Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-09-12
A DREADFUL TRAGEbY.
SiIas Ralston, Sheriff OF Gallatin Co.
Shot and Almost Instantly Killed,
While QncllfnE . Disturb
ance i'm ssGOv" VIII.
liamS' saloon.

-.
liams' saloon.
1t becomes our painful duty to feccr
one Ut the most sad affairs that ever belt
cor usually quiet and pe:iceable commun
ity.
Silas Ralston, Sheriff Of Gailatin Couu
ty, and one of Its most prominent and uni
versally respected citizens, was, on Thurs
day evening last; Shot and almost Instant!
killed with a pistol in the hands Of a saioo
keeper, N: T. Williams.
The circumstances attending this terri
bic tragedy are briefly as follows: Be
tween 8 and 8 o'clock on the evening O
the 9Th inst. bitter alteration took plac
between Col. Ira II. Pierce. lawyer o
this place, and NJ. +. Tor ''Gov.") Viii
liams, over game of cards, in the latter
saloon. This was continued with increas
ing vehemence, accompanied by the mos
abusive epithets, threats of personal VIC
lence and warlike demonstrations tor Som,
time, or until about 8 o'clock, when Sher
if Ralston stepped into the saloon for tn,
purpose Of quelling the disturbance aiit
preserving the peace. His presence at frs
appeared to have the desired effect. but
after the disputants had taken drink tn,
quarrel was almost instantly renewed
when Col. Pierce struck Williams a sever,
blow, hitting him just over the right eye
knocking him down and closing in upor
him. At this point, it appears, Sheriff
Ralston promptly interfered, and while il
the act of separating the combafants, viii
iiams instantly drew his revolver, tor tn.
purpose, it is supposed, of shooting
Fierce. and fired the fatal shot, which
took effect in the body Of Sheriff Ralston
who instantly fell, mort:,lly wounded.
Drs. Monroe and Garlner were prompt
ly stii,imoned to the side of the dying man
but he Was already beyond the reach O
human help or surgical skill. and he ceas
ed to breathe within twenty minutes aftel
the shot was fired.
Williams was Immediately arrested, dis
armed, and placed in the county Jail, te
await an examination before the proper
authorities, pending his trial at the Octo
Der term of the District Court.
1t is reported that Williams has been
drinking hard for some time past. and thai
he was considerably under the influence oil
liquor at the time of the fatal affiay. W.
say this much, so that we may nothing
extenuate nor aught set down in malice
The case will no doubt come up before thu
proper II. biiials and We have no desire te
prejudice the public mind for or agains
either of the parties implicated.
The body OF the late sheriff was re
moved from the saloon, soon after hi
death, and taken to the Laclede Hotel.
On the following day-Friday, 9Th inst
AN autopsy was performed by Drs. Mon
roe and Gardner. when it was ascertainec
that the ball entered the body, passed
through and fractured the left sixth rib
passed through the upper and middle lobe.
of the left lung, entering and passing
through the ninth dorsal vcrtebra sew
ering the spinal cord snd lodging in the
muscles of the back. Death was caused
by the severing of the spinal cord.
A Coroner's jury was held the same
day, which. after hearing the testimony in
regard to the fatal affray, returned the fol
lowing verdict:
TER. OF MONTANA, I
Co. OF GALLATIN.
An inquisition holden at Bohemian, In tn.
County Of Gallstin; Oh the 9Th day Of Sep
TENDER, A. d.. 1873. before me. A. d. Nc.
Pherson., acting Coroner Of said County
upeii the body Of Silas Ralston, there ly.
ing dead, by the jurors whose names are
hcreunto subscribed, the said jurors. upon
their 6aths; do say that the said Silas Raj.
ston came to his death from pistol shot al
the hands of NJ. r. Williams, of said town
and county, said shot having been fired by
the said Williams about 8 O'Clock, p. m., at
O'Dell Hall, Bozeman, Montana, on the 5tl,
day of Sept, A. D., 1873, with intent to
kill.
In testimoEy whereof, the said Jurors have
set their hands the day and year aforesaid.
John V. Bogert,
w. o. p. Hays,
Sam'l NJ. Reed,
James Warfield,
Richard Jockey,
Alfred Myers.
Dated; Sept: 7th, 1875.
The sad fites of sepulture, for the de-
easel; wsfe petfdrmed on Saturday last.
by the largest concourse of people
,ver called together in Boz.man for tile
purpose Of paving their last respects to the
OF the h3nBred dead: The finer
Il services were conducted under the di-
'ection of Bozeman Lodge No. Is, A. F. &
A. NJ, of which deceased was a worthy
md highly esteemed member. At precise
y 2 o'clock, P. NJ, the corpse. in sub
,tantial coffin. trimmed with black velvet
md elegant silver mountings, was solemn
Y borne to the NJ. E. Church, where
'ho-t, but very impressive religious SER
rice was conducted by the Ri. Rev. Bishop
futile. The chants and hymns selected
or the occasion, were soleinnly and per-
ectly rendered by the choir, led by Mrs. L.
J. Wilson. After the service at the church
he solemn procession was formed in the
blowing order:
lst., .Bozeman Silver Cornet Band.
2nd., Members of the Masonic Lodge in
ull regalia.
3d., County officials, with appropriate
,adges of mourning. i't
4th., Hearse with corpse and pall-bearers.
9TH, Citizens on foot. ''1fs
6th., Citizens on horseback. I" 49,"
7th., Citizens in carriages. 49,,
Notwithstanding the fact that the rain
vas pouring down copiously during the
ntire time 81 the funeral, as though the
dement's were in active sympathy with
.rief stricken community, the procession
vas very large, extending from the church
lmost the entire length of Main street. At
he grave the beautiful and impressive GER
monies af this Masonic Order were per-