Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-12-18
AN ACQUITTAl.
The Montana Cowboy who Killed
Man in Pennsylvania is
Cleared b. the Jury.
Josh Sharp Defends Him in a
Mastery Manner and ]. M.
"Puts Up"
JIM sHARP's PROTEGE.

concerning the trial ana scquittal Of
Tommy Welsh for the killing Of Diggs
Little last September says:
Ihos. Welsh, of Miles City, M. T.,
was placed on trial here for the mur-
der Of Diggs Little, of this place, on
the 22nd of September last. Welsh is
young cow boy who came east last
June with James Sharp. who owns n
horse ranch near Miles City. Sharp
brought several carloads of horses east
with him for sale here, and Welsh,
who had been in his employ, came
along in charge Of the horses, Ms a
breaker. He is only 20 years of age,
stout aud strongly built, dark COM
plexion, with handsome black hair In
clined to curl. His father was an
Irish sergeant in the regular army, in
Col. Mobiles regiment, and his mother
was hslf.breed. Welsh's father and
mother were married in one of the In.
dian settlements In Walls Walla.
During all last summer young Welsh
was here in charge Of his employers
horses. He always dressed In COW
boy costume, was an expert horseman
and attracted much attention by his
dress aud manner OF riding.
He soon won the attention of some
dissolute women, among them Ida
Bricker. the mistress Of Diggs Little.
the man who was killed. The girl
was fascinated with Welsh, and soon
obtained a strong hold over him. She
gave upLittle at once, although he had
supported her for long time and
given her every comfort. The cir
and the COW boy became more and
more intimate, while Little grew
frantic with jealous rage. He warned
Welsh away from the house where b,
kept the woman, and the men haC
frequent encounters and quarrels, bul
no serious difficulty until the night oI
the killing. On this occasion, accord
ing 10 general testimany, Little &C.
costed the COW boy while he was walk
ing with the Bricker girl on the street.
Little caught hold Of the woman and
begged he to go back home with him.
The woman refused to 90 and stuck to
the COW boy. A quarrel ensued be-
tween the two men over the woman,
and Little started toward the other.
He was ordered to stand back and
then Welsh drew his revolver and
shot him in the abdomen, the ball
passing through the bladder and en-
trails, going clear through and COM
Ing out at the back. Little dropped tC
the ground in great agony, was carried
to his home and died two days alter
ward.
After the shooting the COW boy went
to the hotel where he had been stop
ping and gave himself up. He said b,
wasn't used to the eastern way of do
ing such things up, and that Little
after being shot, ran around like
chicken with its head cut of. Tn
weapon he used was q 45-calibre Colt
revolver, six-shooter, which the Gov
boy had carried in belt about hi
body ever since he had been here. II
was placed ia jail to await trial, ar
the woman was imprisoned at th
same time with him as an accessor,
the allegation being that she mad tol
Welsh to shoot Little.
The wounded man made a yer
damaging dying statement. Rsncl
man Sharpe offered heavy bail for tt
prisoners release and employed IN
best counsel oblainaEl lie to defend hin
Mr.. sharpe arrived from Montana an
announced thai he would expend n
the money necessary TO give the CO.
boy fair show, and employed th
leading counsel of this bar. Wells
and the Bricker girl came into couI
together. He had discarded his COZ
boy costume and was dressed IN fin
black suit, with q collar and hant
some tie and jewelry, and careful
combed and banged bair. This mad
great change In his appearance, an
won the sympathy OF a number OF lad
admirers who crowded the rear part 9
the court room. Welsh has all alon
had the sympathy OF the best peopl
here. He took the keenest interest u
all the proceeding and assisted hi
counsel In choosing the jury. tn
I girl was neatly attlred and presente
an attractive appearance. Both s.oo
up when srraigned, and In . clea
voice pleaded "Not guilty" to the In
dlctment charging them with murdeI
Welsh asked for . separate tria