LONG VALLEY MURDER
John Decker Slaughtered in Cold Blood by 'Doc" St. Clair.
Shot In the Head and Dragged Into the Brush for the $1800 He Carried.
Under date of October 26th, Long Valley correspondent sends the following: Editor Signal: One of the most horrible crimes ever committed in Idaho was discovered near here last Sunday morning.
On Wednesday last two men passed through Van Wyck, saying that they had come from Florence. They were in a light spring wagon, driving a team of brown horses both branded They bought some hay from L. S. Kimball and took it with them down to what is known as the Jerry Lester cabin, a vacant place about two miles below Van Wyck, to camp. On Friday one of the men came back and began drinking and spending money very freely, When asked where the other man was, he said, "he went to Boise with a freight team." Some of the citizens became suspicious and commenced a search for the other man. They went to the cabin where the men had camped but could find no traces, exept where a wagon had been driven out from the cabin, straight across the road and up a gulch. They could also see where something had been dragging. They followed the track up the gulch about a quarter of a mile to where it turned around. Here they stood and talked a few minutes, when suddenly one of them saw the body of the missing man in a hole not fifty feet away. He had been shot twice in the head, apparently while asleep. The body bad been wrapped in a blanket, and a rope had been tied around bis head and through his mouth by which he was dragged behind the wagon to the spot where he was found. A letter was found on his person addressed to John Decker. A valise containing papers belonging to John Decker was found in the posession of the other man who gives his name as J. D. St. Clair. A bloody coat and vest were also found St. Clair's possession.
St. Clair was arrested in Van Wyck, Sunday, immediately after the discovery of the murder. He had $120 in money with him when arrested, and has spent quite a sum since Friday morning. He was drunk continually from Friday morning until arrested. He made several statements while drunk, but since sober he will not talk at all. St. Clair is a man about six feet tall with heavy red hair and mustache.
The murdered man was a short, heavy-set man with dark hair and red mustache. His hands were very small and on one of them was found a lady's ruby ring, He had evidently been a man of some wealth.
St. Clair will have a hearing as
soon as Justice Beers returns from
Boise.
Later Reports.
Statesman, 28th:
When St. Clair was taken into custody he was placed in irons There were uo regulation handcuffs convenient and the services of a local blacksmith were secured to rivet chains upon the murderer.
There was considerable talk about
lynching St. Clair, many of those
who gathered about openly declaring
that the county should be saved the
expense of trying such a criminal.
St. Clair took the matter very coolly.
The identity of the man murdered has been satisfactorily established, he was John Decker, whose home appears to have been in Spokane. A letter from his wife was found upon him written at Spokane, August 23rd. In it she stated she was about to start on a visit to Seattle. The letter was sent to some town in eastern Washington.
St. Clair arrived at Idaho City about 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon in charge of Deputy Sheriff Clay Mosher, Tom Worthington and an other man. He is ironed and guards have been placed over him. The authorities are determined to hold him at all hazards.
The victim started from Cariboo to make the trip through Boise county. He was shot in the head. the balls ranging downward, showing that he was lying down when killed, The leftside of the head was powder burned. The body was interred at Van Wyck.
St. Clair pleaded not guilty and was bound over without bail by the justice of the peace at Van Wyck.
The Weiser signal. November 04, 1897
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