The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-08-18
Winona Junction the Scene Of
a Tragedy.
JAS. TOW FATALLY WOUNDED.
A Game OF Cards in a Saloon Ends in IA
Row in which james Tow is Shot
by John McFee Braithwaite.

CoLFAx, Aug. 12.-The small way
station of Winona Junction, 25 miles
west of ColfaX, yesterday experienced
bit of wild-west tragedy. No satls-
factory account Of the affair could be
obtained last night, and the reports
that reached Colfax were conflicting.
The meager report received at the
sheriff's office left the particulars in
doubt. Deputy Sheriff Eacho ana DR..
Y. M, Boswell set out last night for
Wlnona and returned at daybreak with
the man who did the shooting and
with substantial details of the occur
ence.
Started by Poker Game.
James Tow, stock rancher OF Rock
Creek, seven miles from Winona. had
come into Winoaa, and was drinking
lreely at Mckune's saloon yesterday.
n0bo, who gave his name as John
Mcfee Bralthwaiie, and who gives an
unsatisfactory account of himself; was
also there lndulqing in liquor. The
men were both very much intoxicated
when they engaged in a game of poker
for the drinks. According TO Braith
waite he was losing too regularly. and
ne suddenly concluded that Tow was
cheating MIN. This was about Q
O'Clock in the afternoon,
II called him down." said Braith
waite, this afternoon, at the iaiI.
and we got into quarrel
OF words. We were both urunk.
low Is bigger man than me.
and he rushed at me all of "a sudden
ana began pumneling me. 1 was no
hatch Tor him. Then we separated
ior lew moments aud | noticed Tow
had "a knife in his hand. The whisky
thsG was III US stirred up the wordv
war again and Tow started 10 attark
me the second time. | imagined that
he would use his knife, and TO protect
myself snatched out my pistol and
wnen be made "A dash at me | shot him
10 the breast. Then l went out of the
saloon aud wanderedNdown the river
where l remained till nightfall. was
not trying to escape and l returned 10
the depot at Wiuona, where the deputy
sheriff found me-"
IL Is believed that Braithwaite was
intent on getting away from Ninona
on the hlgat freight. Deputy Eacho
arrested HIM at the depot.
Tow Tells His story.
low says Braithwaite called him oh
scene names because he was WINNING
and that he (Tow) struck him for
The insult, and was answered by shot.
Braithwaite is evidently hard cbnr.
acIer. He is about 30 years of ace. 10
partially bear out his story both his
eyes are blacked and his face otherwise
shows the signs of the beating lie re-
ceived.
Tow was shot through the right
iu2g, the bullet entering between The
Ihlrd and fourth rib aud passing out
near the point of the shoulder. The
wound will, in all probability. prove
atal. Tow was brought to the hospital
"a this city by this afternoons train
rem Winona.
Inc only person besides the two
parlles 10 the shooting in the saloon at
ne time. was McKune, the proprietor.
Tow killed a man at Wallula in 1880
ma served year in the state peniten.
Iary Tor the crime of mansIauphter.
Creek. ~ A'o0A
Bralthwaite tramped from Portland
waking into Winona Friday NIGHT
1e mas no particular trade or calling.
ma says the last place he worked was
u the mines near Baker City, Or.