CSI Klondike: Suspect Interviews I

Suspect Interviews

North-West Mounted Police
YUKON TERRITORY
Frank Davis | Kitty Moore


Interview with Frank Davis
Date: August 4, 1899
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Gold Bottom - Frank Davis' claim
SH: I noticed you've been doing a clean-up, how's the ground panning out these days, Frank?
FD: Oh it's still pretty good, but not as good as Olsen or Shorty's claim above. You know, when I met Olsen last summer right after he got to Dawson,
he didn't know nothin' about placer mining. It was me that got him started and told him about the claim being open below me. By God! I've had enough of this place,
it's changed with all these new folks comin' in. I'm gonna sell out and move on for somewhere quieter.
SH: I guess a lot of the old timers feel that way, Frank. Can you tell me where you were the night of August 2nd?
FD: I was at the Monte Carlo, playin' a few hands. Olsen was there too, all liquored up and lookin' for a fight. He accused Larkin and me of plotting to get his nugget.
SH: Why would Olsen think you were after his gold?
FD: I know Olsen was digging on my claim. That nugget came out of my paydirt. I tried talking to him, but be wouldn't own up.He just got angry and picked a
fight with me. See what I mean? These new fellas have no sense of honour.
SH: What time did you return to your claim?
FD: Let's see. I remember sayin' "how do" to Mrs. Dayton, on my way through. I guess that would have been around noon on the 2nd.
SH: Where were you in the early morning of August 3rd?
FD: I was still here at the claim.
SH: Well Frank, don't think about leaving until this business is settled. Oh by the way, Frank, did you see Olsen after your scuffle at the Monte Carlo?
FD: Well, yes, I did stop in on the 2nd. I offered to cut the deck for the nugget - let Lady Luck settle things. He offered to blow holes in me so I just left. I was
thinking about taking it up with you boys but I guess it don't matter much now.

Interview with Kitty Moore
Date:August 3, 1899
Time:7:00 p.m.
Location:Monte Carlo Saloon.
SH: Miss Moore, I understand you were seeing a lot of George Olsen.
KM: Yeah, I spent lots of time with George. He liked me and treated me pretty good.
SH: Did you see him the night of August 1st?
KM: Sure I did. Everybody at the Monte Carlo saw us together. That was the night George told me about that French gent he traveled with last year. The two of
them hooked up in Dyea. The deal was, George being pretty handy, he'd help the dandy with packin' their outfits over the Pass and building a scow at Bennett. In r
eturn, the gent lent George money to get through the customs checkpoint. You Mounties were turning stampeders back if they didn't have enough money to
pay duty on a year's worth of supplies. Well, when this fellow heard of George's lucky strike finding that huge nugget, he figured it was a good time to get paid back. He showed up at the claim last week and offered to take the nugget instead of money. I think George said the gent's name was Jacques Hebert.
SH: I'll be sure to check into your story, Miss Moore. Now tell me about the night of August 2nd.
KM: I was working the floor at the Monte Carlo, you know, as usual.
SH: I understand Joe Larkin had a private room that night.
KM: Oh yeah, sure, I did work Joe's party. He asked for me and a couple of the other girls. Lots of the boys were there. They were in and out all night. It was pretty
wild right through till 6 in the morning.
SH: Miss Moore, can you think of any reason why someone would want to kill George Olsen?
KM: Well, aside from the French gent, I guess there was a bit of fuss about who the nugget belonged to. Joe, the hired fella, said George could afford to give it to
him and that after all be spotted it. That old timer, Frank Davis, swears the paydirt came from his claim. But it don't matter. George promised the nugget to me
and I intend to claim it.