The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1885-05-02
The Killing Of Neil Limo.


The Killing Of Neil Limo.
Enterprise Extra, April g.]
; On Saturday evening last Neil Lar
was shot and killed by Fred P! johnson
in Lee & Sanborn's formerly Jol,
, Smith's) saloon, in Bozeman. Lane an
: johnson were partners in the saloon bus
: ness in Cooke, for a year previous to tn
first of last winter. Lanes vie was wit
him in Cooke; he suspected her Of inf
+ deity and she feared and probably hate
him. She seems to have tholght more Q
johnson than of her husband and tol,
johnson Of Lanes plans to c,eat him ou
of his property. Quite early last autumn
Mrs. Lane went to Iowa to visit relatives
Lane came to Livingston aortly afte
and remained here, leaving johnson ii
charge of the business at Coke. Wher
times got dull johnson close the bust
ness and Lane subsequently ccused him
of having sold partnership poperty for
his own profit. In Decembr johnson
went east. In January Lane got letter
from a sister of Mrs. Lane STANG that the
latter had joined johnson aSioux City,
and with him started for sole unknown
destination. Lane was almCt wild with
anger. His wife, before tn elopement,
had obtained his signature t, the convey
ance of property which she claim
ed to be selling for MS benefit;
johnson, according to LaB's story, had
obtained all kinds of favors irm him and
then robbed HIM and eloped VIII his wife.
About a week or ten days ap johnson
came back from the east and wnt to Boze-
man. Lane had been in Cooktand came
down from there on Thursday. He heard
Of Johnson's presence in Bozman, tele-
graphed over to assure himsel of it and
on Friday went over. Thouglno one in
Livingston seems to have heardane avow
his intention of killing JohDn it was
pretty generally understood hat there
would be blood shed when the met.
Constable John Wlmett, of livingston,
was in Bozeman at the time the shoot
ing and his story of the occurrace we will
present. He says:
"About 4 o'clock in the afte1oon I no.
ticed Lane and johnson conc 1t of Billy |
Blacks wiping their lips as. they had
been drinking together and falling quiet
ly. concluded they had nde up the
quarrel between them. l wa:ed to Lee
& Sanborn's saloon and wer in there;
almost Immediately Lane and Jhnson and
several others came in and, th,drinks be-
ing called, as many as ten or alien went
to the bar. johnson was at tn end of the
bar, I was next him and Lanews short
distance away. A few moment before
Lane had asked me to stay aDud: but I
was interrupted before I c'ul' get a
chance to ask him what he waite me for.
l presume he wanted me as wtHss if he
killed johnson as he doubtless minded to
do. As l stood beside johnson the bar
we were talking. johnson sail tat Lane
wanted to kill him; he said he vs hard ,
man but he was not afraid of In. While I
we were talking Lane came tween us
and said to johnson: "You'r stuck on
killing me amt you3" JohDn said he {
was not and did not want toljure him. I
Lane said, "Are you heeledf johnson ,
replied eyes" The latter Wa facing the
bar with his elbows resting uro it. Lane !
reached out to feel of Johnson hip pock-
ct where the gun was and, a.he did so,
johnson turned around quicly with his
back away from Lane. AS he id so Lane
with his left hand caught and ripped the
three middle fingers Of JohDon's right
hand. Lanes own right hand ested upon
his gun in his front pants picket, but
Johnson could not easily reach or use his
gun while Lane held his right hand.
While they were in this positin Lane be-
gan abusing johnson most shanefully; he
spplied to him the most horribly obscene
language, in the way of names and accu-
,ations, that could be imagined; he aunt-
ed him in every way; he repeatedly asked
him to draw bis gun and fight it out
dared him to do SO. Johnson said little
Or nothing in reply; Lane was gripping
his fingers so tightly that the ends Of them
were turned black and looked ready to
burst. tried in vain to get them to stop
the quarrel and, not wishing tobe witness
of what was likely to occur, ! walked out.