Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-11-06
Local Matters.
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY,
Vim. Roberts and Eli Keeney Killed
at the Hands Of Each Other.

m. NOOertS ana Eli heenPy KILLED
at the Hands Of Each Other.
A double tragedy. in which two mel
met their death ut the hands of each other
occurred about six o'clock on Friday eve
ming last, in the Headquarters Saloo n
The circumstances. as near us we bav,
been able to gather them, We're as fol
lows:
On Friday evening, in the IlcadGuarter.
Saloon. VIM. Roberts and Eli keeney
strangers to each other. had a dispute anc
quarrel, during which Keency called Rob
erts liar. etc. Roberts said, IL am |.
boy yet, but little more than twenty-one
but I'm man enough not to take the liz
from anyone He then asked kcency il
he was "heeled.'' Keeney said No.
Whereupon Roberts took off his revolver
and cartridge belt and handed them TO T..
j. Keeney, brother OF Eli, with whom he
was acquainted, TO hold, while they fought
1t out. They then engaged in rough
and-tumble fight, in which Kecncy came
out second best. keeney then lett the SAL
loon. and VIM. Roberts, his brother Sim.
and +. j. kceney stepped out on the side
walk in front Of the saloon, together.
Here +. j. keeney said to VIM. Roberts
''Do you know who that nan was YOU
just whipped?" Roberts said. No.
keeney then said. ''IIe is my brother"
My Cod" said Roberts, IF I'D known
that I'd have taken anything from him
+. J. keeney then said, That's all right
he insulted You and deserved thrashiny."
In a few moments the party re-entered
the saloon, where they were soon joine,l
by Eli keeney, who, it seems, had during
his brief absence. gone up street about
one and a half blocks to his buggy. in :
which his wife was seated, waiting for
him to 60 home. lie took his revolver
from under the seat and returned to the
saloon. rs above stated. On entering the
saloon he was met by his brother, +. j.,
who talked to him about the matter. tell
ing him he was making fool Of himself.
ETC., and endeavoreI to purs,lade him to
start for home. While they were talking
together, kecney advanced toward Rob-
'erts. who was standing at the corner of
the piano stand, and when almost close ;
enough to touch him. suddenly and nnex-
pccfedly drew his relolver and fired. the
ball taking effect in Roberts body. Blood ,
spoutcd freely from the wound, and the -,
man staggered. bat rallying. pulled his re- .
vOlver and fired ut keeney; both fell. :,
wnen Roberts fired at Kecney the second !,
time. In the meantime. and almost stimuli
fancously with the first shot fired by VIM.
Roberts, Sim Roberts also fired ut keeney.
Seeing his brother and his assassin both
lying on the floor. Sim commenced back
ing out OF the room. j. l.. SanbOrn. a
lcputy sheriff, then attempted TO arrest Il
him. bit Sim KEEP. him and others nj bay
BY firing his revolver over them, and under ;,
hem through the floor. lie then went to
Fridley Bro. stables, selected his horse, >,
carefully reloaded his revolver and started, =
needless of attempts on the part OF the
sheriff TO halt hmas he left the stable.
When the shooting commenced the sa- y
Don was full, but it WAS soon cmplied, Il
nd when the shooting was over. the o.
'uilding was promptly closed by the an
hOrities and the Coroner sent for. On his I'll
rival. the bodies were found just as they dt
ell, Roberts with one wound. the ball is
aving entered his body on the left of in
he n,edian line. just below the lower rib.
angling upward, cutting off the main ar ed
Try to the heart in its course and lodging an
the back. lie lived about ten minutes, nc
ut never spoke. III
An examination of keeney's body m
bowed him to be wounded i'm three places,
ny one of which would have killed him ar
most instantly. One shot had just Ii,
hipped his chin and then passed through an
6 neck, severing the spinal cord in its HI
usage. Another shot had entered the The
,ening OF the left ear, passed through the p)
wer portion OF the cerebrum and came
II Of the other side of the head. about
% inches back from the opening of the 49,
.llt ear. The other shot entered his ~
dy on the front edge Of the left shoulder. ed
also passed entirely through the body. IRE
eaking the backbone in its course and
ming ont of the back near the inside Of ""'
, shoulder blade. The shot through
. head, was undoubtedly fired by Sim =, i,
berts. The shot through the neck, by 1>"'
n. Roberts before he or Keeney had :.
len. and the shot through the body by val
n. Roberts. after both men had fallen L
position of the men. the course Of the itin.
and the hole in the floor. through viii
ich one ball had passed, leading unmis- isteI
ably to this conclusion. We give A
gram of the position of the men in the Mr..
ION, III the time of the sbOOfiny: son