The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1893-09-14
ANOYHER TRAGEDY
VIM. Coombs Meets Death IN
f. W. Herring's House,
IWOBULLETS PUT IN THE DECEASED
Engineer Herring Sizes the UnfDrrn-
nate Up AS IA Burglar and Ends His
Mortal Carecr-EXOnerated Ey
the COrOner's Jury -- Fac.S.


the CorOner's Jury -- Eac,s.
People who were so fortunate or un.
fortunate as to be out on Broadway
between II and II o'clock last Thursday
night were startled by the report that a
burglar had been killed while attempt
ing to burglarize the house of Engineer
+. W. Herring near the Philipsburg
depot. The town officers followed by
several curious men were soon at the
scene Of the trouble and the truth Of
the report was soon disclosed. Lying
in the bath room of Mr.. Herring's resi-
dence was a burly fellow apparently
about forty years Of age with bullet
hole in his temple and another in the
abdomen, either of which were sufficient
to produce almost instant death. The
body was removed to the undertaking
room of Allison g. Sherman, where It
was recognized as that of VIM. Coombs,
or Cohen, a carpenter by trade, who had
worked about this section for several
months, having been employed on the
construction of the Catholic church,
Mrs. Duffy's house and others.
Those who recognized him and have
known him during his stay here say he
was hard worker but also a hard
drinker, and his strange actions on the
night on which he met his death are
accounted for from the latter He had
for some time occupied a tent near the
Herring residence and went down there
after spending the evening up town
drinking and gambling. He tried to
open the door Of Herring's house but it
was locked and in his effort he broke
portion Of the latch off. He then went
around to the rear part of the house and
broke glass in the kitchen door and
entered the house that way. Mr. Her
ing, his wife and her sister were sleeping
up stairs and were aroused by the bark
Ing Of their dog that was IN the house.
MT. Herring got out Of bed and taking
his revolver went down stairs and into
the kitchen where he met the house.
breaker face to face. Mr.. Herring in
CURED Of the man what he was doing
there. and without making any reply the
intruder rushed past him into the bath
room and closed the door. Mr.. Herring
called to him to come out but cot nd
reply and he then shot through the
panel of the door. He heard the man
fall to the floor, but imagined he was
trying to get out OF range so he fred
another shot lower down. No further
disturbance was heard in the closet and
when the door was opened shortly after
ward by Mr.. Mcdonald, who lives next
door to Herring and was attracted by
the shooting, the man was found dead
as above stated
1t appears that he rushed into the
bath room door expecting that it was a
door making exit to the house. but in
stead it was an exit for him from this
world.
At the coroner's inquest the next dav
Mr.. Herring was exhonorated from ali
blame. His testimony before the i,1ry.
which was corroborated by his wife and
Mr.. Mcdonald, was as follows:
STATE OF MONTANA, co
COUNTY OF GRANITE. 80
Z, In the matter OF the inquest upon the body of
DECEASED nnk known. 'A
+: " Herring being first duly sworn, testifes
Ny name is +: W. Herring. live in Philips
Well, about II O'Clock last hight / heard tbe
log making great noise, and jumping ont of
Pea 1el,, took my revolver and the lamp and went
ne back room and on opening the door sawa
nan standing, in the room, and no asking him
What 'a ne was doing there he made no reply but
'houted to him to come out but he made no
'eply nor would he come out. then fred
through the door, and heard him fall to the
ma get down as low as he could, l fired again.
ne house besides yourself?
Answer: Yes; my wife and my wifes sister
had no idea that there was any person in tho
lonse; thought it was merely the dog making a
Question: l suppose you had no idea of shoot
Answer: No; certainly not. | could have
2 not him easily if had when l first saw him in
Question: How did deceased get into the
ouse? ... SO' 1N'o WIG
onsyton cWs Whai IN throngh faEge window
Answer: Twelve by twenty-six
Question: Did deceased try to get in by the
oOr2 5+. r- . f.. ~ '1Ao
Answer: Yes; he took off a portion of the
ock on the door and threw it on the ground
Cross-examined: We're yourself. your wife
nd your wifes sister. away from home the day
to the shooting?
Answer: Yes; we had been away all the dav
efore. 80 '''o ooS
There is division of opinion as to the
urpose that brought the stranger into
1r. Herrlng's house. Some say he must
ave been so intoxicated that he dld not
now what he was doing, and the fact
na! ne ,nad 70 Weaponsupo him would :
adlcate that he was not very bad kind
a burglar. Mr.. Herring did not know
bis, however, neither did he know the !.
IAN, and he was therefore justified in :
citing as he did. Had the intruder
lade mistake and got into Herrine's E
lace instead OF his own, he might have :
aVed bis life by making such explain {
ton. 1t has been reported that the
sllow has family living in Helena, but {
neither this is true or not the officers
ave been unable to ascertain.
Harry Rripne and q nart,, froxa n1 :