Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-05-16
Chns. Clay, his AssaiIant. shot
Another Bloody Chapter in the History Of
BszamEn.

AithoaTn BoZeman has acquired an unen
!. viable reputation abroad tor being The theatre
Q OF scenes OF bloolslled and murder. ",
doubt Il there is. generally speaking, Il NOR.
quiet and orderly people, or a town be airing
less evidence Of rowdyIsm. in the west than
IS observed here. The recent outbreaks. re
suitIng IN fatal difficulties, cannot be traced to
the effects OF dcmo allied state Of our so.
ciety, nor the harboring of llccntious in.livid-
uals. We are probably as free from such
characters as any other town In the Territory
But that many fatll diff .Hlties have recently
occurred IN our community is well known
iacs. y IS not, however, our province as a
reporter, 10 Point out the several causes
which have led to them, but to chronicle In ir
occurrence, leaving to the courts to ferret
out the evidence, and punish the guilty.
The last case occurred lii this place Sat-
trday night last. AS near as we can learn
the following are the facts: About 10
O'Clock on that evening, Charles Clay came
Into the Exchange saloon. apparently under
the influence of liquor. where he met L. o.
Holt, aad insisted on the latter drinking
with him, whirh Holt refused. Clay i'm
mediately commenced abusing Holt, and
finally slapped him in the face, whereupon
Holt gave him blow on the head with his
mace. It seems That Cay then proceeded to
the North Pacific Hotel. Iwllcre he was EN-
ployed as cook, and procured large butch
CT katie. lie found Holt m the Kiyus Sd
loon, and entered. Mr.. Worsham. the pro-
prietor, having heard the previous difficult
ty between the men, cnfleavorcd to put Clay
out, but the latter insisted that Holt and he
were then friends, and that he had only
came in tor drink. Clay had his coat of
which was thrown over his left arm, and the
knife was concealed in lis left hand Iiolt !
was sitting quietly on |: de table, smoking
when Clay approached him in friendly
manner, and asked him to drink. On Holt
declining, Clay, who hau approached near
enough 10 touch Holt, throwed the latter
back agai st the wall with his RI Lit arm aud /
stabbed him with the knife In his left hand. |
The knife entered just above tie navel, and |
penetrated about six riches. Clay ran inn
ncdiatcly at er pcrpetrating tEe deed, and
Holt fired at HIM jusi as he had goS out of |
the door, the ball passing through the glass
door, and it is supposed taking effect in
Clay shoulder. Holt then followed Clay,
both running down Main street. Holt dis
charged five shots from his revolver at the
Clay, Oaly one of which took eff
ect. Which was Undoubtedly the first. After
-uhnllig almost two squares lIclt fell ex-
iausted, when he was carried to his room.
here he Eow lies in a precarious condition.
J!ay was arrested and is now In jail. Owen
holt Is well known throughout the Ter
'tory. For tie past four years C has "a
ed us private watchman and policeman of
SoZeinan, and Is also 4 Unstable of this pre-
met. lie has always discharged his duties
and has enjoyed the full confidence
nj esteem Of our people. Charles Clay has ,
cen III this community about one year we
e.ieTe. during which time he las been en-
l'yed at Fult Ellis and this place as cook.
lie IS reported TO bea quiet, inolfensive n,ai,
'hcn sober, but Il terror when drunk.