The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1892-12-03
FATALLY SHOT.
Charles RloOn Kills Thomas Gavin in an
Allie cation over the Refusal
.f "a 81 Ioau


Three or four pistol shots in rapid
succession about midnight Thursday, on
Main street and directly in front of
White 4 Ransoms saloon, started those
of our citizens who had not retired for
the night. and tell the story of another
life sacrificed to satisfy spirit of re-
venge or to requite some real or fancied
injury. To the crowd that quickly col
lected the spectacle was presented of
the self-appointed executioner, Charles
Bloom. standing near the edge Of the
sidewalk and in the act of putting
still smoking revolver in his hlp pocket,
while his victim, Tommy Gavin. was
staggering to the interior of the saloon,
with the statement that he had been
shot. Friends quickly gathered around
the wounded man who was placed upon
chair and DR.. Alton, who chanced to
be Just across the street in Mercer's res
taurant. was summoned. Upon the ar
rival OF DIR. Alton he requested that the
wounded man be placed in lying pos
ture. Gavin was then conveyed to the
club raoms on the second floor, and his
aged father summoned. An examina-
tion showed ~ one bullet had taken
effect in the left .eg and another, which
four hours later proved fatal, entered
the back just above the hip and two
and three -fourths inches to the right of
the spine, ranging inward and upward.
County Attorney elect Miller was also
sent for and took the dying mans state
l was at the bar and Charles Bloom
came and asked me for So. told him |
did not have it, showed him 81 and
offered him that. He called me -
l told him l was not. Stepped
outside the bar. He hit me in the
mouth. | went to hit him back He
clinched me and we fell back and he
shot me. Bloom struck me first and |
went to protect myself. l was not arm
ed in any way, and l don't know why
he struck me.
After signing his dying statement the
wounded man fingered until o'clock
yesterday morning, and, although real
zing that he was fatally injured, resist
ed death with all the vitality of a natur-
ally robust constitution and vigorous
faculties. He died at exactly o'clock
in the presence of his aged father and
surrounded by large circle of sympa-
thiZing friends After his death the
body was removed to his late residence
on lower Second street, where it was
prepared for burial and the funeral
which will take place tomorrow afternoon
at , o'clock from the famil residence.
Directly after the sho ting Gavin's
slayer. Charles Bloom, crossed the street
and stood in the doorway of P. w. Nc
Donnell's saloon, where he was subse-
quently arrested by Sheriff Tenn mpleton
and placed in Jail to await preliminary
examination set for yesterday afternoon
Among witnesses subpPnaed for the
state are Lee G. Billings, George W
Allen, G. w. Ritter, A. McMillen, George
Germeyer, Al. Harrison, Douglas A
Flint, E. J. Keeney, Thos. Newcomb
Jack Dunn, David Robe rts, w. G. Sin
gleton, John Skillln, VIM. Mitchell anC
Ben Ransom.
1t appears from the statement of some
of these witnesses that after coming
from behind the bar Gavin had followed
Bloom to the door for the evident pur
pose of ejecting MIN when Bloom struck
the first blow. This was followed by {
knockdown blow from the murdered
man, when both men clinched and strug
gled to the street, where the fatal sho1
was fired.
Il. f. Gavin, the deceased, had been ;
resident of Livingston about three years
He was first employed as waiter in the
restaurant of r. B. Morris, and subse
quently upon the election of P. w. Mel
son as marshal and his retirement iron
Frank Whites, Gavin succeeded him al
bartender there. After accepting this
position he sent for his father and in
valid sister, and established residence
here, which he maintained until thu
time of his death. His naturally genla
disposition, strict attention to business
and gentlemanly demeanor had won 10
him large circle of friends who deepl.
deplore the sad occurrence which rob
bed him of life and removed kim
friend, an affectionate and devoted Sol
and brother.
| Charles Bloom, his slayer, has ais
been resident of this city about thre
years. He was at one time proprietor G
the Log Cabin saloon on Clark street
Since his retirement from that bushes
he has ostensibly been engaged IN gam
bling, making his headquarters IN tn