Joseph Claus, Stikine River murderer, 1898

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Joseph Claus, Stikine River murderer, 1898

Crime & Policing in the North
Dateline: August 6, 2024.
What follows is a collection of articles from several British Columbia newspapers, detailing the progress of the story of the murders of James Burns and Charles Hendrickson by their partner Joseph Claus along the Stikine River on April 5, 1898, Claus' capture and trial, his suicide on August 13, 1898, just prior to his scheduled hanging, and the coroner's report on his death. No single newspaper consistently told the story well, but this collection attempts to capture the best version at each step.
The Daily News-Advertiser (Vancouver, B.C.), Friday, April 22, 1898

A tale of murder and sudden death was also brought down on the City of Seattle by a "News-Advertiser" informant who left the vessel at Nanaimo and came over on the Joan. The tale was first related by George Mee, who went up to Telegraph Creek as a guide for the Mackenzie-Mann party. He said that two men named respectively Burns and Hendritson were murdered on April 11th, 12 miles below Glenora. These two men went north from Vancouver in a party headed by the Jess brothers of Chilliwack. A man named Vierpont, also said to be of Chilliwack, was in the party, and a Dane or a Swede named Claus. This foreigner is supposed by some people to be the murderer.
It appears that the party divided up on April 4th, the Jess Brothers and Vierpont proceeding ahead to Glenora. There Mee met them. The murdered men and the Dane kept together. When Mee arrived at the place where the murder was committed he found there a Los Angeles party headed by a man named Robinson. This man said the party, coming up the Stickine River at dusk, found a tent blown down with two bodies wrapped in a blanket under it. One man had the left side of his head split open with an axe blade, the head of the other man was crushed with an axe handle. There was no sign of their being robbed. The Mounted Police were quickly on the scene and had the bodies in charge when Mee left. Claus had disappeared and had not been traced when he left.
Robinson said members of his party had seen a man on a sled, drawn by a buckskin horse, leave the tent just before they came up, but he refused to halt and drove rapidly away. He is supposed to have been Claus. Malcolm McLean, who used to be a Vancouver City detective, and who went up from here with Mr. Bullock Webster, has been given the task of tracing Claus.
The poor fellows who met sudden death were Collins of Los Angeles, who was crushed by a dry cottonwood tree falling on him and dashing out his brains. Black, an Iowa man, was drowned in the river,
George Mee made the journey from Telegraph Creek to Wrangel in eight days. At two places he had to raft the Stickine River. From the mouth there is ice some 60 miles, but it is fast breaking; the other 90 miles is practically open and Mee believes the entire river will be open between April 25th and May 1st.
The Vancouver Semi-Weekly World (Vancouver, B.C.), Tuesday, April 26, 1898

Near Glenora, April 5, via Seattle, April 21. - At the time of writing we are camped just above the canyon on the Stickine River, 100 miles from the mouth. Some of the railroad outfit have managed to get through to Glenora. We are between two outfits and for some days communication between the three has been cut off. Dewdney's outfit has reached Glenora.
A man named James F. Black was drowned on April 1st. He was one of two brothers. His brother was leading a horse with a sled and the deceased was pushing behind, when the horse, sleigh and man went through the ice. He just gave one loud scream and then all was over. The brothers came from Illinois and one had been a lawyer and the other a farmer.
The river is breaking up fast and I am doubtful if we will get all our outfit up to Glenora on the ice. Lots of Klondikers are becoming discouraged and turning back. Several women are on the trail. We have had rainy, soft weather for the last five or six days. The Provincial police passed here to-day with a man in charge, accused of stealing a team of horses from one McKinnon.
A double murder has occurred 12 miles south of Glenora. The victims are members of the Jess Brothers and Vierpont party and hail from Chilliwack. The names of the murdered men are given as Burns and Henderson. They had gone ahead with a Swede named Claus a both were found dead, one with his head cut open by an axe and the other with his skull crushed in. Claus is suspected of having committed the deed and Malcolm McLean, formerly of the Vancouver police, but now on the Provincial force, has been sent after him. A man named Collins, of Los Angeles, has been killed by a tree falling on him. H.R.

Since the receipt of the above, which for some unaccountable reason, was a day behind letters that arrived on the same steamer, further particulars have been learned. The party left here on the Richard III, in tow of the tug Lorne, in February. The party was headed by the Jess Brothers, of Chilliwack, and with them was associated Mr. Vierpont. Thomas McCullum, of this city, was to have gone with them, but he was taken ill and at the time the party left he was in the hospital. He says that he only had a short acquaintance with the man named Claus, though he cannot be sure if that was exactly his name. He was a short stout man, about 30 years of age and used to stop at the Secord house. There was nothing about his appearance to indicate that he was a criminal.
James Burns, one of the victims, had lived in Vancouver for about six years, or at least he put in his winters here, being engaged at lumbering and mining. When in the city he stopped at the Carter house. He was a man between 50 and 60 years of age and though of a restless disposition was always abstemious in his habits. Before coming here he had traveled extensively in Mexico and Australia. He has a considerable balance to his credit in the Bank of British Columbia in this city and he was known to have had about $500 with him, besides a complete outfit. It is not known that he has any relatives in this country.
Charles Hendrickson, the other victim, was about 26 years of age and had been here between three and four years. He was a native of Finland and was a very quiet mannered, sober man. He is given an excellent character by the people about the Gambrinus hotel where he used to live. The most of his working time while here was spent in the logging, woods and he had latterly been employed on the limits of the Moodyville Mill Company under the foremanship of Donald McIntyre, and known as a steady and reliable workman. It is thought that he had relatives living near Langley.
Wednesday, May 4, 1898: "THE GLENORA MURDER. Recent accounts from Glenora state that the man Claus or Clause, who murdered his two partners, Burns and Hendritson on April 5th, by splitting their heads open with an axe, while going up the Stickine River, has given himself up to the Canadian police at Glenora. He confessed the crime, but said he must have been insane at the time, and the people at Glenora consider him insane now. As the murders are thought to have taken place in the disputed territory now occupied by the United States, the authorities are considering what action to take." (The Daily News-Advertiser)
The Vancouver Daily World (Vancouver, B.C.), Wednesday, May 11, 1898
The murderer of Hendrickson and Burns, the two men shot on the Stickine, has been captured and the work has been done by Malcolm McLean, formerly chief detective of the Vancouver police force.
Over a month ago the first news of the awful tragedy that deprived two men of their lives was heard in Vancouver and with the same mail came word that Malcolm McLean was on the murderer's track, which was as good as the news that he would be sure to be captured by the ex-Vancouverite.
The facts of the cold-blooded murder have already been related and from the letter given below it would seem that the motive waa that of robbery of the persons of the two deceased men. The following is the letter received this morning from Malcolm McLean, of the city police force:

