The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-05-19
A BLACK HILLS SKETCH.
A Drunken Tragedy and Frontier
Trial in Custer City.

A Drunken Tragedy and Frontie
Trial in Custer City.
| On the second of last month there occur
red tragedy at Custer City, the killing o
Alexander Shaw by his partner. The fol
lowing is from the Denver Neaos, and give,
| the full particulars of the shooting. L
says:
A party of men from Salt Lake and the
mines of Nevada came rushing into the
store, and, with loud, boisterous braggado
cia, took possession of the bar. Ranging
themselves in a row in it's front, they called
for "some o. that ar licker." Round
after round of whisky was poured down,
and stin they stood and talked and swore
and laughed. They had just arrived from
Cheyenne after twenty days voyage, and
were about to separate and each go his own
way, some to the north, others to the
south. and one or two to remain and this
was their farewell drunk. For fully two
hours they stood before the bar, pouring
down whisky, and about one o'clock start
ed for the door, where their teams stood
shivering in the storm.
Alexander Shaw and Tom Milligan were
partners, both from Salt Lake, both young,
rough, but affectionate friends, just on the
point of shaking hands before parting.
They reached the door and rushed forth,
shouting and yelling as drunken men often
do, and Milligan drew his revolver and
fred into the air.
"Fire lower Tom or you will hit some
of u.s.
Too late! the pistol was raised again by
the reeling man. There was flash, a
report-and Alex. Shaw reeled and fell
across the threshold of the door.
"GoodGod! Tom what have you done
Did you shoot Alex. Tom?" Said one of
the party.
Ono, b's only. possuming, boys" ans
wered ore. sect up, Cd d-n you,
Alex. and come take drink"
The reckless shooter staggered to the
PROSTATE Eorm which lay upon it's face, and
seizing him by the coat collar, turned it
over. A CHASTITY, sickening sight was pre-
sented toyiew. The pale face was striped
with blool, which oozed out of small
hole in ihe forehead. The bullet had
pierced through the brain, and had lodged
beneath he skull upon the back of the
head. FG a moment the drunken man
stared down into his friends bloody face,
then his countenance assumed deadly
pallor, hiseyes became fixed with horror
he was sober Turning round to his hor-
rifed companions he said-as he threw his
pistol down" Boys, I didn't go to do it,
I'll swear didn't mean to kill him."
Then bursting into tears he clasped his
hands to his face and stood sobbing like
child.
"He was the best friend had in the
world, boys, and loved him like broth
er. Oh, God, what have l done! What
have / done!"
"Let's hang him. suggested some ex-
citable individual behind the half-sobered
SIOup VI DdlG AbkAo AACAs
"No, no! None O. that ere business just
eetiipp, set ip GaRdt aRd L Isaia Pete MsJKGay
+ho grasp Of tho law.
"Who'n dare to arrest him?" said one
of the drunken Salt Lakers. You let go
of him, you Pete Mckay. You've no legal
authority to arrest him, SO just take your
claws off him or I'n-"
"This is my authority" said Pete Nc
Kay, drawing his pistol. 81 am citizen
of Custer, and intend to turn this man
over to the city marshal. Who dares to
interfere with me?"
"No onel" answered one or two OF the
bystanders, and half dozen pistols flashed
out from their scabbards and for several
minutes there was an ominous silence In
the group. It was a fine tableaux. There
lay the victim of drunken rufian's reck-
lessness, the brains slowly oozing out from
the hole in the forehead. Over him stood
the sobered rufian, pale and paralyzed
with horror, while pistol in hand stood the
merchant grasping the shoulder OF the
submissive Milligan; behind him a dozer
or more miners, hunters, and emtgrants
silently supporting the stern, determined
merchant, while opposite them were ranged
the Salt Lake party, irresolute and sur
prised. It was critical period in the his
tory of Custer. A shot from either sid'
world have resulted in a terrible slaughter
The least attempt to rescue Milligan woult
haye brought forth a volley. from the citi
zens and Judge Lynch would have oee'
called in to finish up the business.
MARSHAL Burroughs, late OF Denver, TOOL
charge Of the prisoner. A jury was a
once empanneled and frontier trial com
menced in little log cabin, the home
office. bedroom and courtroom OF tn
provisional judge. The trial was brief
the principal witness was the reporter
nearly all the other spectators present a
the tragedy were too drunk to rememoe
| what transpired. The six jurymen b1ougn
| in a verdict Of "not guilty" Then tn
acouitted man was re-arrested for shootln
within the city limits, and fined $40 an
costs. which was paid. and Milligan starte
| forth a free man, to drink, brag, and shoe
again, should the spirit prompt him SO
| do
| The Czar's Dreadful Walady.
The contemplated temporary retireme1
of the Czar of Russia and the regency