The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-10-26
A DARK BLOT.
Three Cowboys Shoot and XIII Prominent
Citizen.
GieBdipe Times. Oct. Goth,

Giendiue Times, Oct. 10th.
We have heard all sides In regard to the
shooting affair on Monday morning and will
endeavor to produce the whole story rs 1t
happened. We do this regardless of any
ones ideas or feelings and with deliberate
intention Of placing the cold facts before 4
public who have listened to all kinds of
yarns.
Three Texan cowboys, in the employ Of
Scott & Hanks, left Keith on Conductor
Browns train for Glendive some time on
Sunday afternoon. We were informed at
Keith that they came at the wish Of Brown,
who passed them to Glendive free. Whether
he had his plans laid and wished the town
taken or not we win not Judge. However,
there is but little doubt that he brought them
up free and remained with them until the
shooting. On their arrival here they pro-
ceeded to bowl up. The first transgressien
that we can find was the shooting of sign
by the smaller of the three. Sheriff Taylor,
who was in the Star saloon ut the time, play
ing the popular game of stud poker with one
of the trio, arose and went out, meeting the
offender. He caught him by the collar and
the revolver, and endeavered to tell him to
be quiet, also that he was the sheriff. At
this he was covered by the other, w':o had
followed from the saloon, and told ts let up,
which he promptly did, and received a blow
with the butt of q revolver from cowboy No.
l. The sheriff made ne attempt to arrest at
this time. The trio then repaired to the Star
and carried things with high hand, order
ing drinks for the crowd, including the sher-
If. They paid literally for what they Or
dered At this time the under sheriff was
present and the night policeman Boyd came
and went several times. No effort seems to
have been made to arrest them. We jump
over q space of from half to one and q half
hours, during which the cowboys were some
times separated and their guns were fire.
quently in their holsters. The cowboys
finally went over near the freight depot, &C
companied by Conductor Brown. In the
meantime posse was collecting behind the
stairs at Pontet & Gallagher's corner, and
the command to "hold up your hands" was
given tyou will notice that this is the road
agents command). At this the cowboys be-
gan to retreat, and the posse to fire upon
them. The cowboys crawled under the
trucks Of freight car and waited. After
from twenty-five to fifty shots had been fred
the crowd, imbued with some courage, scat
tered and made their way to the freight de-
pot. Mr.. G. s. Willicombe, accompanied, at
quite distance in the rear, by tive others,
one of whom was John Boyd, approached
the car where the cowboys were, placed his
hand against the side Of the car and peered
hAr hnx ,olv~ ID ltnv
three shots, going through his heart and
breast scarcely one inch and half apart,
and either one would be fatal. At this his
companions reiterated. What the balance of
the crowd were doing at this time is not def
mite, as each man seems to have been his
own keeper, but presently they found them
selves safely on the street or behind shelter.
1t does not seem to have been known at
this time that Mr.. Willicombe was shot.
There seems to have been q report to that eff
feet and contrAdicted. However, from fifteen
to twenty-five minutes after he was killed his
body was recovered. The crowd leaving ut
the time of Mr.. Willicombe's being shot gave
the cowboys clear field and they left for
the bluffs. Mr.. Willicombe's death seemed
to have effectually quelled all desire on the
part Of the posse to again search until morn
ing.
From all the inquiries we have made we
cannot discover that any attempt was made
to arrest the cowboys or any demand on the
part of the officers for their surrender The
only time they were asked to give themselves
up was the command by Mallory (who seems
to have had more sand than the oficers) to
throw up their hands, and this was immedi.
ately followed by firing.
That morning after daylight ope of the trio
appeared at the depot to catch train. He
was covered by Mallory with q Winchester,
with tho order Glands up" It was q dead
sinch and he complied, being Immediately
covered by the under sheriff and Morris Cain.
Two were still at large, and two posses were
sent to Keith, one on horseback and the
other by train, but they were not found. In
the afternoon Billy Allen and Bert Coleman
were hunting for q horse on Sand creek when
they discovered the two cowboys. Return
ing at once they reported and posse was
made up, which forum ately found them
asleep and at once took them In.
The sacrifice of a life was entirely uncalled
for, and the whole affair is dark blot on our
usually peaceable town. After q careful con-
Of this affair and how it was con-
Quoted, we want to 60 on record that court
Of law will not convict them of murder.