GLENORA, April 22nd.
Dear brother, - l write you these few lines to jet you know that I am well. I wrote you a letter a short time ago stating that I was starting out after the man that I suspected murdered James Burns and Charles Hendrickson. The murderer, whose name is Joseph C. Claus, had three and a half days' start of me, but I overhauled him in two and a half days, covering the ground that took him six days in the two and a half days mentioned. I had an Indian with a dog team that carried our blankets and ten days' provisions. I found the purses and money belonging to the two murdered men on him and we have sufficient evidence, I think, to convict him. Claus, the murderer, is a native of Belgium aud a married man with a child living at Wellington, B. C. He lived on a farm at Nanoose Bay for some time. He came to Canada ten years ago and worked for some time at Vale Colliery, N. S. He is five feet six inches in height and is pock marked. I have no other news to tell you, except that I am getting along well. I want you to send me up some seeds such as cucumber, cabbage, etc., as the season here appears to be as long as in Prince Edward Island or Maine.
MALCOLM McLEAN.

In all probability, now that the man has been captured he will be brought to Vancouver or Victoria for trial. The members of the local police force were all congratulating themselves today that they had ever had such a man on the force as McLean.
Friday, May 13, 1898: "In his report to Superintendent Hussey, Chief Constable Bullock-Webster, of Telegraph Creek, gives the full particulars of the murder of James Burns and Charles Hendrickson and the arrest of Joseph Campbell Claus, who admitted his guilt to Constable McLean, the Vancouver officer who effected the arrest. Burns was killed by two blows on the head from the sharp part of an axe, while Hendrickson was shot twice in the head. The story of the finding of the bodies and the chase after and arrest of Claus was told in the 'News-Advertiser' a week ago. When arrested he had Burns' pocket book and a large sum of money in his possesion. To Constable McLean Claus said: 'If they hadn't murdered me, I would not have murdered them.' He then showed the officer which money belonged to Burns and which to Hendrickson. Subsequently he said he had shot at Hendrickson four times and to Constable Jackson he said: 'I am sorry for Mr. Burns, but not for the other man (meaning Hendrickson); - if I had not done it to him he would have done it to me.' The preliminary hearing had not been concluded at the time the report was written, but as a committal is certain Chief Webster asks that arrangements be made for the holding of a special assize, as it will be impossible to hold the witnesses very long." (The Daily News-Advertiser)
Friday, May 27, 1898: "A special court of assize will be held on June 5 at Glenora for the trial of J. C. Claus, charged with the murder of his two partners, James Burns and Charles Hendrickson, last month. It was found necessary to hold this special session at Glenora on account of the great inconvenience that it would cause witnesses to come south to Nanaimo, where the trial would in the ordinary course, take place." (Nanaimo Free Press)
The Daily News-Advertiser (Vancouver, B.C.), Wednesday, June 15, 1898

To the list of special assizes published elsewhere two more have to be added. Mr. F. S. Hussey, Superintendent of the Provincial Police, has left for Wrangel and Glenora to arrange for bringing to Nanaimo, two prisoners who are he!d for trial at Glenora. One of these is Claus, the man who is accused of the double murder on the Stikine River of Hendrickson and his companion. It was found that it would be a most expensive matter to hold an assize at Glenora, as it would have been necessary to take a jury there from some othee part of Nanaimo district, Glenora being practically too new to have a jury list as yet. Consequently the special assize which was to have been held there has been cancelled and instead a special assize will be held at Nanaimo on June 28th. At the same assize will be tried Harry Hunter, who is now under arrest at Glenora on the very serious charge of attempting to wreck a steamer.
A special assize will be held in Victoria on June 27th for the trial of Belle Adams, who is charged with the murder of Charles Kincaid.
The Vancouver Daily World (Vancouver, B.C.), Wednesday, June 22, 1898

