The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-04-11
KILLED AT THE FERRY.
JOHN HARVEY SHOOTS AND KILLS
"BOBD OLIVER.

hlLLLD n lhb hAsot.
JOHN HARVEY SHOOTS AND KILLS
"BOBD OLIVER.
A Horrible Tragedy in the Wilderness.
| THE SCENE.
The "Missoula Ferry" is eighty miles be-
| low Missoula, where the old Mullan road
| crosses. It is is miles below Cedar, and 20
miles this side of Crows Nest. These are the
nearest points where people live. 1t Is an
isolated, lonely spot, where for months dur
ing the winter no one appears, and the ferry
man lives alone. Sandy Cameron formerly
owned it, but sold 1t last year to John Har-
vey, who went there to run it about four
months ago, and has since lived there alone.
Some time before that Michael Halpine, fer
ryman, was reported to have been drowned
there, but as he had some $4,000, it has been
surmised by many that he was murdered for
his money. The place is therefore consid-
cred "uncanny," and Harvey says before he
went there he was told 1t was dangerous
place, and warned against 1t; but as he had
never done anyone harm, and was used to
living alone, he was not afraid to 60 there
and take the ferry.
THE KILLING AND VERDICT.
On Thursday of last week he shot and
killed, at his ferry house there, "Bob" Oliver;
gave himself up; was tried In Missoula, be-
fore Probate Judge Stephens and jury de
iunatico inquirendo, consisting Of Drs. Hencke,
Bryant and Choquette, pronounced insane.
and on Wednesday was brought here by
Sheriff Berry, en- route to Warm Springs
Asylum. -s'.-
We visited him in Jail, and obtained his
story of the occurrence, which, as we have
reason to believe IL Is strictly correct, we
give below-premising with our view Of the
case VIZ. that, although of choice living at
the Ferry, and avowedly not afraid, he had
thought over the death Of Halpine thor
oughly, talked about it, and the possible ext
gency that might come upon him, until he
was normally in condition of high nervous
excitement, apprehensive and suspicious,
, and liable to misconstrue tho words or acts
of q visitor.
HIS STORY.
About the % or Sd Of April, in the even
ing, saw a man approaching near the st.
posed him to be an Indian. When he ap-
preached it proved to be white man, aged
45 or 30; medium weight, and feet or Z
inches high. He was wearing blanket
oyercoat; said he had come from Cameron's
cabin, at Cedar creek; was going to the C9ur
dAlenes, and asked If he could stay over
night. They went into the house and the
stranger for Harvey did not know him, and
says he does not yet know bis nance asked
il there had been any new mines found, say
ing he had heard that they had found creek
where they got ten cents to the pan. Harvey
replied he did net know of any place where
such a prospec, AZ that had been found, but
that his neighbor, Mr.. Cokely, at Crows
Nest had told him he knew Of creek where
he could get from one to fifty colors to the
pan In the gravel, and that there was gold
from the surface a. far as he had sunk
nine feet.
The stranger said he did not have much
provisions. Harvey then told him that he
was expecting Cokely over soon; offered to
outfit the stranger with -four, bacon, sugar,
coffee and tea, and when Cokely came they
would 90 with him and show him the place.
Ut appears Cokely and Harvey had already
gone over to Eagle City, hunting good trail
or line for a wagon road from the ferry to
Eagle; that this find was somewhere on the
road, and that they contemplated making %
acre locations on it themselves.)
The stranger replied that he didn't want
anybody in with him to cut him out. Har-
vey SAID he didn't want any interest with him
whatever; that II the stranger would stop at
the Ferry until he Harvey could 60 to Mis-
soula and return, and until Cokely came, they
would 90 to the C9ur d'Alene mines and
would leave the stranger where Cokely had
found the prospect, show him the place, and
that on their return Harvey and Cokely
would take adjoining claims to him. This
and other desultory conversation occurred
during the evening, the stranger saying he
did not know as he conld do as Harvey sug-
gested, but appeared to have the matter I'M
der consideration. The two then retired and
slept in separate rooms.
The next morning the stranger rose about
daylight; Harvey got up soon after, built
fire in the strangers room and one In the
kitchen, and began getting breakfast. The
stranger came into the kitchen and began
talking about the creek again. Finally he
asked Harvey II he would let him have his
gun, as he! wanted to hunt Harvey told
him he only had one gun and five cartridges.
lie says when the stranger began talking
about the gun 1t brought up in his mind what
he had heard about the Ferry being dan
gerous place. 1t appears that Harvey con-
sidered the bargain made that the stranger
should stop until his return from Missoulal.
wl.~s .h~at III
vey replied, go" The stranger then said
that he had sent his gun out from Cedar TO
Clemens, near Frenchtown, n few days be-
fore, and that among the traps he had left at
Cameron's were some 5O-caliber cartridges.
Harvey says he then stepped into the room
where the stranger had slept, brought out his
gun, stood it against the wall and said he
couldn't let any man have his gun. The
stranger then said that he was afraid to stop
there without gun; that he had been told
IL was n dangerous place.
Harvey says ~ asked him what danger
there was in stopping without gun; step.
ped back step or two and took the gun in
my hand. had the belt with the five car
tridges in 1t on me. took one out, placed
II In the gun and said didn't allow anybody
to have 1t. III he wished to stop would 60
up to Superior City or Missoula; that
would pay him for his time IL he would stop
there. The man said he didn't know M he
could do that that he was afraid asked
him, What are you afraid Of? He was stand
ing by the stove, six or eight feet from me,
as / said that I raised the gun. He started
toward me. told him not to come any fur
Their; to 'throw up his hands," He kept adj
vxncing, and caught hold of the muzzle Of
the gun, / thought as If TO take 1t from
me, and fred. The ball struck him, /
think, in the breast. He staggered past me
toward the door, and got out on the porch
that runs around the house as he turned,
going up along the house, stepped out and
fred again, striking him in the back. think
He then fell down. I got strand Of rope,
two or three or four feet long, crossed his
hands on his breast and tied the wrists to-
gether. While was doing this he asked
me 'sto finish him." Or ''put him out Of pain"
or something Of that kind.
Invent to the river, took the small boat,
crossed to the east bank and went toward