"Inquest Upon The Victim of Kamloops Shooting Affray," The Inland Sentinel (Kamloops). July 10, 1913. Page 1 & 5.
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Prisoner Is Declared by Police to Be an Ex-Convict
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The story of the tragedy which took place yesterday afternoon at the Queen's Hotel was unfolded this morning when the Coroner's inquest was held at the Council Chamber. One incident connected with the miserable affair was presented in a far different light than was the case in the original report. Far from the perpetrator of the deed being surrounded by those near by when the crime was committed, no hand was raised against him, and the Chief Constable had to trace out and apprehend the man, who was known to be a desperate character and armed, at no small danger to himself.
The jury sworn before Dr. Archibald this morning comprised Messrs. D. S. Dalgleish, foreman; H. A. Spaulding; A. Shaw; C. Lewis; C. Beckwith and A. S. Howie, and after they had viewed the body at the Kamloope Undertaking Parlor they were informed that various letters found upon his person indicated the victim was named Joseph M. Pickering.
Story of the Affair.
James Joseph Doran the first witness called, deposed that on Wednesday, July 9th, he was at the Queen's Hotel, had observed the prisoner, who was giving a recitation about prison life to a man named Armstrong and the deceased.
They were none of them so drunk but they fully understood, what they were doing. Suddenly the Prisoner struck at Armstrong and knocked the him down, whereupon the Deceased turn struck the Prisoner to rounded ground and gave him a couple of blows when down, causing the discoloration of his eye.
The appearance of the Prisoner, Lynn, bore testimony to the severity be a desperate character and armed, of this treatment, for his left eye was frightfully discolored and swollen and quite closed.
When this scuffle was over the Prisoner apparently made friends with the others, but while Armstrong and the Decesead were in the lavatory removing, traces of the affray, Lynn inquired who it was that had struck him. This he did not find out until Pickering, the Deceased, expressed his regret for striking so hard was offered to pay the expense of medical attention for Lynn. Lynn, however, declared that he was a good loser and that he did not wish to see a doctor, and it seemed as if the whole that the affair was patched up. Deceased invited the Prisoner to drink, and while the order was being given the tragedy was committed, for Lynn drew a gun and deliberately shot Pickering.
Witness testified that he saw the whole sad affair and that some 10 or 13-minutes elapsed between the quarrel, and the time when the shot was fired and he saw a smoking revolver in the Prisoner's hands.
Bartender's Testimony
George Mottshaw, a bartender at the Queen's Hotel, offered corroborative testimony. Armstrong, a man named Johnson, and the Deceased. wees drinking at the bar, and invited the prisoner to join them. Lynn thes told a story which Armstrong did not seem to like; words passed, and Lynn hit Armstrong. Deceased then struck Lynn and knocked him down. After things had quietened down, Deceased went out to wash, and on his return invited the Prisoner to have a drink; and actually had the money in his hand with which to pay for it. Witness turned round to wash some glasses when he heard shots fired, and on turning round again saw the Prisoner with a smoking gun in his hand. This Lynn held until his victim fell down, when he backed towards the door. Witness directed a man named Burse to follow the Prisoner while he himself telephoned to the police.
Questioned by the Prisoner, Witness declared that the Deceased struck the Prisoner when he was not looking and knocked him down
Narrative of Fellow Worker.
Edwin Anthony Armstrong, who was next called, identified the body as that of Pickering with whom he had been working for a couple of months at the Northern Construction Camp. His story closely corresponded in most details with, what had previously been detailed. When the Prisoner joined them at the bar and gave a recitation, Witness merely said, "I've heard that before." He did not say this in a provocative tone nor did he expect Lynn to take any offence. Lynn, however, struck him a blow, which marked his face and sent him to his knees. When he arose the Deceased was leaning over the Prisoner on the floor. When they got up Prisoner declined to have medical attention for his bruised eye. Witness and the Deceased were making their way out of the room when the shot was fired. About 5 minutes elapsed between the quarrel and the shot, and he did not hear Deceased extend any invitation to the Prisoner to take a drink.
Pickering, he declared, was of a quiet, inoffensive disposition, and in this he was corroborated by Orie Johnam. The next witness, who had worked for seven months with the Deceased at the Northern Construction Camp.
This latter witness, Johnson, stated that the Prisoner, who got away in the excitement that followed the shot, remarked as he passed out of the door, "He got what he was looking for."
Richard Burke, night clerk at the Queen's Hotel, deposed that when Deceased had the Prisoner on the ground and was hitting him, he, witness said: "Don't hit a man when he's down."
Pickering then said, "Get up then and have a drink."
Prisoner's face was bleeding but he would not be persuaded to go to the lavatory and wash it. Witness thereupon approached him to try and get him to wash away the blood. Lynn, however, turned sharply just then and handling a weapon with his Ieft hand shot the Deceased.
General Terror.
Harry Caruduff, who followed with a narration similar to those already declared that the Deceased turned round three times before he fell.
He added that the people near at hand, dispersed when the shot was fired. Some went out by the front and some by the back door; others rushed upstairs. No one atempted to seize the Prisoner-they were not taking chances.
Edward Cassidy who was called to identity the body, spoke of the Deceased as a man of quiet demeanor.
Police Evidence
Chief Constable Rothnie deposed that in response to a telephone message he hurried by motor to the Queen's Hotel where he found the Deceased with a wound, apparently caused by a bullet in the left breast just over the heart. A hole corresponding to the wound penetrated deceased's clothing, and his outer garment was slightly singed.
The Chief made a search for a man described, and ultimately, after about three-quarters of an hour, found the Prisoner hiding under the raised wooden walk leading from Main St. to Hill St. near the blacksmith's shop.
The Prisoner had told the blacksmith that he would shoot the first man who interfered with him, and consequently when Lynn's hand went towards his pocket the Chief, who was covering him with a pistol, ordered him to throw up his hands.
After that he gave no trouble, but after being cautioned he burst on hearing that Pickering was actually dead: "I'm ---- glad of it. I'm sorry I did not get action on a few more of then They would have got it if they had not got away.
Prisoner, who had been in the City some 8 or 10 days, had been recognized by one of the police staff as an ex-convict formerly lodged in the penitentiary at Westminster. He had warned to commence work or leave the town. A revolver was found upon Lynn loaded in four chambers, and with the shell of a recently fired cartridge in another chamber.
The correspondence in the victim's pockets, said the Chies in conclusion, indicated that he was a respectable working man decently connected.
Medical Testimony.
Dr. Burris testified to the nature of the injury which described as a bullet wound from the left chest, through the heart, pulmonary vein, and aorta. The bullet had almost severed the sixth back rib and had lodged near the scapula. Death would be almost instantaneous.
The bullet produced fitted the empty shell found in the revolver The Jury retired and after an absence of about 20 minutes related the verdict that Joseph M. Pickering came to his death as the result of a bullet wound caused by John Lynn.
The Prisoner was then removed to custody.
The preliminary hearing has been fixed to commence at 10.15 tomorrow morning.
