The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-04-01
HOMICIDE At pHILlpsnuRo.



On Saturday last Deputy Sheriff McTague,
accompanied by John Sullivan, summoned to
assist him, brought into town and committed
to Jail Elisha Reed, who on the day previous
had shot and killed Eugene Garland at Phil
ipsburg. There had been ball in Philips
burg the night previous. Reed and Garland
We're both married men, the former having
three children. As will appear from the evil
dence given below, Reed desired Garland to
take his tReed's) wife TO the ball, but owing
TO the fact that Garland was going TO take
Mr.. Porter, who formerly lived at Reed's,he
subsequently, refused to have his wife gowi.h
them. All parties, however, went TO tho
ball and danced till late, Garland dancing
with Mrs. Reed, who Is spoken Of highly by
gentlemen from Philipsburg, and Garland
and Reed being apparently on the friendliest
terms. The next morning Reed insisted on
Garland telling him what Mrs. Porter had
said of his family, having, as shown in the
testimony of NJ. O'Regau, been suspicious
the evening before that Mrs. Porter had
mad. some remarks about them. 1t would
seem from the same witness that Garland had
stated TO Reed she said nothing about them,
and as Reed had been drinking after he left
the bail il il presumed Garland put him OH
as auy one would drunken man and had
gone about his rsdal business-delivering
meat in the neighboring camps. While he
WAS gone Reed wens to number OF persons
endravor;ng 10 borrow pistol, alleging as
his motive for waning il that he was going
mp to Georgetown; that he had recently
been there and had seen tome mountain IL
ons while passing through the timber and
desired to have something TO shoot with In
case he saw them again. Upon this repre-
senfafion he finally borrowed a large revolt
yer from party who knew nothing OF his
trouble with Garland. The subsequent
events prior TO the shooting are given IN the
evidence. Reed went from the Ecene OF the
shooting, pistol in hand, TO Biadshaw's
house, where his wife was She saw him
coming. went hastily TO room aud locked
herself in. Mrs. Bradshaw told Reed his
wife had just stepped out, and while he was
, still on the premises Deputy Sheriff Nc
Tague, who happened to be in town, arrested
AMI disasmed him.
A corouers jury was called soon after.
While the inquest wa. being held, and sub
sequeutly, the particulars of the case became
current and intense Indignation began to
manifest itself among the citizens. Nc
| Tague had intimations and apprehended a
rrScue of The prisoner and that he would be
| lyached, 80 it was necessary TO play rtlse on
the cilizen>. ia was therefore given out that
Reed would be kept there for a preliminary
| examination, although lie had waived the
IL. Il.
cod-blooded murder had no idea of his being
| run off until he was in the buggy at the
| livery stable. As they were about ready to
leave the crowd came streaming down street,
| demanding TO know by what authority Reed
| was being taken away McTague halted them
| at a little distance, announced his official
authority and a moment after the whip WIS
| put to the horses, which were sent on keen
| Jump the greater part of the distance for 12
miles, when night came on, and a., in case of
| pursuit in the dark night, Ii was deemed one
| of he officers had fair chance to escape
with the prisoner, the remaining distance 10
New Chicago was driven lcisurely. Reed
was a miner living at HaSmark and has the
reputation of being very disagreeable man.
Garland worked in NJ orse's butcher shop, was
well liked and bore good name. Reed al
Ieges that Garland himself spoke disrespect-
fully Of his wife, but the story is not believed
| Thee is no country where public sentiment
would more heartily endorse the action of a
| man in defending and avenging the fair fame
| of his family than this, but IL will not be ac-
cepted a. asubstitute to paIliate an uupro-
voked and eowardly murder.
The sentiment in Philipsburg was extreme
against Reed; but, however heinors his crime,
IL IL better that 1t should be adjudica-
ted in the courts by due process of law than
that violence should have been resorted to
to avenge it. Below are given the main
points of the evidence taken before David
L. Thomas, j. p. and acting coroner:
SUBSTANCE or TESTIMONY BEFORE coRo-
HER's JURY.
Territory Of Montana. 81
County of Deer Lodge, So
Thomas Mckay, Philipsburg, sworn, says :
About l o'clock p. IN, March ., 1881, Eugene
| Garland came in from peddling meat. / saw
Reed coming up the street. Reed pulled out
| six->hoot..r and said to Garland: 81 waut
| the words you said last night" Reed fol-
| lowed Garland into this room with the pistol
in his hand. I heard them talking and in a
minute heard the pistol 60 Of Saw Reed
| come cut with pistol in his hand and ex-
! claiming -. Reed and Garland had
some words last night at the dance. Reed
| had been waiting for Garland to come home
| all the forenoon. Reed had been drinking
saw Reed and Garland talking this morn
| ing.
w. G. Bradshaw, Philipsburg, sworn, says I:
corroborate the statement of Thomas Nc
| Kay. There was no one in the room except
Eugene Garland and Z. Reed. When saw
! Garland he was not dead lived about five
minutes. Reed told me before the shooting
that Garland had reported vile story about
ms wife. 1 saw no pistol with Garland. He
was not in the habit Of carrying a pistol
There are no firearms kept in the room where
Garland was shot
Thomas McTague, Deer Lodge, sworn,
says: arrested the prisoner, Il. Reed. Rob.
Mcdonald called me, saying that Reed had
killed Garland. The pistol, which present,
| | took from Reed. There had been but one
| load fired out of IT. am Deputy Sheriff of
Deer Lodge county. When l met Reed he
held out his hand ; he made no resistance.
| Thomas Holmes, Philipsburg, sworn, says
About one o'clock p. IN. l saw the wagon
come down street with Eugene Garland and
NJ. O'Regan in it. Saw Reed talking below
the butcher shop. Az soon ~ the wagon turn
ed around saw Reed walking toward 1t.
/ i saw Reed with pistolin his hand drawn
upon Garlands face. Garland got out OF the
wagon. Saw them walk into the butcher
shop. Reed was behind Garland with the
pistol in his hand. In about minute and a
half / heard the shot. Saw Reed come out
Of the shop with the pistol in his hand and
| GO down street with il in his hand 1 heard
Reed say: "He told me lies big lies
cannot stand IL; will make him take 1t
back" Reed said: "To-night Garlands wife
shall be y widow" This conversation occur
red in the forenoon.
DR.. q. N. Bowie, Philipsburg, sworn, says :
/ A little after one O'Clock p. m, while talking
to gentleman in my Office, heard pistol
/ discharOed Was called soon after by Mr..