The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-25
CAPT. IS DEAD
The Result Of Injuries Received in
a Fight With the
La Barges.
An Old River Captain and @
Brother of s. q. Ashby,
of Helena. sm.
He Was son-in-L Law OF Capt. La Barge.
Well Known ON the
River.


| Captain William W. Aahby, brother Of
Shelby G. Ashby. of Helena, died in st.
Louis last Wednesday from the effects of
injuries received the week before ina fight
with his father-in-law, Captain Joseph La
Barge, and his brothers-in-law, Charles and
Henry La Barge, growing out Of feud
which waged between the Ashby and La
Barge families for months. ALL of the par
ties are we'll known to river
men and to many people in
Montana. particulars are furnished by
the ST. Louis Republic. The
story as given by the Ashby fam
lily is in brief as follows: Last gum
mer John B. LaBarge, brother of Capt.
Ashby's wife. built residence for the cap
tain at jennings station at a cost OF about
$4,000. Az the building neared completion
Capt. Ashby learned that but few OF tho
sub-contractors had been paid and that he
would be in the hole to the extent of about
$4,000 on account of the mechanics' liens
that would be placed upon the building.
Capt. Ashby. who claimed to have
PAID John LaBarQe in full,
went to him and demonstrated
and asked him to reduce the indebtedness.
particularly as he had required no bond of
him for tbs erection Of the building. Some
OF the indebtedness was paid off. A month
ago Capt. Ashby attached certain money
accl uing to La Barge to secure the payment
of the balance. This proceeding seems
to have famed the smoulderinR ill feeling
that existed into flame of discord. The
attachment suits were brought in justico's
court. The jury disagreed and various
charges were made of perjured testimony.
Family feeling continued growing bitterer
and bittersr.
Three weeks ago Capt. Ashby's second
son, William. paid visit to the home Of
Capt. Joseph La Barge, and on returning to
his fathers home reported that Mrs. La
Barge had told him threateningly tnat she
had five sons, and that they would lay for
his father and do him up. Accordingly,
when Capt. Ashby next made visit down
carried with him Colts revolver that had
seen service, it is said. when the cap
tain was in Gen. Morgan's cavalry during
the OWL war. At about II O'Clock
on Tuesday morning when Capt. Ashby
was walking west on Chestnut street he on
countered Capt. La Barge and his two sons,
soon as they saw him, made a rush at him.
Ono of them struck Ashby on the head.
knocking him down. All three then
jumped on him and commenced pounding,
kicking aad choking him. Capt. Ashby,
while lying on his back. drew his revolver.
Henry La Barge grabbed hold of the mug
zle of the weapon, and as he did 10, the
captain pulled the trigger. The bullet took
off small piece of La Barge's hand and
then entered Capt. Ashby's leg. The bullet
entered the left leg about six inches from
EhA h0dV and naRnA0 rirk
hammer OF the weapon in descending tore |
out considerable of Ashby's long prav
beard.
The fight was ended by tho arrival of the !
police, who conveyed Captain Ashby to the
city dispensary, whore his wound was
The La BarRes thenwe Mt to Prosecuting
Attorney Dierkes' Office and swore out
warrant for assault to kill against Ashby.
Ihe latter was Immediately released on
bond, and as he WAS suffering severely from
his injuries he WAS conveyed to st. Johns
hospital, whore he was attended by DR.. II.
Mudd.
The announcement of Captain Ashbv's
ieath seemed to surprise Captain LaBarQe.
IN making statement OF the case the cap
sain said: "Ashby married my daughter.
0csavia, nearly twenty-five years ago, but
lave taxed the patience of q saint to have
lved with him under the same roof. He
lad made threats by the score that
10 would o1terminate the entire La
Sarge family at the first opportunity.
The last time he made such
vhen he met my son Albert, who is en-
'loyed in the Boatmen's bank. and told ,
lin he would shoot my son Henry on sight.
tuesday morning l, with my sons, Henry
nd Dr. Charles Il. La Barge, wore walking {
lown Chestnut street toward the court /,
n and
he block between Seventh and Eighth
treets. saw Ashby approaching from the
pposlte direction, and mentioned the fact
Q my companions.
when within twenty feet of us Ashby j
aw as, and placing his hand in the right ]
and hip pocket Of his pants pulled out the +
'nR old navy pistol of which we had nerrd
0 much about. Realizing that he was I
DING to use the gun on some of us, I ex-
laimod:
DING to shootn'
ard and knocked the pstol aside, while I
Q struck Ashby on the side of the head l
18th the other hand. Ashby reeled. and as /
Q did 80 the gun went of, striking Henry o
l the tleshy part OF his left hand, but the il
ullst lodged in Ashby's own leg between g
le knee and thigh. then grabbed Ashby's
cad and forced it between my knees while
~ son Charles and a. young Irish
ian who WAS near at hand sue "
,eded III wrenching the pistol from Ashby's u
Fasp. There were large number of by
anders who wanted to deal summarily b
ith Ashby for his attempt to murder US. a
ut would not permit him to be touched. "
ftsr the pistol was out Of control let
shby rise to his feet, and oven then he
I'VE way to his un9overnablo temper and
i'd:
" II is a good thing for you --------R <
- - --- that havn't my gun II
II am surprised that Ashby has lived az 81
ng as he has, for he had a violent tenn per b
I'd knew not how TO control it. The reason
ny he individualized Henry as the object
his hatred and revenge is Just this: Some
me ago John La Barge built Ashby =.
'use at Jennings Station. for which he y
still indebted to John for nearly g., 800. u
hen the house was nearly finished Rl
hhy incited ths foreman of the work
threaten Johns life. In order to
wnrt the murdsrons designs Of the psir
y son Henry stayed around tho new house
u body-guard to his brother. For thiS Al
hby entertained deep seated hatred TO ~
. pair and sWore he would soon rid the -,
rid OF them. John I.RBsrpe was not al
esent at the shooting scrapc, nor did any
. OF our family have a pistol on his per- on
! az has been reported. 81
None OF my family over made threat
kinst Ashbv or said they would make him th
oloRize for the vile epithsts which he on 90
0 occasion applied to my wife. did tell
nby's son, who visited my house over a XII