The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-04-29
sHOr IN rHE HEAD.
Nell Lane Killed Instantly by Fred
johnson.

the heavy plate window of the Palace
saloon. "They have met" was the re-
mark Of almost every man who ran to
the scene. On the floor of the saloon
laid the dead body Of Neil Lane, by his
side large pool of blood, few feet dis
tant was Fred johnson with his revolver
in his hand. Marshal lakewood, who |
happened. to be in the room, at once dis
armed johnson and took him to the
county Jail. Lanes body was removed |
and an inquest held as soon as instruc
tons were received from Coroner Alton |
of Livingston. DR.. Chambliss was called |
by the jury and acting coroner, Justice i
Lidawick, and made an examination, |
after which the jury adjourned until the
following morning, when the following |
f'facts were adduced.
DIR. Chambliss, who was first called, |
swore that he had examined the face
and head carefully and found one wound |
bearing the character of a gun shot |
wound, the front of entrance being on
left side of face just below the cheek |
bone, conrsing through the head obli-
quely, fracturing the upper jaw bone on
left side, traversing the base of the brain, |
fracturing the skull, cutting the large |
making its exit on the right side of neck |
about two inches below right ear. This |
was the only wound found upon face or
head. Having the body stripped of its |
clothing, found another wound bearing |
character of gun shot wound. Entrance |
on right side on the line with the hip |
bone, midway between hip bone and
spinal column wound cousing down
ward and exit about seven inches from
entrance in the lower part OF the bullock |
on right side. First wound through the |
head caused instant death.
HOW IT WAS DONE.
Frank Hill, Marshal lakewood, Saint
claire and ]. M. Ponsford, testified that |
the shooting occurred substantially as
follows: Lane and Johnson were on |
11OLCutdA 6LIOCG 0CdI t1lC OOGCLIbh ~NbtA-
onal Bank. when Lane took hold of
Johnson and pulled him towards the
saloon. At the door they stopped and a
man tried to interfere, forcing johnson
to keep his pistol in his pocket. Con-
tinuing in their course until near the
stove. Johnson drew his revolver put
ting it close to Lanes face and fired. The
ball passed through his head, went
through the stove drum and struck the
wall. Lane fell forward on his face
then Johnson stepped forward, turned
and shot twice, one bullet entering and
passing out of the body. struck knot in
the floor, turned upward and passed
through the window. The other bullet
entered the floor without striking the
dead man.
WHY IT WAS DONE.
On January 2lst the CHRONICLE pub
lished the following:
Erred Johnson in partnership with Neil
Lane at Cooke City in the saloon busi-
AGSG 10 cAA0 AZ NV uPRCdbAG SA&etb
johnson has also left about $500 unpaid t
in Bozeman and other places. Mr. Lane
arrived in Bozeman on Friday and in
forms us that through preconcerted
scheme Johnson has joined Lanes wife
in Iowa and gone to parts unknown. This
seems apparent by the facts since eluci-
dated which goes to show that Mrs. Lane
sent back deed for her husband to sign
thereby transferring a farm to other
parties for the sum of $780,"
These facts were taken from Lanes
lips, who at the same time informed us
that it would not go well with Johnson,
if he ever caught sight of MIN. johnson
he said is bad man in his own estima-
ton, but it will never do for him to
''eross my trail" Since that time Lane
visited the CHoNIcLE Office and informed
us that he had heard indirectly from the
fugitives- at: Mankato, Minnesota, that
they had met with some difficulty in
transferring the property, and could
easily be captured.
On the 18th of April Johnson returned
to Bohemian, and in company with aman
named Casey registered at the LaClede
hotel from Minneapolis He at once
handed the clerk his revolver, OF 45-cali-
bre, very long, to keep for him. A few
days thereafter Mr.. Casey called for the
revolver and had part of the barrel cut
of. On Thursday Lane arrived in Liv-
ingston from Cooke City, and soon after
learned that johnson was in Bozeman.
He telegraphed over and was assured of
the truth ofthe statement, and on Friday
took the train, arriving here in the after
noon. He soon after saw Johnson, who
endeavored to keep out of his way. They
met however on several occasions, and
finally on Saturday afternoon retired to
private room where they agreed to set
tie matters temporarily until Johnson
produced the proofof his innocence. As
they reached the bar Neil turned and
called johnson liar, telling him that
they would settle the matter there and
then. johnson retired, followed by
Lane, who pulled him back with results
above
SINCE LANE ARRIVED
many have expressed their opinion that
there would be blood-shed, as both were
known to be desperate men, especially
Lane who has been on the frontier since
early manhood. Mr.. Ponsford of the
saloon locked the doors twice for fear of
encounter and momentarilly looked for
ward to the bloody ARRAY. Lane came
Missouri originally and for some time EN-
ployed by Meadow Bros. of this place as
wagon boss He was at Helena awhile
and when Miles City was first settled
started a saloon. He afterwards YVES
proprietor of the Palace theatre at the