By the Union Steamship Co.'s steamer Coquitlam, which arrived from the north last night, J. C. Claus, the confessed murderer of the two men, Burns and Hendrickson, was brought to Nanaimo, where he will stand his trial. He was brought down by Chief Provincial Police Constable Malcolm McLean, formerly oi Vancouver, and who captured Claus ater a several days' chase. Constable McLean and A. Jess, witness in the case and a former partner of Claus, arrived in the city this morning. Both look healthy after the hardships they have undergone, but have Jost a good deal of flesh.
A World representative was this morning given an interesting account of the tragedy and the circumstances surrounding it by Mr. Jess. The party left Vancouver by the barque Richard III about February 10th. Besides Jess, Claus and the murdered man, there were two brothers Vipond in the party. They stopped at Wrangel for two weeks and then gradually moved by degrees up the river. The first trouble arose when at the 15-Mile camp. Jess objected, and the Viponds agreed with him, as to the care of their goods for they wished always to have a man at each of their caches, while the others slung the effects around anywhere. They thought it advisable to split up and Claus, Hendrickson and Burns raised no objection. A rivalry then sprang up between the two parts of the outfit and the Jess party got well ahead between the two canyons and soon afterwards arrived at Glenora. They went to Telegraph Creek and there heard first of the murder which on investigation proved to be in the party of their late partners. Jess went down the river with Constable McLean and they found the bodies, where they had been pulled from under the ice. Burns' head was split open with an axe by two blows and there were two bullets in Hendrickson's neck. McLean then set out in pursuit and caught Claus, who when being arrested saw: "If they had not murdered me I would not have touched them." Since then his plea has been that Hendrickson killed Burns wiih the axe and that he, (Claus), shot Hendrickson in self-defence. This is not believed, as Hendrickson was found in his sleeping bag. The bodies were first found by a man named Robinson.
Mr. Jess says that most of the people now at Glenora will come down the river as soon as possible and will go to Dyea and in to the Klondike by that route. He says that none of the reported gold strikes on Dease or Teslin lakes are true, but he believes, from what he has heard, that there is considerable gold in the Big Salmon, which flows into Teslin Lake. He will go north again shortly and will proceed to the Klondike by way of the Dyea trail.
The Vancouver Daily World (Vancouver, B.C.), Thursday, June 23, 1898

The following is an official and reliable report of the murder of James Burns, by his companion Claus, on April 5th, near Glenora: There were a party of six, consisting of Joseph and James Vipond, Alexander Jess, James Burns, Charles Hendrickson, and Joseph Campbell Claus. The party above-mentioned went about 15 miles on the ice, when a disagreement occurred, and they divided into two parties, one consisting of the Vipond brothers and Jess, the other Burns, Hendrickson and Claus. Starting separately, each party took one horse and equal shares of provisions, and these two parties kept together for a time, and when near the Canyon the Vipond brothers got ahead, consequently the party had arrived at Telegraph Creek when the murder took place.
The first intimation of the murder having been committed was when a party, consisting of Messrs. Robinson, Norton, Millsup and Fenton were selecting a place to camp for the night; one of the party noticed a tent lying on the ground in disorder, and not far away saw some blankets protruding from the ice, and after further investigation discovered the two bodies wrapped up in blankets and one in his sleeping bag, and, realizing that a terrible murder had been committed, at once sent word to the Provinelal police at Glenora, a distance of ten miles.
The Robinson party, whilst pitching camp for the night, noticed a man with a buckskin horse and sleigh, driving down the river towards where the murdered men lay concealed, and approaching a cache, took some stores, and, placing them upon the sleigh, immediately drove up the river again. This was the first clue the police had to identify the murderer. The officer who received the information from the Robinson party was Constable Morton, of Glenora, and he immediately went to the scene of the murder with a special constable (Constables McLean and Grieves being away on duty), nd found the facts essentially as reported.
Leaving the special constable in charge of the corpses, the officer proceeded to Telegraph Creek and informed the resident magistrate, W. A. Bullock-Webster. The magistrate immediately proceeded to the scene of the atrocious murder, joining Constable McLean and also accompanied by an Indian and dog train. At the same time Jess and Vipond attended in order to identify the bodies. The party had to camp that night in the tent of the murdered men.
They ascertained that the bodies had been lying for two days in the ice, and it was necessary to straighten them that night, in order to pack them on a hand sleigh and convey them to Glenora.
Arriving at Glenora a post mortem was held by Dr. Carlisle, who discovered that in Burn's case he had been dispatched by two strokes of an axe, completely laying open his skull down to the right eye, the brains protruding the other stroke being in a parallel line, and either would have been sufficient to cause instant death. In regard to Hendrickson, the other victim, one bullet entered the right side of the lower lip, cutting the eye-tooth and lodging in the roof of his mouth. The second bullet entered the centre of the skull, penetrating the brain and burying itself in the base of the skull. The second bullet was certain instant death.
Immediately after the news of the shocking event were received, steps were taken to effect the arrest of the suspected man, and Constable McLean was sent forward with a dog team and Indian driver on the Teslin trail, and after traveling by forced marches, under exceptional difficulties, he overtook Claus 65 miles on his way to Teslin lake. When arrested by McLean, he was in company with a man who had become his partner on the trail, and it is not easy to describe the feelings and astonishment of this man when he heard his newly-formed partner charged with such a fiendish crime.
The officer, in searching the prisoner, found a large sum of money belonging to his companions, and which he admitted once belonged to them. He was then brought before the magistrate, Mr. Bullock-Webster, at Telegraph Creek, and charged with the capital offence.
After a thorough and searching investigation, he was committed for trial at the next Assizes, which there has been no occasion to held since 1874, when the then Chief Justice, Sir Matthew Begbie, sentenced an Indian to death for murdering a constable at Telegraph Creek, and a singular coincidence, the same legirons encircling the ankles of the Indian murderer, Attin, are now worn by the prisoner Claus. I am requested to say that reports of lynching the prisoner Claus are entirely unfounded, no demonstration whatever on the part of the residents having been made, as they felt confident that British justice would be meted out in due course.

