Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-05-31
TOM HIGGINS DEAD.
CHARLEY LEEPER SHOOTS HIN
THROUGH THE HEAD AND
SHOULDER.
The Affair Due to IntOxicatiOn-L Leeper
Released on the Ground that It was
Justiflable Homicide,

Thomas Higgins, the individual
referred to below, had not only "kill-
ed his man." bat several men, if all
accounts are to be believed. He was
quiet and gentlemanly enough when
sober, but very disagreeable. even
when drunk. For sever
al months he worked at ROoks's
mines, above ketchum, and never
left his work oftener than once
month, when he got paid. He would
then come down to Ketchum, stay
a couple of days, and go back to
work. During one of these trips,
early last November, he was ap-
preached by four roughs who wanted
him to join them in robbing the
stage. But he Indignantly refused,
and this refusal led to a shooting
scrape in which Higgins is supposed
to have shot one Of the roughs.
Since then he had disappeared, and
few knew what had become Of
him. 1t appears, however, that he
went to Bayhorse, where he got into
a quarrel and was killed. Following
is the Challis Messengers account Of
this last scrape:
At Bayhorse, on the 18th, at about
2 O'Clock, Tom Higgins made an as
sault on Charles Leeper with a
deadly weapon, ana was killed. The
details Of the affair as far as we can
learn them, outside of the evidence
which we will give precise, were as
follows:
On Tuesday, the 10th, he entered
Charley's saloon, after a few remarks
to the boys became boisterous and
abusive, and tried to break up a
game that the boys were playing.
This was, as he said, to try Charley s
nerve, as he had just opened the sa-
loon and was new at the business.
Tom had told Charley before, how
ever, how he had broken up Mike
Cary's saloon in Challis, and that he
would not let him make d-n cent,
either, but make him pack his blan-
kets out Of the place. So this com
ing in and interfering with the game
was the beginning. Charley finally
requested him to behave, whereupon
Tom said: Maybe you want me to
go out of you house?" ''Yes, Tom,
If you can't behave l want you to 60
out" II won't go out for any long
legged, tenderfoot son of-a-b-h?
Charley then knocked him down
with chair. He got up and came
for Charley, who caught him by the
throat and knocked him down again
with his fist. He got up and came
again, and he caught him by the
throat and struck him once more.
The other boys then took him away,
and they did not meet again until
Thursday. But during this time he
made various threats against Char
ley's life, and his friends went to
him and told him for Gods sake
to get. gun, for Tom was
going to kill him. As appeared
in evidence, he said: II was down
at Leeper's, drunk, yesterday, and
made a fool of myself and got licked
but am going to play to win, and
you bet I'll win! Self praise is ne
praise at all. Actions speak louder
than Words and when get ready
to act you'll see what l dor' 1t wa:
also proven he had possessed him
self with a pistol. Nothing more
happened until the fatal day. Or
that day, about two O'Clock, Charley
and VIM. Dunn went to the boarding
house to dinner. On their return t.
his place Of business, they were me1
by Higgins, James Moler, who was
walking with Higgins, and Geo. ia
coby, who was short distance be
hind. When about twenty PAGES
apart, Higgins raised the left lappe
Of his coat with his left hand, ant
began to draw his revolver with his
right, which he had some difficulty
in doing, and at the same time said
"Leeper! Charley Leeper, are yor
heeled?' Charley made him no ans
wer, but kept walking on. Wher
about ten feet apart, Tom had hi
pistol ready to shoot, Charley stepped
to the left of Dunn, he was walk
ing on his right, jerked out
self-cocker and shot him. He hat
his hands in his hands in his pockets
all the time Two shots were thel
fired simultaneously after whicl
Charley turned his side to Tom, ant
looked down, thinking that he wa
shot in the body, but it was only
slight wound on the left wrist. Ton
was trying to shoot again but wa
having some trouble with his revol
yer. Charley threw out his revolver
fired again and shot him through tn
head. Tom dropped his pistol an