The Nehalem Tragedy

Justice Brouse, accompanied by Constable Mellinger and Deputy Constable Beeghley, came into St. Helens on Monday last with the proceedings of the inquests held over the bodies of Geo. D. Stoddard and Levi L. Backus. From a thorough examination of the testimony we can form no other opinion than that the killing of Stoddard was a most atrocious and premeditated murder, without any serious provocation. Backus was not in the habit of carrying a revolver and he had no need of one for self protection, as Stoddard never went armed. Therefore he carried the weapon on this occasion for a criminal purpose and he put it into execution without delay. His death at the hands of the constables is a blessing to the community and we hope it will teach the few hard characters that reside in that neighborhood that the good citizens mean business and are not afraid to uphold the law, even if they are required to take human life in doing so.

The following is the verdict of the coroner's jury in the Stoddard case:

"We, the undersigned, members of the coroner's jury, called and duly sworn, do find from the evidence that the body is that of George D. Stoddard and that he came to his death by a pistol shot wound inflicted by the hands of Levi L. Backus, on the 30th day of June, 1887, in the county of Columbia and State of Oregon."

The jury further finds "that James M. Adams and Edward Webster have merited public censure by being in company of Levi L. Backus, knowing that Backus confessed to the killing of George D. Stoddard and made no attempt to prevent his escape."

At the inquest held over the body of Backus, Chas. W. Mellinger testified as follows:

"I had, on the 11th day of June, 1887, a lawful warrant for the arrest of Levi L. Backus, charged with the murder of George D. Stoddard on the 10th day of June, 1887. Said warrant was issued by Peter Brous, the Justice of the Peace in and for Auburn precinct. This is the body of said Levi L. Backus. On the 12th day of June I was, in company with Uriah M. Beeghley, a deputy constable, watching in the bush for Backus. About 1:00 o'clock PM of that day, at a place in the bush about twenty rods southwest of the house of Backus, creeping through the bush going in a westerly direction. He was moving in an easy gait. He was about twenty steps from where I was sitting. He then passed out of my sight, still going westward. In about five minutes afterward he showed himself again, about seventy five yards further to the west. I stepped out of the brush, so that there was no brush between Backus and myself and said in a loud voice, "Halt, Backus!" He at that started into a run, whereupon I and my deputy both fired upon him apparently without effect. Backus continuing his flight we both fired again, and apparently both at once. Of this discharge one of the balls took effect and Backus fell to the ground. On his coming in to sight the second time I saw him from head to foot. On his back he was carrying a packing sack, and a rifle on his shoulder. On his falling I went up to him and arrested him. I found him wounded by a ball having passed through the lower jaw from the right side and out at the left side. The rifle he had was a Winchester, and belonged, as far as I know, to James M. Adams."

The family of Backus at the time of his death was in destitute circumstances and measures have been taken to provide for the immediate wants. (end of copy)

Sheridan Stoddard,son of Geo. D. Stoddard, made us a short call on Wednesday last. He deeply feels his father's tragic death, and is evidently determined to be all that a son can be to his widowed mother. It appears that she will not be entitled to her husband's pension, as Stoddard did not die from the effect of injuries received in service. This may be the law, but it seems to us rather unjust, for if she needed the pension when her husband was alive she certainly needs it all the more now that his support is taken from her.

A DOUBLE TRAGEDY

The Murder of G. D. Stoddard and Subsequent Killing of His Murderer.

G. D. Stoddard, a well-known resident of Pittsburg, was murdered on Sunday last by L. L. Backus. Stoddard was the road supervisor of his precinct and as such had objected to Bacchus building a fence across the county road. This and other matters had caused bad feeling between them, and, as the sequel shows, it took but very little provocation to cause Backus to commit the murder. It appears that on Friday afternoon Stoddard heard his cow bells coming from the direction of Backus's place and on going to see what was after them met Backus driving the cattle before him. They quarreled and Backus killed Stoddard, the weapon used being a Colt's navy revolver. Stoddard was unarmed. After the killing Backus took to the woods. Justice Brouse, upon being informed of the facts, summoned a jury and held an inquest over the body of Mr. Stoddard. The jury was composed of Messrs. John Campbell, Wm. Mellinger, John W. Cornelius, Thomas M. Tucker and Israel M. Spencer, and their verdict was in accordance with the above facts. Constable Mellinger and a posse were then sent after the murderer. The examination by Dr. Ray showed that the ball entered the abdomen three and one-half inches to the left of the median line and one-half inch above the navel, and lodged under the skin two and one-half inches to the right of the spinal column. Stoddard was buried Sunday and just before the body was lowered into the grave the constable and a deputy arrived bringing with them the gun of Backus, who they said they had shot. They saw him in the woods back of his house and ordered him to surrender. He started to run and they fired, shooting him through the neck and jaws. He lived until about 9 o'clock the next day. The action of the constable and his deputy is commended by all good citizens. Stoddard was an old soldier and had recently been granted a pension. He was a good citizen and had frequently befriended his murderer.

