Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-07-03
"A TERRIBLE TnAGEpY.
deputy sheriff Pitt smith Killed opt
Aooe Phtts and -- Townsend Mar
tally Wounded.

4 DbcrtH Fitt smith Killed and
/ Iooe Pitts and - Townsend Mer
tally Wounded
Last Friday evening one of the
bioodiest shooting affairs that ever
took place in the county occurred at
Graham, in Silver district The
news reached here Saturday morning.
A messenger arrived at Kempner's
Friday night with letter from Judge
Parsons stating that the three men
were shot, that Smith was killed, and
giving the names of the parties en-
gagged in the shooting. A. Strauss
and drummer were at Kempner's.
They came on in with the letter.
Sheriff Havird and T. S. Harris started
out Saturday morning for the scene
OF the shooting, and made the trip, a
distance of fifty. FIVE miles, in eight
hours. No further particulars than
what was received Saturday morning
were learned until Sunday evening.
Major Downs and Dick Tregaskis
arrived here that evening with the
corpse Of Pitt Smith, and the Major,
and John Suhlsen of this place, went
on that night with the remains to Boise
City. Smith was member of Rising
Star Lodge No. IL, |. o. o. F., of
HALEY, and will be buried by the
Odd Fellows of the CAPITAL. The
remains were taken to the hall of
Pioneer Lodge No. l, of this place,
where they were viewed by a large
number of friends and acquaintances
of this town. Many wild rumors
were in circulation here before the
particulars were learned Sunday
evening. There are many facts in
connection with the shooting that
will not be brought out until the
trial. We interviewed a gentleman
who witnessed most of the shooting,
and, like other witnesses, wisely re-
Trains from giving all he knows of the
affair, as the court is the only proper
place for complete, detailed account
of the shooting and the causes that
led to it. The row had been brew
ing for several days. Those engaged
had been quarreling at different
times. Ben. and VIM. Ninemier,
and Sam'l Wilson, half-brother of
the Ninemiers, and Tobe Pitts were
the principals. Pitts and VIM. Nine
mier had been drinking and gambling
few days before the shooting, quar-
relied, and Pitts struck Ninemier over
the head with a brace and bit. Ben
Ninemier engaged in the quarrel on
the side of his brother, but as near
as we can learn took no part in the
shooting. About 7 O'Clock Friday
evening all were in Thos. Combs
saloon and the quarrel was resumed,
the Ninemiers and Wilson chal-
lenging Pitts to fight, calling him a
coward, &c. Two were in front and
one behind him. Pitts was sitting in
a chair. The man behind had a pis-
tol drawn and pointed at Pitts back.
Pitts, seeing he was in close quar-
ters, started to run behind the bar.
The man behind him, with the pistol
still pointing at his back, moved to-
wards Pitts as he was retreating, and
fired lust about the time he had
reached the end of the counter. The
ball entered the small of the back
at the left of the spine, passed
through the body and came out just
under the right shoulder, in front
Pitts, of course, dropped instantly
He could not use his right arm, but
drew his pistol with his left hand
while down, and fired one shot, the
ball passing through the right hand
between the bones of the middle
fingers. He was shot either by Viii
son or VIM. Ninemier. a maj
: named Townsend, who was not i'm
, nlicated in the row, was out IN thu
t street, and while running to get ou
G of the way, was shot, the ball enter
ing the small of the back and coming
!. ont within an inch of the navel. Pit
Smith, who was sworn in as Deput..
Sheriff that morning, was at the up
ner end of town when the shootin!
=, commenced, He went down, an
when near there one of the NEIL
VIM. Ninemier or Wllson-was hear
10 remark: "There comes anothe
- one" using an oath with the remarf
: and continued: "Just hold on l.
fix him" When Smith reached tn
IL steps in front of the saloon, an
r when within ten feet of Ninemle
le and Wilson, he said: "Men, | con