The Duchesnay has just arrived, and will leave here in two hours with Claus and Hunter, the latter under the fearful charge of having attempted to wreck the Victorian, stern-wheeler, by cutting the ropes when tied up after taking off the passengers of the Moute Cristo, disabled by a broken shaft. Hunter, it appears, had been trying to obtain, in company with two Indians, whisky from the nightwatchman of the Victorian, and, having been refused drinks, swore he would wreck the steamer Victorian.
Later in the night one of the ropes was heard to splash into the water, and, believing it had been broken by the strong current, another was tied, only to be cut in the same way. Fortunately a steel hawser, which had been placed previously, he could not cut, although the attempt had been made, and, if accomplished, would have inevitably caused the destruction of the steamer and no doubt many lives would have been sacriticed through the wanton outrage.
It is very curious, the attempt to cut the Victorian adrift occurred exactly on the spot where the fearful murder was committed by Claus on the ice, and I found the Monte Cristo on the identical spot when I was working against the stream, tied up, with her wheel gone, which I reported in my last week's letter to you.
Both prisoners will be accompanied by the sitting magistrate, Mr. Bullock-Webster, and will shortly go on board, accompanied by Constable Jackson. Provin- cial Constable Grieves being fortunately on board the Victorian shortly after the attempted outrage, took the case in hand, and produced strong circumstantial evidence that justified the magistrate, Mr. Webster, in committing hhim for trial.
There is much credit due to Constable McLean for his determined pluck in following the suspected Claus under every disadvantage. Louis Watson.
Wednesday, June 29, 1898: "Mr. Justice Walkem is presiding at the special assize at Nanaimo. The grand jury yesterday returned a true bill in the case of Regina vs. Claus, charged with murdering Burns and Hendrickson. The trial is proceding to-day." (Victoria Daily Times)
Nanaimo Free Press (Nanaimo, B.C.), Thursday, June 30, 1898

The evidence being all in, and the addresses of Counsel and Judge concluded, the case of Claus charged with the murder of his partner Burns on the Stikine, was given to the jury at 4 o'clock this afternoon, who then retired to consider their verdict.
The Jury at 5 o'clock brought in a verdict of "Guilty of Murder," and the Judge sentenced Claus to be hanged on Tuesday, August 2nd.
The Court adjourned till Wednesday morning, when Clauss will be charged with the murder of Hendrickson.
Saturday, July 2, 1898: "Nanaimo, June 30. - Claus, the murderer of Hendrickson and Burns, who was on trial at the special assizes here, having been found guilty, was to-day sentenced to be hanged on August 2nd at Nanaimo. The prisoner after sentence said, with tears streaming down his cheeks and bowed head, in a trembling voice; 'I don't understand well; I don't know what to say. I am very sorry I put the bodies under the ice; I did not know what I was doing.'
The plea put forward by the defence was that Hendrickson killed Burns and that in self-defence Claus shot Hendrickson. The court was disturbed by the wife of the prisoner, who occupied a seat in the gallery. When the verdict of guilty was announced it was necessary for the police to watch her, and several other ladies were weeping." (Victoria Daily Times)
Monday, July 4, 1898: "The collecting of evidence in the Claus murder case trial at Nanaimo last week was a very expensive process, material witnesses having to be brought from various parts of the continent. Among them was Dr. Carlyle of Philadelphia, who was at Glenora at the time the bodies of the murdered men were discovered, and made a post mortem examination. Other men had to be induced to abandon their trip to the Yukon and to come south to Nanaimo, all of which tends to prove that in British Columbia criminals will not escape just punishment on any score of expense." (Victoria Daily Times)
Monday, July 11, 1898: "The execution of Joseph C. Claus, who was convicted of murder at a special assize at Nanaimo, has been postponed until the 17th of August." (Victoria Daily Times)
Wednesday, August 3, 1898: "Ottawa, Aug. 2 - At a Cabinet meeting to-day it was decided that the law should take its course in the case of Claus, now in Nanaimo Jail for the murder of his two comrades on the Stikine River. Claus will therefore be hanged on August 17th." (The Daily News-Advertiser)
Nanaimo Free Press (Nanaimo, B.C.), Saturday, August 13, 1898

Quite a flurry of excitement was created around town at noon today, when it was whispered about that Joseph Claus, who is to pay the extreme penalty of the law on Wednesday morning, for the murder of his Klondike partners, Hendrickson and Burns, had attempted to commit suicide by taking strychnine. A FREE PRESS representative called on Chief of Police, Wm. Stewart, at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
The;particulars for publication given by Dr. R. E. McKechnie, the doctor in charge, through Chief Stewart, were that Claus had been taken seriously ill and had had several violent fits during the morning, but up to this time although the condemned man is dangerously ill, his recovery is looked forward to.
4:46 p.m. - Provincial Jail reports Claus still serinusly ill, and Dr. McKechnie continues in close attendance.
Nanaimo Free Press (Nanaimo, B.C.), Monday, August 15, 1898

