Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-25
II Was / SMALL GUN
But Large ! Enough to Kill
Frank M. Johnson in
His Tracks.
Frank Lewis, the Man Who
Pulled the Fatal Trigger
Now in Jail.
from Saturdaxs Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Those who have been keeping q record OF
the many murders committed in Butte
during the present year can get out their
sticks and cut another notch in them, for
the melancholy pop Of the pistol has again
resounded and another man lies cold in
death at the morgue, while his slayer is in
jail bordering over his deed.
Particulars Of the murder are briefly
these: Frank Lewis and Frank M. John
son, two quiet. hardworking and sober
young mel have been in the employ Of
Williams & Sidell, prcprietors Of the Metro
politan Meat market on West Park street.
Lewis began work early in the summer and
johnson some time during the fore-part OF
the present month, be coming here from
Helena, and was given : situation upon
the recommendation Of q firm Of that city.
The two at once seemed to become warm
friends, and rented q room together from
Miss Marian McMasters who conducts q
lodging house at No. 215 South Montana
street. The friendly relations between
them continued until Thursday afternoon.
On that day johnson sold some meat to a
party at less than regular price, and Lewis
noticed it. Later or, in the presence of
johnson, he asked Mr.. Williams the price
Of that particular kind Of meat, and Mr..
Williams replied by telling it to him.
This act on the part Of Lewis seemed to
.ka Iohnso,nrn .ra .oon =. NJ
m 20. -.
Williams walked way ne began cursing
Lewis and applying the most vile epithets
ia him. and said he would ssouare"
L;-..m T.w.. ,n, Hn,. +.
o.Ppoa No
again ~approacned Lewis and. so
the latter claims, threatene1 to kill him.
Tbot NIGHT Iobnaon was the first to 90
-
nome, ana, shol'iy aiterwaru, ~nen Lemis
followed him, he found the door to the
room locked and knocked Tor some time,
but without receiving q reply. Miss Nc
Masters finally heard him and went into
the hallway to see what the trouble was.
While she and Lewis were talking, johnson
opened the door and said he had forgotten
he had fockedi it. Lewis enteredthe room,
and Johnson at once renewed his quarrel.
Yesterday afternoon Lewis related the
above particulars TO Mr.. Reid, book
keeper for the hrm, q told MN that
johnson had threatened to kill him, and
that he wa afraid ne would attempt to
do SO. MI. Reid toll MN that ne thought
there was no danger OF 1t, Lewis said
no more excepting to make some enquiries
as to what policeman was patroiing the
beat upon which the house 10 &C which he
and Johnson were FMS was the
last MI. Reid heard Of the trouble until
told that Lewis q shot johnson, Mr..
Reid not having seen Q since supper
time, when the latter lett tne snop.
The murder itself oceurred az aDout q
quarter past nine q In q lew minutes
afterward Coroner Howard was notined
and empanelied S;S. ir1ce, y. flrcn, D.. ";
Evans' w. =. fteoGings, 1onn u.soh anu
Phllip Iucker, ana proceeueG 70 'ne HOUSE
ct which II took place 20 aola an inques1.
A MINER reporter arrived b aDoue Sne
sam time ana iouna .ne Gooy .. DO oonns tba
upstairs lying upT T e .h. ,Stt
neao 'urneu .Ud 81.
sne .sss ,v on tss The bodv had
arms party ouGstsetcnsu! Inc pouy Iau
not been distufper, ahd la,u !us. Is oo IN
son q iailen, across !ns ln!esnolo y ny
door, tne SIunf anu riu oso nIs.e = AZ
room, ana tne nsAu anu paa - az
nal. AZ soon as Sne sisy hv sewsrai ~
remains the coroner, a axamins ~ Se'e ~ :
ne Jurors, ma0e ~ Mnn Snuo.e
cioshing Gese aants .ara ,onrd n one If The
Anu n.ty-ns SIsO . newn chach Tn nlace
pocke1s. anu a.SuS pa a y Sn;t ;ocHst
OF q coat oeceassu ~ ao,ed d;sc,oseS y
whlcn' upon oe lily op mnSo,noath I'D
grey wo tse ;,ht onnai ~ this was
tnrough .no hn,o p m vest YVES re-.
Hnaa "a : s;m;,ar boia vas fonnd in the
ah;,t To sdoes stained a triae with blood.
sn,re; on0 49, sm;nat;on disclosed a hnilst
ru uL az n;aht I,rsast NJ the hodv. near
n tIa ,n ~ LIZ The hodv was Examined
Snou thnronoh,v hnt no other wounds
very VI sopn Tbs conntv nndartaker
SSo 20 70 -. tb;s time and the remains
nau u 1870 r ~ ~ morans o-4
were .ahen w = mana ~ Tho honso who
Several pesson. ~ ,ow ,,;nntss ats,
goid 1ne reporSet y that he h"d
Lewis 9 saos Ia.oa san, 4. Ia.
watkea guy u lily no1's, 0%'
golng W slyo niu5va W; .ho u;tnassos ond
Inc corones ~S oS;onrne5 tn tba .c;tv
jurors togetter anu su! s.a heId Me-. Ne
2 where .nS iaAueso w. Wv - 49,
MASTERS was guy als'U .1'.y aieInoL 81.
at q 9nareer pasS ; ~ a. .oora ~
heard q scqlnlng ny s'1.ls - Sno ~ haarJ
cupied ny Lewis Q Johnson "nu Ln"aa,
some one say Wnatoo . manCl ~ nsns,
She then stepped into tne naii anI Salieo
to the men ana askeo ~ s;1 "
the trouble up tneres sue y
she looked up ana "a" LeM!s s'ano
at the tead OF tne sgalIS, @ae
he replied, He swore hed gu me. te
which Miss McMas!er saio .Gomo oowL