The Helena independent., 1894-10-01
Thomas Cleary, the Pugllist, Sewers
His Spinal Cord With a Re-
yolyer Bullet
Tho Tragedy Took Plnce on Upper
Main Street at SIX O'Clock
Sunday Morning
Cisary Il In the County JAN. and n Man
Named Ryan Arrested ~ an
hoo0mpiics.

- u
a Gpoi on iha Sidewalk midway between
State and Wood streets. Frank Dorrity
foil down deal from pistol wound in tho
back OF the neck. The shot vas hred from
a A-ealibsF revolver by Tom Cleary.
The incidents lending mp 10 the tragedy
seem 10 haven about as follows; The two
men had been in the Headquarters saloon
the greater part Of The night. ClenTy had
money md pAvo some TO Do'rltv 10 play
faro. Tho latter won about $40, whom
ClearP asked for some Of II. Dofrity re-
fused to give Cloary any OF the money!
Then ClearY ntde several beta which ho
lost. lie again asked Dorrity for money.
TO which request Dorrity replied insult
inalT. A war Of words ensusd. until
finally they caught holl OF onch other and
Dorrlty hutteG Closry in the face, making
the blood flow. II vas thsn proposed by
the bnrkeopsr and a bystAnder that they
should be parted, but a man by tho name
OF Ryan, prizs fighter, who was on
friendly terms with Clonry, and by whom
ho waa being trained. ID 10 said, for fight
with Ike HnIes. objected TO nny interference.
saying tho men wore friends OF his and
20 let them alone. Az this the peaeemak-
ora dssistsd from their ell OTIS and the men
continued TO scuill, about. finally falling
10 tho floor. with Dorrity having the best
OF the situation. Then Ryan parted the
men and held Dorriy near this font on
trance, while ClSAry walked nvuy toward
the doo-. While being held Dotrity said
TO Ryan that ho would hill him for inter
fering. They we're still vrsnging when
Ryan agreed 10 take Clehry home. They
left ths saloon and went from there 10 the
Bristol house. where Cleary had q room
At leHst this ia the Bupposition, although
the exact movements Of the men after leRv-
ing ths Headquarters are NOT certainly
known. Ryan claims that they went
TO Cleary's room when Olesry opened
his trunk and took therefrom
the revolver with which the
shooting was done. Ryan says he carried
the weapon to the foot of the stairs. In
tending TO keep II. but that Clsary made
him give II up before leaving the house
They met Dorrity q short distance away,
and tho quarrel was renewed. whom q knife
was drawn by Dorrity and Cleary drew his
gun. At this DorritY htsf ted 10 run. Cleary
followed and shot Dorrity. who fell on the
sidewalk. He (Rian) then ran up the
at cot 10 the Bristol house. and was ar-
rested soon after and 10 now In the city
Jail.
Another statement is TO the effect that
the thTeo men walked mp the street to-
qsther on leaving tho Headquarters, after
having been separated for short time,
when IL Ia suT posed CleRry secured the gun.
Al the corner of the Bristol house, above
state street. they stopEed and renewed the
quarrel, and while the men talked ia low
tones. their manner was very ca nest
aud was witnessed by number Of
onlookers. Still talking and Rsstieulating
the tbree men, Dorriiy, Ryan and Clsary.
started down the street at q SOW walk.
When at the co ner Of the Mineral Springs
hotel they again stopped and Cleary, Es II
stuuR by some epithst used by DOrrity.
started towards him, Ryan cAught him by
the arm as II TO restrain him. Then Dor-
was heard 10 say: let - - - come
on" Al this Cleary either pulled a gun out
OF his own pocket or snatohed 10 from
Ryan. On seeing this Dorrity at once
turned aud ran down the street In front Of
the Mineral Springs hotel, following the
sidewalk. his head drawn well forward and
bent down. Dorfiiy had scarcely stRrted
on What appeared 10 be q race for life when
CleaIy followed in bot pursuit. gkey had
run petbAps two hundred feet
when Cleary. who was about fifteen
fOet away, rsiGed his weapon and fred. Az
the report Of the gun Dorrity pitched for-
ward on his face a dead man, with blood
flowing In a stream from tho wound. Tire
bullet struck him In the back Of the neck,
shRttsrlnr the bone, and 80 great was the
fores OF tho projsctile that one eye witness
says II raised DorrliJ clear from the side
walk.
After firing the shot Clenry turned and
ran 10 the corner Of state and Min streets
apparently with 40 idea OF getting away. II
he really possessed amy we'll defined idSN
at the time. Ths shot was heard Rt ths
police station, uhioh is little moro than n
block away from tho place where the shoot
ing occurred Onleefs ~ hand, no we're
Oh ;he point OF changing ahiiI, at once
ran out. Bui the one nearest To
ClcaFy was Otficet Reed, who
was on Main street, iust below Wood street.
lie ran tovnrd CleATT. a, tho sAme time
calling 20 him 10 stop. Clehiy STOPPED al
the corner Of Main aud State streets aud
stood with his Run In his hand, Aa II In m
| attitude of sslf-defense. OificeT Reed thon
dfoW hts gun and commanded C!esrT TO
drop his weapon. which was done aud he
VAS then taken 10 the police station hnd
afterwards taken 10 the county jail, who're
he 10 now confined apparently ignorant OF
the fact that ho 10 charged with taking a
human life.