Joseph Claus, the murderer of his partners - Hendrickson and Burns - as reported in Saturday evening's FREE PRESS, was seriously ill in his cell at the Provincial Gaol. Joseph Claus has been one of the cool class of criminals, and has displayed his coolness up to the last.
Since the statement of his illness, although currently reported then that he had attempted to commit suicide by taking strychnine, it bas been officially stated that such was the case. Dr. R. E. McKechnie worked, and was with the condemned man continuously from four o'clock Saturday morning until 10:40 o'clock, p. m., when the murderer quietly passed away to be judged by a higher Tribunal. The drug, presumably strychnine, had been concealed either in the murderer's clothes or on his person, and the general concensus of opinion is that he had prepared for the death sentence before the trial, and had the powerful drug sewn in the lining of his wearing apparel. Another theory is that it may have been concealed in a bouquet of flowers. At any rate, Dr. McKechnie says it was contained in a small piece of paper, which was found on the floor of the death cell.
The murderer, it will be remembered, was tried here on the 29th of June, charged with murdering his two partners - Hendrickson and Burns - a few miles south of Glenora on the Stikine route to the Kiondike.
John Vipond, Jos. Vipond, Alex Jess, Hendrickson, Burns and the murderer formed a party for the Klondike, and went north on the Richard III, leaving Vancouver in May. All went well until the party reached thirteen miles up the river, when at a meeting of the six, it was decided to divide into two parties making an equal division of the provisions. The one party consisted of the murderer and the two murdered men, and the other of Vipond Bros and Alex Jess. After travelling alongside of each other for a few days the Vipond party pushed ahead, Claus became tired of the trip and wanted to sell his outfit which cost $325 for $75 and return to his home at Nanoose and work on the roads.
He failed to find a purchaser, and the presumption is he became thoroughly disgusted with the trip, and in an argument the prisoner claimed Hendrickson struck Burns with an axe, killing him by chopping his head to pieces, and that the prisoner shot Burns in self defence, but this explanation of the crime is not tangible on account ofthe peculiar actions of the prisoner after the double murder had been committed.
The prisoner dragged the two bodies from the tent and placed them in a crevice in the ice, taking care to conceal them there by covering the crevice with stones, and when arrested, Burns' and Hendrickson's purses, containing nearly a thousand dollars, were found on the prisoner. He also told of his leaving his two partners down the river fording their outfits, when they were concealed in the crevice in the ice.
The prisoner said to Constable McLean, who arrested him 68 miles up the Stikine, beyond Telegraph Creek, "If they wouldn't murder me I wouldn't murder them."
Claus is a man of about thirty-five or forty years of age and has lived at Nanoose on his ranch along with his wife and family for nine years.
A strange statement for the suicide-murderer to make was the one he made to the Chief of Police Bullock-Webster at Glenora. "If I am sentenced to be hanged they will never hang me."
The prisoner was sentenced by Judge Walkem to be hanged on Aug. 2nd, but owing to a petition being circulated asking for a commutation of sentence the time was extended until next Wednesday morning Aug 17th, but strychnine cheated the gallows and the murderer passed off quietly in his cell, surrounded by the jail officials and medical men only.
Victoria Daily Times (Victoria, B.C.), Monday, August 15, 1898

Nanaimo, Aug, 15. - (Special). - Claus, the condemned murderer who was to have been hanged on Wednesday next, died from the effects of the poison which he had taken the day previously, despite the heroic endeavors of a number of physicians to save the doomed man's life.
It is not known how Claus obtained possession of the deadly drug - strychnine - but it is suspected that certain friends of the murderer who have been in the habit of visiting him passed a quantity of the poison to him while on a visit.
The dead murderer had an intense horror of hanging and repeatedly asserted that he would never ascend the scaffold. When informed on Friday that there was no hope of saving his life he is reported to have said: "I'll die on Saturday morning early."
An inquest is being held this afternoon

The crime for which Claus was sentenced to death was the murder of Burns and Hendricksen, two Chilliwhack men with whom he was journeying into the Klondike gold fields by way of the Stikine river early this spring. Claus crept out of his tent one night as the two were encamped on the Stikine, then coated with ice, and taking an axe hacked at the heads of the two unfortunate miners, instantly killing them. He then dragged the two bodies to a crevasse in the ice and hid them. He then became terrified, and leaving the bodies and the blood stained weapon lying in the crevasse, mounted a pony and fled up the trail. The ingoing miners seeing him rushing frantically onward thought all was not right and notified the police authorities. A search was made and the bodies of the victims and the weapon were found frozen in the crevasse. Then the pursuit of the flying murderer began, and he was soon overhauled. He was captured at Glenora by the Northwest Mounted Police and afterwards brought down to Nanaimo, where the closing scenes in the tragedy were enacted.
The Daily News-Advertiser (Vancouver, B.C.), Tuesday, August 16, 1898

Escaped the Noose

Departure Bay, B. C., Aug. 15. - Claus, of Nanaimo, the convicted murderer of his Klondike partners, Hendrickson and Burns, died at 10.45 p.m. on Saturday night as the result of a large dose of strychnine which he took some time between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. on Friday. He was informed by the Sheriff that the sentence imposed upon him would be carried into execution, which it is supposed he took very hard. He retired that evening about 8 o'clock, woke a few hours later, and asked the guard to get him a drink of water which he gave him. He only took a mouthful and then laid down again. Shortly after he became violently ill. Dr. McKechnie was summoned and it was found he had taken poison. The physician was in attendance most of the time and reported at 8.30 that he was improving and that there was a chance for his recovery, but later on he took a change for the worse and was suffering terribly, and at 10.40 a.m. died.
The only two clues to the way that Claus could have poisoned himself are that on the night of the suicide there was a bucket of water in his cell and that on the same night his wife brought him a meat ple. She has disappeared. There will probably be some trouble over the affair, as the officials will endeavor to bring the guilty party to justice. The officials have nothing to say. An inquest and postmortem examination will be held to-day when it is expected some details will be given.
Nanaimo Free Press (Nanaimo, B.C.), Tuesday, August 16, 1898

