The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-12
Unlawful Operations Of Gang Of
Toughs in Western Mis-
soula County.
Sheriff Houston Will Endeavor
to Put an End to Their
Rascalitiee.
Welch's Death-A Postmaster and
His Little Gum

M1ssouIA. Sept. 11.-[Special. ]-Sheri6
Houston and Deputy Movey start out in
the morning for the end Of the construo-
tion of the line Of the Coeur d'Alene branch
railroad. For some time past there have
been lot of all-round hard characters
running saloons in tents and selling whisky
within the prescribed two-mile limit of the
railroad construction. They have had
lewd women around them and run dance
houses, robbing and clubbing railroad
hands that ventured to their vile shacks.
There are about ], 600 men employed at this
point and the gang has been reaping har-
vest Houston is going to break the outfit
and will make several arrests.
John Barry, the man who was accused Of
killing Pat Welch at Carter last Saturday,
is in town. Barry met Coroner Myers at
Superior and ON his advice came to Mis-
soula to report to the county attorney.
Barry claims that the newspaper reports
about his kicking Welch were false, and
the evidence at the inquest seems to bear
him out in this statement. He says that
Welch owed him q small bill and did not
want to pay it. Barry told him that he might
as we'll. as he would blow his money in any
way and would be 90 much ahead IL he
paid the bill. Welch did not pay him then,
aud asked him to drink several times, and
finally Barry asked him why he did not
pay the bill, as he said he would do. Welch
then said he did not owe him anything,
whereupon words ensued and Barry, who is
quick tempered, as he Acknowledges, struck
him two or three times. but did not kick
him. County Attorney Webster says that
from the evidence before the coroner's jury,
and the statements of witnesses here, he
does not feel justified in getting out war
rant for Barry. but that the grand jury can
still do as it pleases. Barry says he feels
very bad over the affair, and that Welch
was generally an inoffensive man, against
whom he had no hard feelings. The coro-
ner's jury, taking the evidence before them,
and also Of the physicians who conducted
the post mortem examination ON the body
of Welch, came to the conclusion that
Barry was not responsible for Welch's
death.
h Sheriff Houston iast night received
information of shooting scrape at
Trout Greek and request that
he come on. The sheriff instructed
his deputy, Fitzgerald, at Thompson Falls,
to proceed to Trout Creek and attend to the
matter. From accounts obtained 80 far
it appears that young man named Gar
shaw. who is known as the .Squaw Kid"
accused Postmaster McLin of stealing his
mail. This provoked the postmaster and
quarrel ensued. Yesterday afternoon ''the
Kid" approached the postofice and again
accused McIin of stealing mail. This
causei an exchange Of hard words. "rhe
Kid" started away from the postofice, and
when some distance away made a move
ment as is he intended to draw pistol
from his pocket. Believing that ''the Kid'
was about to shoot at him, McLin picked
up Winchester rifle and fired shot which
took effect in the fleshy portion Of the mans
thigh, causing serious, though not neces-
sarily fatal wound. Fitzpatrick was ex-
pectod to arrive with MoLin tonight, but
did not come, and the authorities believe
that a preliminary examination was held at
Thompson Falls to-day.