, 1888-02-09
SERIOUS SHOOTING.
1t Grows out of a Dispute Over
Land.
w. Il. Mills Of this City Killed
and Another Man Reported
Morally Wounded.

| Yesterday afternoon the startling re-
port was hurled over the telephone
line by Hon. M. NJ. Cowley, from,
Cowley's bridge, that II desperate shoot.
ing afiray had occurred ut farm near
,Newmrp's lake, which is some eight
miles south of the bridge, and very
near the Idaho line, in which w. b.
Mills, n son-in-law of II. N. Muzzy,
one of the oldest residents of this
place, had been killed and it was
thought that anoth, M IN had been
fatally wounded. Mr.. Cuwley. in his
mes age, asked that the sheriff be noti.
fed, and further stated that the man
implicated in the shooting, named
Clark, WIS still at the place where the
tragedy occurred aud was making no
effort to escape. The news spread like
wild fire and was the subject of con-
versation on the streets and in all pub
lie places. The sad news of the death
of Mr.. Mills was conveyed to Mr..
Muzzy, and il became his duty to tell
his daughter of the shocking bereuve-
ment. Mrs. Mills is II teacher on the
north side, and most estimuble
lady. As may be supposed the shock
Frustrated the unfortunate lady, and
ut the house of mourning all the
members are overwhelmed with grief.
Deputy Sheriff Duncan, accom-
panied by Coroner Peutield, mt
once started for the scene. The
REVIEW also dispatched II reporter to
the scene OF the bloody tragedy, while
| Chief OF Police Warren left for the
same place on the train. He thinks
he IS acquainted with the Clarks i'm
plicated in the shooting, and if they
are the men he thinks they are this is
not the first time they have figured in
land jumping, out of which the killing
grew. The distance from Spokane
Falls to the lake is twentyfour miles.
and as the roads are in a miserable
condition those who have gone out
cannot be expected to return until this
morning.
The following statement was tele.
phoned to the REVIEW by Mr.. Cowley
yesterday af,e ,ernoon. OF course he
could only give an imperfect account
| OF the affair, ~ it was conveyed to
him through other sources. He said
that Mills had taken up a claim at the
head OF Newman Lake, three years
ago and during that time has
been improving and living upon
il most of the time. A few days
ago, during brief absence Of Mills,
two brothers, named Clark, jumped
the claim and commenced putting
up building upon it. On Tuesday
one of the Muzzy family visited the
place and urged the brothers to quit
it, saying that Mills had been living
there for three year, and had good
right to it. The Clarks replied that
they had come to stay and that
Mills could open out on them just
as soon rs he pleased. These nego-
tiations having failed to accomplish
the desired end, Mills, yesterday,
started for the claim armed with his
gun and accompanied by Mr.. Muzzy
who, however, carried no weapon.
When Mills approached his property
the Clark brothers were working upon
the building, but seized their guns
quickly and began to shoot at him.
He returned the fire and they sought
shelter behind some trees which were
growing near, and from that vantage
point continued the battle till Mills
fell dead. During the fusiiade. how
ever, one OF the Clarks was seen to
fall. Mr.. Muzzy, having no gun, took
no part in the fray, and was not in
jured. He hurried to Cowley's
Bridge and gave the alarm. At 3
! O'clock the body of the deceased had
not been disturbed and they were
waiting anxiously for the arrival Of
| the coroner and sheriff
a little later reporter met Mr..
Muzzy, who stated that he had sent
word to bring the body down on the
train. He added that the blow would
fall very heavily upon Mrs. Mills, as
the young couple were all in all t.
each other.
| We were in hopes that our reporter
would have reached the city in tim,
- pc ent the many anxious readel &
Of the REV lew with IL full and corret
report of the shooting this morning
and the paper was held open an houI
later for that purpose. Moo doubt con
siderable delay has occurred in the
inquest. besides the bad roads and
great distance has prevented II return
10 the city as early as was expected.