Coroners Inquest

Deputy Coroner H. Stanton held an inquest at the Provincial Jail Monday afternoon to enquire into the cause of the death of Joseph Camille Claus, the Stickine murderer who it was believed committed suicide by taking strychnine on Saturday. Supt. Hussey appeared on behalf of the Attorney-General's department.
The following jury was sworn: Thos. Kitchin, (Foreman) Wm. K. Leighton, Thos. O'Connell. J. H. Pleace, John Hilbert, Geo. Baker, Robt. Evans.
After viewing tne body the following evidence was taken:
John Degnen, the death watch, testified that he was last on duty Saturday morning; about 4:30 I heard Claus breathing very heavily, I then heard him give a kick, and thought he was dreaming. He had a severe shock, and I then reported to Chief of Police Stewart and called him in. I took Claus out of the cell, and seated him in a chair. Claus said, "hold me hard." He did not say what was the matter with him, and I did not ask him. The deceased said, "his heart was broke." He did not say he had taken anything. I sent for the doctor because we thought he was sick. I have no reason to believe what made him sick. I do not know how long he was sick before we sent for the doctor. He did not act as usual on that night. He read the Bible, and did not take his trousers off. I believe he was awake all night. He got up once during the night. He returned to the cell. He asked for drinking water, which I gave him. I was in sight of him all night. I saw up to his shoulders but could not see his head. I did not see him in the water closet, but saw him go in and come out. That was the only time he was out of my sight. About twenty minutes after I gave him the water he was taken sick. No one saw him while I was on watch excepting the gaol officials. I found nothing in the deceased cell that night.
To Supt. Hussey - He read his Bible at 8 o'clock in the evening taking it to bed with him. He continued reading it for an hour or two. He was not in the habit of doing that. He divided the time between reading the Bible and a French paper. He did not make any remarks to me. He got up at four o'clock and asked me the time. I told him. He said it was getting quite late. He made no complaint of being unwell, I heard him in the water closet. He had his pants on. He was only in the closet a short time. Nothing unusual happened while he was there. After coming from the closet he went to bed. I was sitting near the steam heater and was not in a proper position to see his face. I carried the water to him and he took a mouth full while lying in his bed. About 20 minutes after taking the water he commenced to breathe heavily. He never complained to me, but grew worse and I called Mr. Stewart. He repeated, "hold me hard for cramps are coming on." I made no inquiries of him as to what was the metter with him. I went on duty at 6 o'clock that night and came off at 7:45. I had been on duty two nights before that. Claus suffered very much from contraction of the muscles of the arms and legs.
By a Juryman - No one outside of the officials used that closet, while I was on watch.
J. W. Webster testified - I was guard on the 8th and 9th. No one saw or had communication with Claus excepting the gaol officers while I was on watch. Claus said nothing to me there that would lead me to believe he intended to commit suicide.
To Supt. Hussey - Sometimes he would talk to me on general subjects. He was in good spirits when speaking to me, excepting when he told me about the case on the trail, he broke down and cried. I was on duty from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
F. English testified - I was guard over Claus at night for six days from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Others than the gaol officials saw him while I was on watch. Rev. C. E. Cooper, of Wellington, saw him. They were both in my sight all the time. Nothing was passed between them beyond a bible. I had conversations with Claus. The nature of the conversations were not such as would make me believe he intended to take his life.
To Supt. Hussey - I was on duty from Tuesday, the 2nd, to the morning of the 8th, inclusive. Claus was in the habit of wearing his undershirt and pants while in bed. I never saw him read the bible at any time. If he had done so I would have seen him. The deceased never gave any reason for wearing his pants in bed.
Kenneth A. McLean testified - I was guard from 1st July to 13th August. My hours were from 7 a.m. till 6 p.m. Others than the gaol officials visited him. Rey. C. E. Cooper visited him on more than one occasion. Probably something could have been passed between them without me seeing it. Once a small card with a picture of our Saviour was given by Mr. Cooper to Claus. I do not remember if the prayer book was given to him while I was there or before. Father Durrand saw the prisoner om more than one occasion. I was with them, and probably something could have been passed between them without my seeing it. I have no reason to suspect anything did. Bishop Perrin saw him twice. I have no reason to believe anything passed between them. Fred McB. Young visited him twice aud saw him under the same conditions as the reverend gentlemen saw him. Nothing could very well have been passed between them, as there was a larger space between them than the others had. He was sitting abreast of me. The prisoner was dressed in a semite, drawers, pants and slippers. I had frequent conversations with Claus. From the nature of the conversations I had reason to believe he intended to take his life. He was talking about Mr. Young coming down with a deed for him to sign, and he said he didn't see why he should wait for him anyhow, as he thought the property was all right without sogning the deeds. After Mr. Young had been here, he said he did not know why he should wait until the word came from Ottawa. I told my suspicions to V. Stewart and Sheriff Drake, and I think I mentioned it to Archie Hamilton at dinner.
To Superintendant Hussey - He was usually pretty cool. I saw him read his testament and prayer book very regularly until the newspaper report came that the law must be carried out. Chief Stewart informed him that the law must take its course, and he than ceased to read his prayer book and testament.
To a Juryman - The pants he had on were the same as the one I saw him first with. His wife saw him through the wicket some few feet away - behind a frame built four feet from the wicket.
To Superintendent Hussey - I think it was last Monday or Tuesday his wife last called to see him. I could not see her face. I do not know how far she was from the wicket.
To a Juryman - Had he put his hand to the wicket I would have seen it, therefore I do not believe he put it there.
Mrs. Camiele Marie Claus, the wife of the late Joseph Camiele Claus, testified - I last saw my husband alive on Wednesday. I brought nothing to him, I spoke to him from the outside of that rail (pointing to the rail.) I knew there was no hope for him then. He never alluded to it. He seemed to be in good spirits all the time when I saw him. I spoke to himin French. He never intimated to me that he intended to commit suicide. I was very much surprised when I heard he committed suicide. Mr. Vipond told me on Sunday night at 7:30 o'clock that he had heard Joe was dead, and that he had heard he had taken strychnine. I asked him if he was sure. He said he could not swear to it, but he heard of it. The next man that spoke to me was Mr Stephenson, who told me about it this afternoon. After Mr. Vipond told me about it I did not converse with any one about it. I was not quite certain about it until Mr. Stephenson told me. He was always a long distance from me when I had conversation with him, excepting during the trial. I had carbolic acid and laudanum in the house, but when this trouble came on I gave it to my neighbor Mrs. Thick, because I was feeling pretty bad over the trouble. I also gave her a razor to take care of because I thought it was too dangerous. I never knew my husband to buy strychnine, or use any. I have a boy who will be five on the 19th of November, I have never been out of the District, excepting once to Victoria, when I went down to see you (Mr. Hussey). I have no idea how my late husband procured the poison.
[The evidence of Dr. McKechnie, Dr. Drysdale, Chief of Police Stewart, Sheriff Drake and Mr. F. McB. Young is laid over till next issue.)
The Jury at 8 p.m, returned the following verdict:-
"We, the Jury impannelled to inquire into the cause of the death of Joseph Camelie Claus, find that he came to his death by a dose of strychnine administered by his own hands, but how he came in possession of the same there is nothing to show, as the evidence proves that every usual precaution had been taken by the officials in charge.
"THOS. KITCHIN, Foreman."
Nanaimo Free Press (Nanaimo, B.C.), Wednesday, August 17, 1898

