The Disappearance on Lake Washington

Tuesday morning we published the facts which led to the belief that James Colman, formerly living on Lake Washington, a short distance this side of Newcastle, and Wilbur Patton, of Washington, had been foully murdered while on their way to Seattle in a rowboat last Monday morning, and that a neighbor of Colman’s, named G. J. Miller, and his two sons, William and John, were suspected of the crime. The boat in which the men had started in to town was found drifting on the lake, innocent of oars, and covered with blood, and Mr. Colman's coat, papers and bill fold were still in the boat.

The circumstances which led to Miller being suspected of the crime are many. In the first place, it is alleged that years ago Miller jumped for himself the land occupied by Colman, Miller, from his own claim, was claiming anything that came under his reach, and he is the only man in that section of country who has been accused of committing such crimes. Later, still, he himself shot and killed a man named Colman, who is known to have had a claim on some land near Miller, who was apparently well born to death in his claims. Miller has been accused of having won land through his children before they were of age and of having led his children in a school election before they had attained their majority. It seems that the coroner’s jury had gotten hold of some of this information, and on yesterday, Bailiff Short was sent across the lake to subpoena Miller and Colman to come over and appear before the Grand Jury on Monday. Miller got here, but Colman and his companion, Wilbur Patton, were doubtless murdered on the way, as they started from Colman’s house early on Monday morning, and never reached the landing at the foot of Jackson street.

The news of Colman’s absence and the finding of the boat reached Sheriff McGraw’s ears about noon on Friday. That same evening he, in company with K. M. Crawford and F. H. Sparling, took the steamer Nellie for Miller’s place. On the way he stopped and took on a posse of well-armed farmers. Sheriff McGraw landed the men half a mile from Miller’s place and made their way through the woods to the house, which they surrounded. After the Sheriff knocked and was admitted, Miller sat by the fire with his overcoat on, and his eldest son was busy repairing an old shoe. After entering the house, Sheriff McGraw asked, 'Mr. Miller, where is your other son?' After a pause, Miller turned to his son William, who was doing the cobbling, and said, 'He can tell you.' After considerable urging, William admitted that his brother John was up to Newcastle looking for a job. Sheriff McGraw then said, 'Mr. Miller, my mission here is to arrest you and your two sons for the murder of Mr. Colman.' Miller and his son William were taken to town yesterday morning and placed in jail. During the afternoon John, the younger son, came to town and gave himself up.