The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-08-24
LIFE IN THE BLACK HILLS.

Wild Bill a Good Send Off-The Finest
Funeral the Country Could Afford.
IDeadwood City Cor. Chicago Inter ocean,
Yesterday afternoon about o'clock
the people of this city were startled by
the report of pistol shot in the saloon
kept by Messrs. Lewis & Mann. Your
correspondent at once fastened to the
spot and found J. B. Hickock, COM
monty known as Wild Bill, lying sense
less upon the floor. He had been shot
by man known as Jack Mccall.
A jury was convened which decided
that J. B. Hickock came to his death
from wound resulting from shot fired
from pistol in the hands of Jack Nc
Call.
A meeting was called during the eve
ming at McDaniels' theater, which was
given up by Mr.. Languishe for that
purpose. Officers were elected to con-
duct the trial, which was set for 9
o'clock this morning. Three men we're
also selected, one to &c up Whitewood,
another up Deadwood, and the third
down Whitewood, early this morning,
for the purpose of informing the miners
of the trial. At the time appointed, the
prisoner was led into the theater by the
guard, and in charge of Joseph Brown.
who had been elected Sheriff, and placed
upon the stage beside the table at which
was seated Judge Kuykendall and other
officers of the court. The Judge called
the meeting to order, and, in neat
address, asked the people to sustain
him in the discharge of duties which de-
volved upon him in the unenviable po-
sition which they had forced him to ac-
cept.
A hundred names were selected, each
written upon slip of paper and placed
in hat, from which they we're taken
by one of the committee, who had been
selected to draw the jurors. Nearly all
the list was exhausted before the jury
was declared full.
The first witness called was Charles
Rich, who said he was in the saloon kept
by Lewis & Mann on the afternoon of
the I'd, and WAS seated st table playing
game of poker with Wild Bill and
several others, when the prisoner, whom
he identified, came into the room,
walked deliberately up to Wild Bill,
placed q pistol to the back of the de-
ceased, and fired, saying ''Take that /"
Bill fell from the stool upon which he
had been seated without uttering a
word.
A number of other witnesses were ex-
amined, all of whom corroborated the
evidence of Rich.
The prisoner was called upon to make
statement. He came down from the
stage into the auditorium OF the theater,
and, with his right hand in the bosom
of his shirt, his head thrown back, In a
harsh, loud, and repulsive voice, with a
bulldog sort of bravado, said: "Well,
men, I have but few words to say. Wild
Bill killed my brother, and I killed him.
Wild Bill threatened to kill me if I
crossed his path. I am not sorry for
what I have done. would do the same
thing over again." The prisoner then re-
turned to his place on the stage.
The case having been placed in the
hands of the jury, the theater was
cleared, with the understanding that the
verdict should be made known in the
saloon where the murder was commit
ted. The prisoner was remanded to the
house where he had been imprisoned
during the night. At o'clock the
following verdict was read to the pris-
Oner
DEADwooD CRY, Aug. 8, 1876.-We, the jul
rors. find the prisoner, Mr.. John Mccall, not
guilty. CHARLES WHITEHEAD Foreman.
The prisoner was at once liberated.
After the inquest the body of the de-
ceased was placed upon litter made of
two poles and some boards-then pro-
cession was formed, and the remains
were carried to Charley Utter's camp,
across the creek. Charles Utter, better
known as Colorado Charley, had been
the intimate friend of the deceased for
fifteen years, and with that iberality
which is feature among mountaineers,
had always shared his purse with him.
Charley was much affected by the death
of his friend, and incensed at the villain
who had murdered him. A tepee was
pitched at the foot of one of the giant
trees which rise SO majestically above
Charley's camp. Preparations were at
once made for the funeral. The follow
ing notice was printed aud sent out
"Funeral notice-Died in Deadwood,
Black Hills, Aug. 2, 1867, from the
effects of pistol shot, j. B. Hickock
wild BilD, formerly of Cheyenne,
Wyoming. Funeral services will be held
at Charlie Utter's camp, on Thursday
afternoon, Aug. 3, 1876, at 3 o'clock.
All are respectfully invited to attend"
At the time appointed number OF
people gathered at the camp-Charley
Utter had gone to a great deal Of ex-
pense to make the funeral as fine as
could be had in this country. Under
the tepee, in q handsome coffin covered
with black cloth and richly mounted
with silver ornaments, lay Wild Bill, a
picture of perfect repose. The corpse
was clad in complete dress-suit of black
broadcloth, new underclothing, and
white linen shirt; beside him in the
coffin lay his trusty rife, which the de-
ceased priced above all other things, and
which was to be buried with him, in
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