Coroners Inquest
(CONTINUED)

Dr. R. E. McKechnie testified - I was telephoned for at 6 a.m. Saturday and arrived at the gaol at 6:30. I found the deceased with a gaol guard on either side of him. I asked what was the matter and the deceased complained of palpitation. I felt his pulse and examined him, when he took a severe convulsion. I administered some medicine hypodermically, its object was a sedative effect. I then went in to the adjoining room and had a conversation with Chief Stewart. From him, and afterwards from the guards, I learned the deceased had had convuisions prior to my arrival. From this I watched the deceased closely. For some minutes he was in a very serious condition, breathing fast with a very rapid pulse. He was continually asking the guards to "hold him." During this time he had several partial convulsive seizures, and at 6:45 an exceedingly severe convulsion. I thought the man had died in it, and we proceeded with artificial respiration and brought him around.
I at once started the administration of chloroform and kept him more or less under its influence until 7:20 p.m., combining that treatment with hypodermic injections of morphine, and later on when his respiration waa failing; I also injected an injection of Bromede of Potasium and Chloral Hydrate. During this long time, whenever the administrativn of chloroform was relaxed the deceased would have convulsive seizures, or would get in such a nervous excited condition that the slightest touch would cause him to start as though about to have a convulsive fit. From 7:30 p.m., when the chloroform was started, up till 10:40 p.m., when he died, the treatment consisted of the died, the treatment consisted of the administration of stimulants as his pulse was failing. At 10:40 he had a slight convulsion and died, respiration failing before the pulse ceased.
This treatment illustrated, that in my opinion, that the deceased suffered from strychnine poison. This belief was strengthnened by the finding on the floor of his cell a small piece of newspaper on which traces of some white powder could be seen (paper produced). On tasting this material I got an an intensely bitter taste which left in the mouth and on the tongue an entirely different sensation to that of quinine, which taste it resembled. I might state that why I did not wash the stomach out in this case was from enquiries made, I learned that he must have taken the poison from 2 to 2¼ hours before I saw him. As the form in which strychnine is sold is in powder and crystals, both of which are very rapidly soluble in water and absorbed into the system, I concluded it was useless to try to find traces of strychnine at that time in the stomach.
To Supt. Hussey - The deceased made no statement. He refused to take anything by the mouth. I treated him for poison ...?... and have no doubt that it was strychnine.
Wm. Stewart, Chief Gaoler, testified - Prisoner Claus was delivered into my custody on June 21st last, and on the 30th June was sentenced to death. Previous to his conviction he was confined in a separate ward in the gaol with two other prisoners - Workman and Davis. The day before Claus was convicted, Workman was also convicted. This left Claus alone with Davis. After Claus was convicted he was returned to the same ward, Davis having been removed. The following day a day guard was put on him, so that the prisoner could be out of his cell during the day time. On August 2nd a night guard was placed on. F. English came first and stayed six days. Webster two days and Degnen the balance of the time. During July one of the guards slept in the guard room. I changed the prisoner's clothes on two occasions. I gave him a suit of prison clothes. I changed and searched his clothes well with Hamilton. I searched his pants pockets and lining, and turned up the bottoms of them. He had no visitors during my hours since his condemnation, except Rev. Cooper, Father Durrand, Bishop Perrin, Mr. F. McB. Young (his Solicitor) and Mrs. Claus. I did not go in with the clergymen. I took great precautions with his wife and had the fence made. On the first visit I placed it on the inside of the corridor, but finding it awkward I kept it on the office side of the door. The last visit she got a chair to stand on, so she could see him through the wicket. They made no signs to each other. Mr. Young came down and I went in with him, and nothing was passed between them. After I gave the other prisoners their dinner, I gave Claus his, and relieved the guard to go to his dinner. The prisoner always had a good appetite and up to the last day he had eaten a hearty meal.
To Supt. Hussey - He wore his own clothing up to the last, excepting one suit of under clothes. He was in good spirits until the Sheriff got a telegram that the sentence must be carried out. The night guards were instructed to prevent suicide. The only unusual thing reported to me was a pebble that the third guard heard thrown against the window of the corridor in which Claus was in. On Saturday morning about 5 o'clock, I was called by the third gaoler, who said Claus was complaining of palpitation of the heart. I thought little about it at the time, but he came up again and asked if he should go for Dr Davis. I told him Dr. Davis was away and to telephone for Dr. McKecknie. I dressed, came down and went into the corridor. I told the guards to take him out of his cell. He had two or three bad spells before the doctor came. I understood he was searched twice a day - both his bed and clothing.
S. Drake, sheriff and gaoler, testified: I had charge of the deceased one shift out of three in 24 hours. From the date of Claus' conviction I searched him every day assisted by the guard. Rev. Mr. Cooper is the only one who ever visited him on my shift, and then he had a guard with him.
Vernon Stewart, third gaoler, testified: He had been on duty since Claus was sentenced. I take alternate weeks ...?... hours from 4 to 11 p.m. and from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. for night shifts. I regularly searched Claus' person, examined his irons, cell and bedding. I was assisted by the day guard. I came on duty at 11 o'clock at night on Friday the 12th, and asked the guard - J. Degnen - if everything was allright in Claus' cell. He replied yes, but said Claus was a little uneasy. A few minutes before 12 o'clock, I went into the Corridor and talked with Degnen. About 2 o'clock I was sitting just opposite the cell door. Claus seemed to be very quiet all the time I was there. At 3 o'clock I asked Degnen how he was getting along. Degnen replied, saying "Claus was very restless." I told him to be careful and watch him closely as it was the first time since he had been here that Claus was awake at that time. At 4 o'clock I was sitting near the desk. I heard the clink of his irons as if he was getting out of bed. I got up and waited to hear if he was going out or not. He came out and I heard him go to the water closet. In a few minutes he returned to his cell. I took my seat at the desk. I heard the prisoner lift his irons up to get back into bed. At 4x:45 I inquired again, and Degnen said "Claus was very nervous, and was trembling." Guard Degnen called me at about 5:15 and said Clau was sick. I went into his cell and pulled the bed clothes down. I thought he might have done something with his hands from the way he was breathing. Just as I pulled the clothes down he had a very bad spasm. I asked him what was the matter with him, and he replied "my heart is broke." I asked him what he had been doing, but he did not reply. I then went for Chief Stewart and sent for a doctor. I touched Claus on the shoulder, and asked him how he felt. He then took another bad spell. I went into the cell and Claus said "hold my arm, the pains are coming on again, The Doctor arrived, and after he made the first examination, and after the Doctor was in the office, Claus asked me "if the Doctor was going to save him to be hanged." I did not reply. After a few minutes I came out and informed the Doctor and the Chief. Claus said he was sorry to leave his poor wife and child, and said he would give them a whole lot of trouble.
Fred. McB. Young, Claus' solicitor, testified - He had seen the deceased on three oveasions since he was sentenced. The first time I saw him in the corridor and told him the petition had been forwarded to the Minister of Justice at Ottawa. Guard McLean was present. The next time I saw him was in company with his wife. She conversed with him through the wicket of the corridor door. Chief Constable Stewart was present. The next time I saw him was when he executed the deeds conveying certain property over to his wife. I saw him in the corridor, Chief Stewart and Guard McLean were present. From the precautions which were taken when I was present it was absolutely impossible to give the deceased Claus anything without being detected,
Dr. W. F. Drysdale, who made a post mortem examination, gave a detailed statement, stating he found the body in robust and perfect bealth, excepting the stomach which showed signs of poison, and he had no hesitancy in saying the deceased died from the effects of strychnine poison.
Nanaimo Free Press (Nanaimo, B.C.), Wednesday, August 17, 1898

