Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-14
A D-EsPERADc's DEATH.
How Mig Bill smith e ON I
Jamborec and Ended I'm Eternity

How Mig Bill Smith Went ON n
Jamborec and Ended I'm Eternity.
Big Bill Smith was at one time a resi-
dent Of Eureka, and is well known in these
parts. The following account Of his death
is from the Butte, Montana, Index Of late
date:
About ten days ago q party, consisting
Of "Big Bill' Smith, Jas. ID. Sterrett, Ed
Slower, Georgia Gagan and "21 Trix," the
two latter of the demi-monde class, left
Butte for the Terminus. On the road
down, Smith, who was a powerful man, got
drunk. While in Butte he was addicted to
the baleful habit of opium smoking.
After leaving he missed the deadly but
stimulating influence OF the poisonous
drug; and in lieu thereof charged his sys-
tenn with a poor quality of whisky, which
operated a little too violently for his future
welfare. Smith became so inhuman while
under the influence that he not only abused
the women most shamefully. but com
PEELED the men to act as his vicious and
maudlin mind might direct. He slapped
Sterrett in the mouth and compelled him
at the point of a revolver, to leave the
wagon and walk, and then again forced him
to get in and ride, in the meantime using
the worst Of epithets against Sterrett, who
is known as a peaceable man. Upon their
arrival at Browns bridge, some forty
miles from Butte,
SMITHS DRUNK
Was still continued. 1t seems the party
wished to cross Browns bridge and camp
beyond, where Smith would run short Of
whisky, but Bill insisted that they should
all stop where he chose to locate. After
clustering about for half an hour, he en-
tered the house of Joe Brown, fired off a
pistol, and used the most indecent lam
guage. Doc. Gibbons arrived about this
time, seized a Henry rife and forced Smith
to leave the house. After leaving Browns
house, Smith went to camp, but so abused
the women that they fed to a house near
by, but hearing he was coming after them,
threatening to cut their throats if he found
them, they fled to the prairie and hid
themselves under a fence in the tall grass.
Smith met Mr.. Brown in the street, had
some words with him, and without the
slightest provocation struck Mr.. B. in the
face, cutting him quite severely, where
upon Mr.. B. entered his residence and
armed himself with a needle gun for de-
Tense against any other attacks that might
be made. just previous to this, however,
Smith had attempted to
KIcK IN THE DOOR
OF Mr.. Browns dwelling. Sterrett retired
to his blankets and would have been quiet,
but Bill came around once more and re-
quested him to get up and assist in kicking
down Mr.. Browns door. Sterrett posi-
lively refused, whereupon Smith began
abusing him with the vilest of language,
and followed it up by jumping upon the
bed and stamping Sterrett in the face and
otherwise injuring the man. Smith quietly
drew his revolver and swore he would kill
the. S~terrett vas too quick for the
desperate, and the first bullet struck him
under the right eye, the second taking eff
feet in the central top of the head, drop
ping him him instantly, both pieces of lead
having penetrated the brain. Sterrett at
once gave himself up, was tried before JUS
tice Avery, who rendered a decision, after
a preliminary examination, Of iustiiable
murder, and discharged the prisoner.