THE COLUMBIA COUNTY TRAGEDY

DETAILS OF THE FATAL QUARREL BETWEEN BACKUS AND STODDARD -- THE FORMER'S DEATH

Additional particulars of the murder of G. D. Stoddard near Vernonia, Columbia county, Or., by L. L. Backus, and of the killling of the latter by the officers, have been received.

The fatal altercation, says the Hillsboro Independent, between Stoddard and Backus occurred last Friday afternoon, about 4 o'clock. The tragedy occurred near the property line between the two men and about five miles up Rock Creek from Vernonia postoffice. Fence and stock troubles were the cause. A revolver was used by Backus in committing the deed. The shot took effect in the left breast, near the heart, and lodged in the back, from whence Dr. Gray removed it next morning. Backus met a boy on the road and said that he had shot Stoddard, and that he any breathed twice after being shot. Backus then stole out a neighbor's Winchester and took to the brush. Being an old settler and well acquainted with the woods in that section, it was impossible for the officers to find him.

About three o'clock Sunday afternoon as the corpse was being viewed at the grave, word came that constable Chas. Mellinger and deputy Doc. Beeghley had captured Backus. When they sighted him, he ran and they ordered him to halt three times. As he did not surrender, and they held a warrant for him "dead or alive," they opened fire with their Winchesters and he fell, a ball having entered just under the right jaw,and came out through the left, shattering it badly. He was captured near home, and the men sent from the funeral carried him in and Dr. Ray pressed his face as near into shape as he could, without administering chloroform. Backus lingered until Monday and died.

Stoddard served in the Union army during the rebellion and was in the battle of Gettysburg. Not long since he sent his application for membership to the J. B. Matthews Post, G. A. R., at Forest Grove. He was a pensioner and had just received quite a sum as back pay a short time since.

It appears that Backus was driving Stoddard's cattle back from pasturing over the line of their unfenced land. Stoddard, who was, with his wife, working in their garden near by, heard the noise and went down to the road. At about the time for him to get there, Mrs. Stoddard heard the shot, but heard no words pass. Backus, after being shot, stated that Stoddard was advancing upon him and he told him to stop, and then on his refusal fired; but this is not borne out by the tracks in the road, which show that the two men did not get close together. When shot Stoddard had taken some steps out of the road, probably to get behind a tree.

Both men leave families living on their homesteads. Stoddard leaves four children who are pretty well gown up. Backus leaves a wife and five small children in destitute circumstances.

Backus went to a house on Sunday, when he said that he would not surrender to the local officers, but as soon as he could get word to his brother and father in Polk county he would go to St. Helens and give himself up. He was trying to visit his family when the officers fell in with him with the above results.

Comments:

Some of the names of participants changed over time. Some of the details were different. Perhaps these changes are natural consequences considering the communication difficulties of the time and the fact that newspaper reporting is not an exact science and reporters at times embellish the story for readership purposes. Some of the details later supplied were recalled after many years had passed - perhaps memories were fading and the details modified to make a better story. There can be little doubt that Backus killed Stoddard but the accusation of murder might be a little strong. We can imagine some frustrations for Backus... the county road ran through his land... perhaps he blamed his neighbor for some of his problems. He may have feared a confrontation with Stoddard. There are some hints that there may have been "other" reasons for his animousity toward Stoddard. The fact that Backus had some support in the Rock Creek community may be telling. There was the claim that Backus did not want to surrender to the local authorities but planned to put things in order and surrender at St. Helens. It might have been interesting if that scenario was allowed to play out. We can also imagine a community in outrage and a posse a little quick on the trigger. Perhaps Backus was the victim of community frustration with general lawlessness. In the end it was a sad conclusion for two families.

We have met with the great-grandson of G. D. Stoddard and find him a likeable fellow. We traveled to Vernonia and went to the Stoddard homestead. He walked on the very road where his great-grandfather was killed and surveyed the territory where his ancestors lived so many years ago. We met with Ralph Keasey who now owns the land where this story developed. Ralph's memories of stories heard in childhood about the killing match these newspaper articles perfectly.

What do you think... was the posse's killing of Backus justified?

Send us an E-mail.