The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-04-12
IT WAS AN AWFUL CRIME
Policeman J1hn v. Flynn Shot 10
D.aih al Hilall
THE DEED OF CRUEL FIENDs
One OF the Most Terrible Tragedies
In tho History OF the City
a Big Reward For
the Murderers.
srrcial pl.ratch to the st.nl,rL

Special Dispatch to the StinItrL
HELENA, April il.-Policemnn John ".
Flynn WAS found dead at . o'clock this
morning IN the waiting room Of tho North
ern Pacific depot alongside the ticket
office, with all indications pointing to tho
theory that he had surprised gang of
burglars who were trying to blow open tho
safe and had been murdered by them.
Flynn bad been shot three tunes, once in
the head, once ia the left breast and once
In the knee. Alongside the safe in tho
ticket Office were brace and bit, steel
punch, a heavy hammer aud two chisels.
Tho burglars had bored into the safe
alongside the lock, but had evidently been
interrupted in the work before they had a
chance TO force the door. Flynn had key
to tho depot doors, furnished him by the
railroad people to enable him to mako
regular inspections during the night. He
was on his way there about 3 o'clock this
morning. evidently with that object in
view. when he was seen by one OF the rail-
road employees. This was the last seen OF
him alive by any one except his murder
ers. Tho dead body was discovered by
Janitor Blrso about o'clock this morn
ing.
The ticket Office of tho depot Is on the
side nearest the tracks and occupies ono
corner of tho large general waiting room.
To the left of il is the ladies' waiting room.
Flynn entered the rear of tho depot BY
way of the ladies waiting room. This Il
known because his keys we're found IN tbe
lock of the rear door of the ladies' waiting
room, aud his gloves and club were fouad
on the window sill where he evidently laid
them OH entering.
In reaching the inside room some slight
noise was doubtless made by tho burglars,
who had heard the policeman enter and
had suspended work. This noise attracted
FIynn's attention. tho theory is, and he
stepped from the ladies' waiting room into
the general waiting room To Investigate.
Even then he could not have had any idea
of the extent of tho danger that threat
eued. as he did not draw his pistol from
hIs hip pocket. 1t was still there when
tho body was found. There was no light
in tho depot and one OF tho men was prob
ably standing or crouching III one OF tho
darkest corners near the ticket oifico
waiting for the intruder TO pass him.
Then, with a blow from club or sonIe
other instrument, tho policeman was
struck on the side of tho head and fell to
the earth. He never rose, IL is evident, as
the burglars were at once standing over
him shooting. Three of tho shots struck
him, and two missed him, entering the
floor.
The position of the wounds and the
course OF the bullets all prove that Flynn
had been knocked down and was lying
partially on his face when shot. The
bullet in the head entered at the top and
came cut near the mouth. The wound III
tho chcs, was near tho left shoulder and
also indicates that tho shot was fired by
someone standing over him. An exami-
nation shows that tho wounds were all
made with bullets of different sizes, indi-
eating that mt least three men were con-
cerned in the actual murder, while there
must hayo been a fourth who lay in wait
for the officer with a club.
As the body was fouul near the door
leading into the ticket office. some think
Flynn came upon the men unawares and
even without expecting 10 ind them
there. that ho knew them, or some of
them, and that they killed him TO prevent
his arresting them or giving Information
later that would lead to their arrest.
Another theory is that Flynn saw the
light in the ticket Office and, thinking the
agent had came early TO get ready for
work. went toward the Office to talk to
him and was murdered by the burglars.
Tho men evidently lied as soon as they
killed the officer. A young woman who
was stopping at hotel opposite the depot
Ia.,.I l,t nj l,,,L LaI .,f I..
window. She saw four men going from
the direction OF tho depot. Phil Young,
who was sleeping in tho eating saloon of
the depot at the extreme end of the depot
also heard tho shooting, but paid no at
! tcutiou to the noise and did not get out
and give tho alarm.
| Tho only tools which belonged to tho
I burglars was u three-eighths inch drill and
a steel punch. Tho hammer, chisels and
brace were stolen from the blacksmith
shop ot Thomas Settlers on Fuller avenue.
| Tho chisc was used on tho doors to force
an entrance to tho depot and ticket office.
Flynn was regarded as the best and
brayest policeman on the force. He was
a republican IN politics and had been n
policeman eight years, holding Office under
both parties 10y reason of his efficiency.
| lilo was about a years old and leaves a
widow aud three children.
| Tnc entire police force was on duty to-
day and a number of specials were sworn
| in. The time which elapsed between the
murder and the discovery of tho body,
however. was so long that the men had
plenty of chance 10 get out OF town. Sew
| eral suspicious characters have been ar
rested, but beyond the fact that they are
strangers there is nothing to connect
them IN any way with the affair.
This makes the third policeman shot in
Helena IN three years, but in neither OF
the former cases were the men KILLED, aud
in only one case was the assallant caught.
! Had the burglars succeeded in opening
the snie. they would have found only a
few hundred dollars, as tho bulk OF yes
terday's receipts had been transferred TO
"a more secure place At the close OF the
days business.
The coroner's Jury found verdict of
death at the hands Of parties unknosn.
Tho city couucil, at "a special meeting
tonight, offered 4 reward OF $1,000 for the