The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1880-07-15


The other day we referred to the
death of Big Bill Smith, a sporting man
who resided here few years ago. The
particulars of the ARRAY which resulted
in ending his career, is from the Butte
Index:
About ten days ago party, consist
ing of "Big Bill" Smith, Jas. u. Ster-
rett, Ed. Slower, Georgia Gagan and
"2l Trix," the two latter of the demi-
monde class, left Butte for the Termi
nus On the road down Smith, who
was 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 system with
poor quality of whisky, which operated
a little too violently for his future we'll
fare. Smith became SO inhuman while
under the influence that he not only
abused the women most shamefully,
but compelled the men to act as his
vicious and maudin mind might direct.
He slapped Sterrett in the mouth, and
compelled him at the point of revolt
yer 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 peaceable man. Upon their
arrival at Browns bridge, some forty
miles from Butte, Smiths drunk was
still continued. It 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 entered the house of Joe
Brown, fired Off pistol, and used the
most indecent language. Doc. Glib
bons arrived about this time, seized a
Henry rifle, and forced Smith to leave
the house. After leaving Browns
house, Smith went to camp, but so
abused the women that they fled to a
house near by, but hearing he was COM
ing after them threatening to cut their
threats if he found them, they fled to
the prairie and hid themselves under .
fence ia the tall grass. Smith met Mr..
Brown in the street, had some words
with him, and without the slightest
provocation struck Mr.. Brown in the
face, cutting him quite severely, where
upon Mr.. Brown entered his residence
and armed himself with a needle gun
for defense against any other attacks
that might be made. just previous to
this, however, Smith had attempted to
kick in the door of Mr.. Browns dwell
ling. Sterrett retired to his blankets
and would have been quiet, but Smith
came around once more and requested
him to get up and assist in kicking
down the door. Sterrett positively re-
fused, whereupon Smith began abusing
him with the vilest OF language, and
followed it up by jumping on the bed
and stamping Sterrett in the face and
otherwise injuring him. Smith quietly
drew his revolver and swore he would
kill the -. Sterrett was too quick
for the desperate. and the first bullet
struck him under the right eye, the
second taking effect in the central top
of the head, dropping him instantly,
both pieces of lead having penetrated
the brain. Sterrett at once gave HIM
self up, was tried before Justice Avery.
who rendered q decision, after pre-
liminary examination, of justifiable
murder, and discharged the prisoner.