The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1879-05-02
Salt Lake Tribune. 18th.

TORN TO PIECES.
Salt Lake Tribune, 18th.
On the evening of the 9th ult. sever;
gentlemen were exchanging raillery in on
of the business houses on Main street, ,Silve
Reef, when we were startled by report q
firearms under circumstances shat told to
plainly to the experienced residents of
mining camp that the doom of human be
ing had been sealed.
Hurrying into the streets for mlnut
the silence seemed, remarkable, yet some in
terest appeared to concentrate in q groul
of men in front of MilIer's saloon; the mum
Der was fast increasing !. people came eau
tiously back from cross streets and vacan
places to which they had fed from dread
full scene. Nearing the spot where the in
| terests centres number of men are met
they are bearing between them the body o
large and powerful man; it is the body o.
John Diamond, Deputy United States Mar
shal. of the Second District. Another
squad similarly burdened are just dis ap
pearing in the open door of a store across
the way; the man they are carrying il
named Columbus TRULY.
The history the dreadful affair is as fol
lows:
Some papers emanating from the Second
District Court were served by Diamond or
the occupants of the Manhattan mine.
TRULY was present during Diamonds visit,
and challenged Diamond to mortal com bat.
Diamond declined for the following rea-
sons !: First, that the presence of several
armed desperadoes, all friends of TRULY, did
not warrant the anticipation of an impair
tial conflict; secondly, that the discharge of
his official duties did not necessitate any at
tention to challenges of that nature and
thirdly, he held no animosity towards Tru-
by, and entertained no desire to ipjure
him.
On the evening before stated, criminal
trial was progressing in large room in the
rear of Miller's saloon. The persons, West
fall and Kirk, being notorious in the vicini-
ty, and the circumstances of their arrest
peculiar, interest in the proceedings filled
the room to overaowing.
In his capacity as Deputy Sheriff, Dia-
mond requested several gentlemen to re-
move their hats. Truby having been also
notified, replied: "You come outside and
take it off," Truby then left the hall. On
the sidewalk he was heard to say: If that
s. of b. comes out here will fill him
with lead" A bystander demonstrated
against such language, on the ground that
the enforcement Of respect and order in the
court room was in the Marshal's case an
imperative duty. With his hand on his
pistol the desperate paced the sidewalk in
front of the saloon, ever and anon reitera-
ting his resolve to exact vengeance for the
insult offered him. And where was the of
ficer during those proceedingsP
Standing motionless and silent at his post
IN the court room, his sensitive nature
writhing under the reflection that his for
'earance would be interpreted by specta-
obs as rhe result of paltroonery.
Ii had already been whispered among the |
audience that the officer had been bluffed |
md the sueer of contempt encountered on
he faces of his enemies rendered his exas-
'eration almost unendurable. As though |
o fire the we'll laid train, a sense OF his dan
,er was communicated to him and with a
MEN such as Vernet would impress on the
most prominent figure in scene OF carnage
nd with an expression containing the
Vords death OR duty, the intrepid officer
walked out to die.
In the doorway they faced each other,
diamond demanding Truby's pistol. Tru-
y's hand few to Diamonds breast two
udden flashes, two quick reports, and two
alls tore Diamonds heart into shreds.
'hen Diamonds weapon cleaned in bis
and. TRULY made an effort to grasp it,
ut shot broke his wrist. Then TRULY
nth his lacerated arm attempted to ward
IF the pistol, but Diamonds arm encircled
is body, his weapon barked again, and in
he region near the spine, bullet entered
he desperado's yitals. The Texan now at
empted to turn, but the lrishman collared
i'm, raised his glistening weapon, and
hot ploughed through his antagonists
eek. Gathering their energies for final
fort, each placed his revolver against the
ther's breast, and the last chamber was
mptied of its contents. Then Diamonds
old relaxed, each reeled and dropped, face
pward, on the earth, Truby dying, Dia-
lond dead. The panic-stricken crowd had
ed in terror from the scene. The clothes
both men were on fire.
John Diamond was native of Ireland, at
ne time of his death 90 years of age. In
ersonal appearance he bore striking re-
to John Morrissey.
1t is said of him that during his eight
ears residence in Phoebe and Silver Reef
0 was never heard to boast of his power,
nd. indeed, so constantly silent was he on
lis point that numbers of his friends even
oubted the existence of such a quality as
,urage in his nature. And it was not un-
u Alt6E bklt Btfd EAfskFh-0 bfftSGQJ
hen Diamond first gave evidence of the in
exible resolution he possessed, that even
is enemies were driven to the belief tina t
ohm Diamond would tread the path of
uty were it strewn with the embers Of
ell, John Diamond was the bravest man
iat ever trod the soil of the Pacific Slope,
as the verdict of the grief-stricken COM
lnDlty, as in subdued tone they alluded to
10 terrible calamity, and as sincere a
hristian as ever bent knee before
lrine. As for his adversary, it has been
demonstrated that he never anticipated re-
stance, believing that Diamond would
rop dead at the first Ere, giving him OPP
to dash off in the darkness, while
number of confsderates present could
,eate an amount of confusion TO battle pur-
lit. j. A. BATEsoE.
RUSSIAN TRADITION In Russia taxes
q collected in this way: A peasant, rep
sentative OF district. comprising sever
villages, is charged with the duty Of coll |
- <Sr.< - II