BACKWOODS TRAGEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 2

BACKWOODS TRAGEDY

ARREST FOR MURDER WOMEN'S WEEK 01’ HOUIiOJt. VANCOUVER, Dec. 13. The “mocassin telegraph,” a valuable adjunct to the North-west Mounted Police, brought news to Fort Chipc- I wyan of a trapper being dead in his cabin, and of sig.is that foul play existed. Sergeant Yernon, accompanied by an Indian interpreter, set out witii a dog team in zero weather, and, lighting his way through a subArctic blizzard, camped in the Upper Athabccca country. Next morning as arranged by the Divisional .Superintendent, an aeroplane dropped 10 a landing beside the Mounty’s camp, and the pilot advised him that he had spotted his quarry in the vicinity of Singed Dog Island. Flyer and policeman took to the air later in the day and landed on the island. Fearing an ambush, such as had been perpetrated six years before by the mad trapper in the Yukon, they spoilt tiie night m the aeroplane, and at daybreak cautiously approached a cabin. The wanted man walked out, , unarmed. His surrender followed. Proceeding to the home of the slain trapper, they found his body in a pool of blood. While they were investigating, an Indian sunner told of a woman settler, Mrs. Allen, who wished to see the police. She said that, the accused man came to her cabin, telling her The Kid, an the murdered man was known, was badly injured. Taking her young baby with her, Airs. Allen went with him to the cabin. The murderer tripped and fell to the floor. The woman, seeing the dead body, fled, pursued by the slayer. Although burdened with her c-hild, she outdistanced him, and reached her cabin in time to barricade it against him. Four days and nights or horror followed, in which the man tried to gain entrance, while the woman Threatened to shoot. Eventually he left, shouting that The Kid was dead and that the police would find him at Singed Dog Irian d. A housemaid at Calgary wept as the news was brought 1o her that her trapper-financc had been murdered. She said he had had a very successful season, and they were to be married when he came “outside” in the s pri n g.