The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-12
0ficer John W. Flynn Brutality MUIR
dsred at the Northern Pa
clnc Station.
He Surprised Burglars Opening a
Safe and His Life Was
the Penalty.
The Murdsrsrs Left No Clue by which
They Gas he Faliowed-Ths Council
Onsrs $1,000 Reward

message from the Northern Peciho deIot
telling him that Ofissr John W. Flynn had
been shot and killed In the Northern Pa
CLIO waiting room supposedly By burglars.
u seemed 81 first 90 though 10 could not be
true, but an Investigation showed that II
was. The coroner WAS summoned. aud on
going 10 the railfoad station a sight met
his eyes that was probably the most pitiful
he has enoountsrel since he has been an
official Of this county. stretched out on
ths door in the mems waiting room. with
the feet toward the north door, lay the
body OF Officer Flynn. the blood flowing
from an uGly wound in the top OF his head.
He was wing near the door going into abe
ticket office. the doc Of which was open
An invsstiRAtion OF the ticket once showed
a hit OF Burglars tools beside the safe. and
In the door OF the safe vas a hole. drilled
thf ouah. ready for the thieves TO do tue
hns work OF opening aud footing H. The
body OF ths murdered ofhosr was taken 20
the Office OF the coroner. and later that
official made a 60 eful examination OF 10.
The examination revealed four Wounds
altogether. two OF which would have pro-
duced death. The most terrible wound was
In the top OF the head. A A or 45-oalibre
bullet had been fred into the top OF the
head. takiAg a downward coarse The cor
onsr found the ball bstwsen the officers
teeth. Another shot had entered little to
the right Of the left shoulder. and had
fouAd Judgment In the heart Still smother
shot had entered Just above ths left knee,
and the doctor extracted the bullet Just
below the knee. IL had fractured the knee
joint. Another wound evidently made
with q stick or an iron Ioj, was on the top
Of the hsad. about an inch TO the left Of
where the bullet had entered. Either the
wound in the head or tue one near she
shoulder would have produced death.
| In the afternoon the co oner held an in
quest but the only light thrown on she muf-
der was as 70 the probable time IL was com
mittsd. The story told By Louis BaTso the
janitor at the station, Was 10 the effect that
| he lives at 1883 Lewis street. short dis
tanes from the station. He said that Tues
day evening. az was bis habit. he locked the
four doors TO the waitinR-rooms, going
home about eight o'clock. Ofiosr Elynn
had kew 10 one Of the doors, 90 he could
have aeeess TO the lavatory. Yesterday
morning Barso went to work getting to the
station At b:l5. he went to ths north door
! OF the ladies' waiting room, unlocked 10 aud
went In. IL was rAthsf dark, so he ia
light. and noticed In the ksyhSle OF the op-
posite doc on the inside, bunch Of keys,
which be supposed we're Flynn'a. BaTso
then went into the gentlemen'a waiting
room. and thought he saw over near the door
the body OF man lying on the floor. he
TUNED on the light and saw in moment
that Il was Officer Flynn. The officers face
and head we're covered with blood. aud all
about the vicinity also. An examination
convinced Bsrso that the officer vas dead.
He gave the alarm and Mr.. Young. the
depot lunch counter proprietor. and en-
ployes of the railroad were soon on hand.
Barso said that Flynn had laid his gloves
and a cane on the window sill, aud had
evidently no idea that there was any one IN
the room when he entered 10. Barao de-
soribed the position IN which be found the
burglar tools. and said that while she out
side doc 9 had been opened with a key, tbs
door leading Into the ticket ONCE had been
forced with a ohisel.
=. f. Young. who has kept the lunch
counter AZ the Northern Pacific dspot for
four " arr. WAS the next witness. He Is q
heAVy-sst man about 30 years Of age, we'll
dressed snI intelligent. aud when he had
flashed his testimony there was little won
der expressed By those preseEt that be had
not gotten ~ aud looked into the cause Of
the noise when he heard the shots In an
swer to questions proPounded by County
AtterneV Nolan. who conducted the exam
inRtion, Mr.. Young said that be slept in .
room adjoining the lunch counter At the
Northern Pacific depot; that this lunch
-
ROOM In which Flynn Was killed. He said
that he had locked the door between the
lunch room aud the waiting room before
he retired on Tuesday night. but
that the door between his sleeping room
and the lunch counter was unlocked.
lie judged that in . straight line the dis-
tanOe from where the body of Flynn was
found aud his Sleeping room was about
thirty feet. Tuesday night be went to bed
about IL o'o'ook. and lAii awake about an
h. Al - t.na -
was partially aroused by what be thought
was q err or scream. but as be was not fully
awake, he could not be sure of the noise. as
be had an idea that be was thoroughly
aroused by What sounded like pistol shot.
He was only fairly awake when he heard
three mufied shots In quick succession. He
thought the noise was outside Of the build
ing, and did not pay much attention 80 10,
ne there was 80 much noise around the .
during abe night, made by the engines. He
laid awake about thirty minutes and dur
ing that time did not heaT any noise in the
buildiRR save the slamming Of the daor in
one OF the waiting rooms. The wind was
blowing quite hard, and this slam IN pR OF the
door he vas convinced was Ooeasioned BY
the wind. Before he went 10 sleep he heard
some one walk down the platform. but he
supposed IL vas the call boz from the dis-
patohst's Office. He also heard light
wagon go by, driven quite rapidly, though
In what direction 10 went be could not tell. |
II inrinR no more NOISE he dismissed the |
disturbance from his mind, aud went 90 |
sleep again. getting up a. his regular time. |
i've o'clock. 90 start a he In the kitchen. |
After sta ting the Ere he went back 90 bed /
again. and had not got 60 sleep before |
Barso came In anu told him Of the murdsr /
OF Flynn. he thea got up and went out l
and gave the alarm. Young testified that |
be looked at his watch when he heard the |
noise. and as near a. he could tell 10 was |
2l5. though he would not be positive Of I
that. as he was not fully awake.
The last man who saw Flynn before he 1
vent into the station was ThOmA Brlstlen.
He IL employed around tho hotels 81 abe /
depot to clean them up. aud yesterday
morning he was called a. about three 4
o'clock 10 get ~ and begin his wofk az the 1
BrunsWick hotel lie lives about square /
from the station. and ~ he was told u Was
fou o'clock when he was called and that
would make him two hours later than his 4
usual slime be hu risd out and was sur-
prised 30 tad when he reached tho hotel
that IL VAS only 8;lb. He hsd oaly been 20 /
work about fifteen minutes when Officer 1
Flynn came past. lie spoke 90 Brstlen.
aud the latter asked the offiesr 30 come In
and rest himself. Ne" replied Flynn, Il /
must Get around" and be vsnt over toward /
the station. That was ths last seen Of ths /
officer Alivs. aud the last worla he IL known /
W have uttered we're. Il musl get around"
Bristisn IL very hard Of hearing. aud Ia fs-
ply to . question By the countY attorney aa 4
10 vhothsf he had heard any shots, be said