The Tragedy on the Bridge: How a Drunken Arrest Turned Fatal

A gentleman who arrived here from Olympia last evening states that Policeman Brown, who shot William Stuart last Friday, was still in jail, being unable to find bondsmen. The Olympia Courier gives the following account of the shooting: Stuart had recently come to the place and had been employed at the gas works. He was paid off that day and was drunk in the evening when killed. He and a companion in the same condition were taken in charge by a friend for the purpose of getting them to bed. They had all reached the door of Mrs. Rowland's lodging house on the bridge, when Brown came up and arrested Stuart. Stuart went with him to the corner of Tacoma Hall, when he stopped and asked Brown to let him go back to bed and he would settle any fine in the morning. Brown refused and dragged him along, and struck him heavily with his cane. They both fell between the walk and the office building, and when they got up, Stuart grabbed the cane. A struggle ensued and Brown fired two shots at Stuart, the second taking fatal effect. There is abundant testimony that Brown had also been drinking heavily. Had that not been the case, the killing would in all probability not have occurred.