Jos. Camiele Claus, who, according to the sentence of the Assize Court, was to have been hanged in the Nanaimo Jail this morning at 8 o'clock, cheated the gallows by taking a dose of strychnine in the Provincial jail at 5:15 o'clock Saturday morning. The various provincials papers have published wild and incorrect statements indicating carelessness on the part of officials in allowing presents to given to the condemned man. One going so far as to say his wile Marie prepared a dinner for him last Friday.
The Coroner's inquest, which was held Monday and reported in full in the FREE PRESS, did not throw any light on the subject as to how he came in possession of the murderous drug. Supt. Hussey of the Provincial Police was present during the inquest, and elicited the fact that nothing except a small card with the picture of "Our Savior" engraved on it, a prayer book and a Testament were the only articles passed to the a prisoner, and those by the Rev. C. E. Cooper, to whom the finger of suspicion could not be pointed at.
It will be remembered that Claus murdered his two partners, Hendrickson and Burns, who were en route to the Klondike by the all Canadian route via Stickine River. The general concensus of opinion is that the suicidal-murderer received a fair honest and impartial trial and was given the benefit of any doubt, but the evidence throughout the trial was so conclusive that the jury had not the slightest hesitancy in bringing in a verdict of "guilty."
The remains of the murderer were buried Monday afternoon in the jail yard.

Supt. Hussey speaking of the suicide said the jail officials had taken all the usual precautions to prevent the murderer committing suicide, and he did not think any one was to blame. If one would stop to think of the small quantity of strychnine it requires to kill a man they would come to the conclusion that it would be possible for one to conceal it on one’s person without being detected. Dr. McKechnie says that 1/12th of a grain has been known to kill a strong robust person.
The general opinion is that Claus had the poison with him on his trip to the Stickine, and that he kept it expecting that he would have to suffer the penalty forthe murder of his partners.
Joseph Camille Claus, 1898. BC Archives Item D-04781