, 1891-04-15
A DEADLY DUEL
Fighting With a Child for a
Shield.
The infant and One Man Fatally
Injured.
Strange News From the Big Horn
Region.

= oAAANhlalo vi u AGlAlOlO ba6CAg w
curing near Bonanza. in the Big H9pr
Basin, reached this office at $3.50 this af
t%ernoon, by special carrier, in the shape o.
the Big Horn County Rnstler. Follow.
ing are the details:
From the Rustler April a.
Late on Tuesday night o. G. Morgan
drove hurriedly into town after a doctol
and announced that james McDermot
and his little son Phil had been shot anC
seriously wounded at the Madden ranch,
a few miles west of Bonanza. Variou:
conflicting reports were set afloat concern.
ing the shooting, no two agreeing as tc
the cause or the name in which it oc.
CURED. By diligent inquiry the Rustic,
succeeded IN obtaining the following facts
On Tuesday afternoon some slight domes
tic differences are supposed to have
occurred between Mr.. and Mrs. Nc
Dermott, and the latter taking
her youngest child, a baby gIrl,
LETT the house and went to
the Madden ranch, about th~ree-quarterS
OF a mile distant. She was very much
excited on her arrival. there, and warned
the Madden boys, Peter and Tom, that
her husband had threatened to do them
bodily harm. Neither of the boys paid
mucn attention at the time to what she
said, surprising hat she was unnecessari.
ly worried over some remarks her hus.
band may have made. Late in the after.
noon well along toward shutdown Tom
Madden concluded to 90 over and
see McDermott and learn what wa.
at the bottom of his domestic
trouble. When he reached McDermott'
ranch he found the latter in his houst
evidently in a very unpleasant mood anC
not disposed to be at all n%eighborly. Tel
my wife" he SAID, as Madden was taking
his departure, that if she isn't here by
shutdown I'll be over to your ranch ant
clean up the whole outfit of you"
Madden returned quickly to his home
strongly impressed that McDermott wa:
in a dangerous temper. aud that hi,
threat BODIED the inmates of his cabin nc
good. Shortly after he had reached il
and was inside McDermott was seer
walking rapidly across the field. carrying
little Phil in his arms with a heavy
blanket wrapped about him. Tom Mad
den, remembering the threat, came from
his cabin with the intention Of meeting
McDermOtt and trying to persuade hin
from his purpose, for there was no doubt
that he intended to make his words good
TO clean up the whole outfit" When
within a short distance of the cabin
McDermott, so the story goes, seeing
Madden approaching, fell on his knee:
and pleaded to he allowed to enter the
cabin.
You have threatened our lives wa.
the reply, and you cont come any fur
Their" Thus rebuffed, Mac quickly res
to his feet and shifted the boy to his left
arm, the blanket falling as a screen fol
his right, with which he fired his SIX
shooter directly at Madden. The latter
realized at on,e that his only chance o
oaNiuh hlo 4 was W ulohblC hlN uNSdlIhuAl
and with this purpose in view he ran will
great GOODNESS toward him, taking gooC
aim at his head. Just us he pulled thu
trigger Mac quickly brought the boy
against his breast, and the little fellow re
ceived the shot, which glanced from hi
skull after penetrating it, striking hi
father in the cheek, the ball lodging il
the back of the head.
As regards the exact facts of the shoot
lug so many co tradicting stories are tolG
that tie RuStler has been unable to get !
clearer idea than that given above. I'm
medlately after Madden fred McDermott
is said to have dropped the boy and dis
charged another shot, which was returned
How many shots were fired in all is un
certain. Mac was found to be so badly
wounded that he was assisted to hi.
cabin, suffering keenly. The little bo,
was taken into the Madden cabin in
most precarious% condition, with little hop
ceived.
Various theories have been advanced t.
account for the, wounded mans strang'
behavior. His intimate friends claim t,
have noticed within the past few mouth
that he has exhibited symptoms of menta
disorder, and that he has been mucl
given to imagining many things detri
mental to his peace of mind, that wer
absolutely without the slightest basis il
fact. 1t is undoubtedly true that he ha,
no aus for any ill will toward the Mad
den boys, who have long been anon.
his most intimate friends.
The sad affair has cast a feeling O
gloom all over the basin. Mac has beeI
a long time on his ranch and had got
into a fine state of improvement. 1t wa
widely known and it wal generally be
lieved that he was very happy in his HON
circle. The tragedy therefore was a grea
surprise to all. Universal sympathy i
telt for Tom Madden, who is exonerate
from blame in the matter, and it is con