4 Mar 1914 - Seattle Star (Seattle, Washington)

From Twisted Roots

Case File: Henry Werner Murder

https://www.newspapers.com/image/146531097/?match=1&terms=Werner

Volume 16, No 7

Page 1, Column 1,2

BOY GIVES CLUE IN MURDER MYSTERY

Wilhelm Henry Werner, 8-year-old son of Henry Werner, the Issaquah farmer, who was brutally beaten to death in the barn on his ranch Monday, is the one member of the family who was able to give invesigating officers a clue to the murderers. Although confused and frightened, the little fellow talked manfully with Deputies John W. Roberts and Herbert Beebe of Seattle. The boy gave more material evidence than could the mother and wife, Mrs. Werner, who yesterday attempted suicide in a fit of grief.

Hears Men Quarreling

"I was standing on the porch about 7 o'clock and heard papa yell at some men who were inside the barn." he said. "I wanted to go down to see who they were. Mother told me I'd better not, and that she guessed papa was just yelling at a cow. Pretty soon I heard some more noise and it sounded like a fight, so I told mamma again and she ran out to see what the trouble was." Mrs. Werner told the officers she ran to the barn after the second warning from her son, and saw a large man run out of the door as she approached.

Disappears into Woods

The man disappeared in the woods. Nearly crazed with grief, and in a dazed condition, Mrs. Werner was found by the side of her husband. The murder was an unusually brutal one. Werner's head was hacked to pieces with a heavy hoe or mattock. His clothing was slashed and a score of wounds covered his body. Werner, according to his widow, had quarreled last week with two junk peddlers who threatened him when he ordered them off the place. Werner was a small man. His wife, who is strong, is said to have taken his part in fistic enounters with his opponents at various times in the past.