The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-06-12
A CRUEL MURDER.
Howell Thomas Held for the Action
Of the Grand Jury at the Cor
Oners Inquest
According to the Testimony the Crime
was an Improve ked and Brutal
Killing.
The Murderer Attempts to Escape, but is
Captured After Being Shot Twice
The Boyish Victim.

pendent Last nights murder in Fergu-
sons saloon proves to have been entirely
| unpr0vOked and inexcusable and public
sentiment is strongly aroused. Further
particulars were developed to-day about as
follows: The affrsy occurred precisely at
IL o'clock. There were a few men, per
haps half dozen in the saloon during the
evening and Thomas had been drinking.
though he seemed to be but slightly af-
fected By liquor when the fatality occur
red. He began, however, to boast OF his
personal powers and remarked how easily
be could whip Springer. The latter as
sented to this proposition, and said he
knew Thomas was the better man physic-
ally, and invited him to take a drink,
which he did. He returned at once, how
ever, to the talk about licking Springer and
finally struck him in the face. Springer
retaliated at once and knocked him down.
Thomas rose and made another assault on
Springer. and was Knocked down. q By this
time Mr.. Ferguson rushed out from behind
the bar and as Thomas rose for the
second time, Mr.. Ferguson placed
himself between the two men
to prevent them from hghting. AS he did
so Thomas drew his gun, q large 45-caIiber
smith * WessOn, and fired quickly under
FergusOn's arm. The bullet took effect in
Springer's right breast penetrated his
lung. coming out below the shoulder. The
wounded man fell to the floor and uttered
but one cry: "Boys, Pm done forr' He !
continued to breathe for perhaps fifteen |
minutes, and then died without having at /
tempted to speak again
Just as Thomas fired the fatal shot Mr.. /
Ferguson caught the pistol in his hand.
Thomas said: "Let go of that, you s. of
D. Ferguson wrenched the weapon out
of his hand. Thomas then ran out of the /
saloon and Ferguson and several others
called 70 him 70 stop. He shouted: mo
s-of b. can stop me-" Ferguson then
fired several shots at him out of the pistol
with which he had just killed Springer.
Thomas ran up behind a stable, close to
the saloon, and John TOomey ran after
him and ordered him back 10 the saloon.
Thomas started to run down the hill and
several more shots were fired at him. He
was making for his horse, which he had
tied in front OF the Blue Bird saloon. Mr..
Ferguson headed him of and called on him
to surrender, which he did He was taken
back 10 Ferguson & Co.'s saloon and a tel
ephone message sent to Sheriff Lloyd. The
latter went down with Under Sheriff
rhomes and placed Thomas under arrest.
he was lodged in the county jail about l
o'clock.
immediately after the shooting DIR. f. ID.
Leavitt was summoned by telephone, but
before he arrived the wounded man had
passed beyond human aid DIR. Howard
1eRt down and summoned a eOrOner's
uTy. The witnesses TO the shooting were
John Kempler, AL Griffith, John Sheridan
John ConnelI, w. b. Ferguson and 5. II
Dubois. They we're unanimous in their
testimony that Thomas had been seeking
% fasten a quarrel on Springer. Mr.. Grit
it'll testified that Springer said to Thomas
4 don't want TO quarrel with you or any
,ody else;'' and again he said, "We have
always been friends; why can't we be so {
low ?'' The attack was made by Thomas
md resented by Springer only in self de-
lefense.
The jury brought in a verdict as follows: 4
we find that deceased came TO his death
rom gunshOt wound, the said pistol at I
he time being in the hands of Howell I
Thomas, and We charge him with the 1
rime of murder"
ne murdered man u Albert j. Springer. :
ie came to Montana from Moravia, New {
fork, last fall. and is a son of Dwight {
springer, of that place He was an EN- ,
loye of the Blue Bird company and /
worked in the mill and was known as a !
uiet and industrious young man. His
ge is thought to be about 3 years. The /
Ody was removed TO Sherman's undertak- {
lg rooms and telegram sent to his
ather, asking what disposition should be
lade of the remains. Up 10 the present /
Triting no answer has been received.
Howell Thomas is about % years of age, =
nd has not borne the best reputation. He a
son of old Billy Thomas, as he was b
allied by everybody, who used 10 run y
n Arastra at Rocker in the early days. \
lie has four sisters-Mrs. Chas. Carver, of +
liver Bow, and Mrs. Daniels, Mrs. Jones .
nd Mrs McKinnon, at Rocker. He has =
lso two brothers, VIM. Thomas and Grif- b
q Thomas, who reside in the vicinity. RI
he brothers had ranch below Stuart, y
ut of late Howell has not been doing any +,
Tork- b
Two of the shots fired a, Thomas last r
light gTszed the top of his skull and =
loughed furrows in his scalp. The wounds b
led profusely, but be remained cool and c.
=