and went to sleep. The next thing that he knew was when Hansen pounded on the door of the cabin. He called to Downs and told him that someone was trying to get in. As Downs failed to answer he arose and let Hansen in. The latter tried to arouse Downs and discovered that he was dead. This was the first intimation that Shannon had that his companion was dead. He left soon after, going to the logging camp.

Hansen placed the body on the bed, and then went to Hans Westby's ranch and notified Jim Drummond, who lives with Westby, the latter being absent in Newport at the time. Hansen then went to Newport and notified the authorities.

Justice Long and Dr. Phillips went to the ranch and made an examination of the conditions, and had the body brought to Newport. It was taken to the Miller undertaking parlors.

Downs, as he was familiarly known, had been a resident of this vicinity for about 20 years. He was about 55 years old and unmarried. He had lived on the ranch where he died most of the time for about 19 years. The place was known as Downs' Landing and was one of the best known landings on the river. It was used by all of the settlers on the river.

Downs was one of the characters in this neighborhood. He was of the most accommodating men in the county. He was always ready to do a neighbor a good turn, regardless of the cost to himself.

Ranchers living along the road to Newport and the landing heard Downs and Shannon as they returned on Monday night. From them it is known that it must have been about 10 o'clock when they arrived at the cabin. There is no doubt about the death being a case of suicide and no suspicion attaches to Shannon.

Parties who talked with the deceased on Monday were surprised to learn of his death, as he appeared cheerful. He had complained recently about his head hurting him. He stated that he had been injured by some rock falling on him while working on a mineral claim and also from being slugged about a year ago.

Robert Downs, a brother of the dead man, arrived from Rathdrum Tuesday. He investigated the death and thinks that the death was accidental. He took the body to Rathdrum for burial on Wednesday.