David M. Fraser, a prominent Pierce merchant during the mining days, was murdered on Sept. 10, 1885 during the celebration of the Chinese New Year. He was sleeping in the backroom when the attack began as evidenced by the blood on his pillow, but there was a trail of blood to his mutilated body which was near the front door of his store. It appears he put up a powerful battle before succumbing to his wounds.

Originally, seven Chinese men were arrested and accused of the murder, but only five were finally charged. They were on their way to Walla Walla for trial when three miles out of Pierce, they and their guards met a group of masked vigilantes who put a pole between two trees, put up five ropes and hanged all the prisoners. The vigilantes were never caught. The Chinese men's bodies were buried in the Chinese cemetery in Pierce. As was custom, the bones were later washed and shipped back to China.

Some believed the motive for the murder was Fraser telling Indians that a Chinese miners and merchants were cheating them.

Fraser had a daughter, Alice, who was adopted by a Lewiston family and grew up there. The community of Fraser was named after him.

For more information about the incident see these web sources: https://www.noplaceproject.com/pierce or https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127185892/david-m.-fraser.

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