The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1882-11-06
A SHOOTING AFFAIR.
One Of Our Nest Prominent Citizers
Shot and Killed in a
Quarrel.
Verdict Of the CoroneFs Jur7 Finding
That the Deceased Game to his
Death at the Hands of
G.. A. Macarthur.
A DEPLORABLE TRAGEDY

We regret the necessity of publishing
the particulars of the shooting affair i'm
which James d. Russell, one of our
prominent citizens came to his death at
the hands of George a. McArthur.
1t would seem that the parties had
some business dealings, over which tbey
quarrelled. From what we can learn
Russell had advanced money to Ne
Arthur to clear off the Indebtedness on
his business on condition that he should
each evening turn over the receipts to
Russell's clerk until such time as the
amount was paid. Macarthur failing to
comply with his part of the agreement.
Russell took charge of the business.
On Thursday evening they had some
high words OH this subject, and on
Friday afternoon they met at Matt
Rademaker's billiard parlor, where they
commenced the quarrel which accord
ing to the evidence given at the inquest
resulted in Macarthur shooting Russell
three or four times, SO that he died al
most instantaneously.
Macarthur was arrested immediately
after the occurrence and was Yesterday
morning taken to Miles CITY. Fears
were entertained at one time that he
would be lynched, but the vigilance of
the officers III charge prevented this adj
ditiOnal crime.
Coroner IIersey being absent from
town Judge Olmstead acted rs coroner
and lmpannelled the following jury, viz:
F. Nj. French, 5. Deutscll, d. 4. Larson,
Nont L T,,lln I
Willard. Il. +. Allen acted as clerk and
took down the evidence.
The following is digest of the testi-
mony given at the inquest:
Matt Rademaker, the first witness
called, testified to the effect that on
Friday afternoon Russell and McArthur
were in his saloon where they COM
menced quarreling. They clincled and
fell on the floor. and witness assisted bp,
James W. Ward separated them. Rus
sell washed himself and walked out of
the rear door; Macarthur then proceed
ed to wash himself and while he was
doing so Russell came in with something
in his hand and struck at Mctrthur,
who drew revolver and shot Russell
III the abdomen. There were other
shots heard by the witness but he did
not see them fired.
James w. Ward corroborated Radn-
makers testimony and testified also
that Macarthur had drawn his revolver
partly out of his pocket before he and
Rademaker separated the parties when
they clinched and fell
DR.. Parker testified that being called
upon he entered kademaker's place,
where he found Russell lying upon the
floor groaning but pulscless, and Nc
Arthur sitting III Il chair near him with
a revolver in his hand Macarthur said.
81 shot him twice in the head; send for
an officer. ! shall not give up my
gun to any one but constable the
doctor then drew McArthur's attention
to the wound in Russelrs abdomen, and
asked if he had done that but Macarthur
either Of the wounds would be sufficient
to cause death.
Mr.. Hanson identified the revolver rs
one he had lost in McArthul's on the
36th Of October. 1t was 80 calihre,
five shot revolver.
The verdict rendered, ~ the jury was
to the effect that the deceased, J. q.
Russell, came to lis death by p;stc,
shot wounds at the hands @, 4. Ne
Arthur, and that the sct was committed
wilfl;,ly, feloniously and llnjustifaoly.,
The deceased was well and fayorably
known, not only here hIt IL the Blacl,
Hills where he was IN business for some
years. He leaves @ wife, who has the
sympathy Of tie entire c0nn9i;nitv to
NOUN his untimear end. Altogether
the affair and its, SAD conclusion. ere
most iameatah.e = IS the first dea,I-
by violence which i,as occurred II Bill
lings, ard We hope il viii be the last.
Too much cauno! he s.iG against this
practice os carving ere arms. Nj ne
cessity can be pleaded for Il, and the
results are such :atiairS IS this, which
plunge q whole community into tie
deepest glso.n