The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-29

A DOUBLE TRAGEDY
Murder Followed by Suicide at
O'Brien Station.
THE RESULT OF A SALOON ROW
Michael Crowley, Bartender, Kills
Richard Harm, Farmer. and Then
Takes His Own Life.

suicide, occurred at O'Brien station, on the
| Northern Pacific, twelve miles south OF
| Seattle, at a late hour Sunday night
Michael Crowley q bartender, shot and
! killed Richard Harm and then shot him
self through the head three times, dying
| about an hour later, without rega1ning
| consciousness.
The scene of the tragedy was Morgan
| O'Bren's saloon, of which Michael Crow
| lev was bartender. Business was unusu-
| ally brisk Sunday night and twenty or
more men in the saloon were drinking
| freely. Near one corner of the room was
| a card table, at which several men were
playing for the drinks. Richard Harm and
Swede named Charley were among the
men at the table. All were in jolly mood
and Harm contributed to the general amuse-
| ment with songs and dancing. Later he
went into a back room with Crowley,
where they lunched on sandwiches. Re-
turning to the room Harm rejoined the
card-players, and the game resulted in
Charley, the Swede, being beaten. He
took it as great joke and ordered the
drinks for the house. Crowley turned to
John Hill, who was assisting him, and
asked him to draw some beer. When this
was done Crowley passed the drinks, and
then said to Charley: "Dig up"
"Wait a minute" replied Charley;
''don't be in hurry"
Crowley became angry and struck the
Swede in the eye. A scuffie ensued, in
which Richard Harm arose to take the
Swedes part. row followed, in which
blows were given and taken. After the
fight was over Crowley told Harm to get
out, and emphasized his words by push
ing both him and Charley out of the
door. In short time Richard came back,
according to the belief of those present,
for Charley's hat, which lay on a
table. AS Harm came in the door
Crowley went behind the bar,
picked up 3S-caliber Smith & Wesson re-
volver, came from behind the bar and
walked up to Harm. He showed the gun
in his face and fired.
Harm fell to the floor dead.
Crowley gazed at his fatal work a mo-
ment then turned, and placing the re-
volver to his own head, fired. The bullet
pierced the top of the skull, but was not
fatal
He walked few steps further and fired
again. The bullet grazed his head and
embedded itself in the ceiling.
The third time he placed the muzzle
close to his right temple and pulled the
trigger. The last bullet did its work. He
extended his arms and fell to the floor in
sensible.
At the first shot fired there was general
stampede for the door, but when the affair
was over some of the men came back and
attempted to arouse Crowley. 1t was
useless, however, for he died in about an
hour without having regained conscious
ness.
The saloon was locked, and at the first
opportunity in the morning Morgan
O'Brien, the proprietor, telegraphed for
Coroner Horton, who arrived at IL o'clock,
accompanied by Sheriff Woolery, Deputy
Sheriff Jack Mcdonald, and Deputy Coro-
ner J. A. Greene.
The door at the saloon was unlocked
and Coroner Horton entered. Upon the
floor lay the two bodies, that of Harm
near the end of the bar and upon its side.
A cut three-quarters of an inch in length
extended over the outer corner of the
right eye, and bruise was visible on the
left eyelid. On the forehead was a semi
circular cut, such as might be made by
the heel of boot or shoe. Ten
feet away and nearer the door
Crowley lay, still in death.
He lay upon his back, with his eyes wide
open and his head literally soaking in
large pool of blood. The card table was in
great confusion. Checks and cards were
strewn upon the table and over the floor
One hand showed four aces.
The above facts were sworn to at the in
quest by Michael Baltes and John Hill,
both of whom were present when the first
shot was fired.
OLE cro Tod hal H. IA -
of violence on Harms face while they were
at the table.
John Hill testified, in addition to what
appears in the story, that Crowley and
Harm were good friends During the even
ing mike" drank heavily, acted in a
strange manner and had wild look in his
| eyes.
| The jury was out about three minutes
and brought in the following verdict:
| We. the undersigned, find that the deceased.
| Richard Harm, came TO his death by a pistol
| shot fired by Michael Crowley. and that the said
| killing was willful murder, done by said Crow
ley in moment of passion and excitement.
Further that the deceased Michael Crowley,
came to his death by one or more pistol shots
| fired by his own hand.
| c. H. LAeRIN, Foreman,
| JOHN sHErRIcH,
| J. +. YATES,
GEORGE OLRTT
! PETER ZIMMERMAN,
n V. d. MADDoCKs
One OF the theories regarding the shoot
ing is that Crowley had a grudge against
Harm, and took this opportunity to settle
it, and then committed suicide when he
beheld his work. 1t is claimed that some