, 1891-06-23
DISCHARGED
Sudden Ending of the Noted Bio
Horn Basin Tragedy.
The Strange Murderous Fued OF
N~eighbOring Families.
Two Women Seem to Have Been al
the Bottom o. it.

wv" -
the Bottom of it.
In the last issue of the Buffalo Bulletin
there is a long account of the trial OF
James McDermott. one OF the principles
in the tragedy which occurred 10 the Big
Horn basin some time ago in which Nc,
Dermott's four-year-old son Philip was
killed. The trial was replete with sensa
ton and Med rmott's testimony was
saved till the last, when 1t was given in a
theatrical manner with telling effect.
When the father, in speaking of his dead
son, broke down and commenced to weep
his sorrowiul manner had a wonderful
effect on Judge and spectators in the court
room.
Madden was the first witness and re-
lated all the proceedings of the day. He
claims that be had gone to McDermott' s
ranch in the morning to talk to HIM
about getting some beef and hat as soon
as he entered the door McDermott opened
up on him with abuse and threatened sew
eral times hat he was going over to his
(Madden's) house and clean out the
whole outfit" He then left Afterward
Mrs. McDermott came to his ranch and
told him she was afraid to remain at
home, as her husband might do her some
bodily injury. At Mrs. McDermott's re-
quest he went to her home after her son
Phil, but McDermolt told him to leave,
that he wanted none OF his neighbors H.
terfering in his family affairs. Madden
returned to his own ranch and afterward
saw McDermott coming over with the
boy in his arms.
When McDermott was about 100 yards
from the cabin he was ordered not to
come any nearer. But as he still ad-
vanced Madden got his six-shooter aud
wen towards him all the time telling him
to halt. McDermott replied with a shot
and Madden, advancing, fred when but
two yards away from his adversary. Nc
Dermott threw up his child as a shield
and the little fellow was wounded in the
head and the same bullet struck the
father in the head knocking him sense
less. Witness stated that afterwards he
had picked up McDermott's revolver and
handed it to a Justice of the peace.
Madden was told by lis brother that
McDeruott was not dead AMI then went
out to him and claimed that when Nc
Dermott reSained consciousness be SAID
to hun: Tom kiss me; l am going to
die; take me into the house" Madden
refused the request, as his brother Pete,
who figured in the affair, refused to adj
nit the wounded man into the house.
Mrs. McDermott. after the shooting, ran
Immediately out and picking up her
wounded son, carried him into the house,
where he died a few hours afterward.
McDermott was the last witness and if
his testimony was true he surely had
grounds Tor complaint. He testified that
Madden came to his house on the morn
ing OF the day OF the shooting. He was
on that day later than usual about doing
his chores and was just leaving the house
to get out and work on a ditch when his
neiRhbor came up. He explained to him
that he was about to start for the ditch.
and did so leaving the visitor 10 the house,
He had been looking for domestic trouble
and IN consequence kept his eyes open.
Madden left the house In about an hour,
but he did not return until he went in for
his dinner, when he discovered ~unspeaka-
BILE evidence of his wife's lnfidelity. After
dinner he vent back to work and when he
returned to the house he found the fires
out and the house cold and little Phil and
the baby crying and his wife nowhere
around.
He was trying to comfort the children
when he heard some one call to bin. He
recognized the voice of Tom Madden and
asked him to come in and then asked him
where his wife was. Tom replied that
she was at his house and that if he, (Mc-
Dermott) wanted some one to take care OF
the children he would go for Helen Martin.
Madden then left for home and in a
short time after, his wife not returning
home, he (McDernott) started over to
Madden's ranch after his wife, and when
about forty yards from the house was
ordered to halt by Madden. who covered
him with a six shooter while his brother
Pete had a Sharp's rifle lev
eled at him. Pete was ordered
by Madden to sec If he had a
gun and after searching him he replied he
had none. At that time both t he Mad
lens and his wife we're standing close to
him. The Maddens commenced to abuse
him and finally he saw a flash of light