The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-06-06
FILLED FULL OF SHOT
Michael Gilmore Killed by Andrew
Erich, His Partner.
1T WAS A MINING QUARREL
Eye Witnesses Are Very Reticent ard the
Full Facts Will Not BE known Till
the Coroner's Inquest.

the COrOner'S Inquest.
BUTTE, May 25.-Michael Gilmore,
we'll known old-timer around Butte, was
shot and almost instantly killed by hts
partner, Andrew Erich, early this after
noon at their placer diggings, short
distance beyond springtown and about
seven miles north of VAUDEVILLE. After
emptying both barrels of a shotgun
loaded with buck shot into the old man
at short range, Erich dubbed him over
the head with the butt end of the gun
until he broke it, and the only wonder
is that Gilmore was not instantly killed.
1t will be impossible to get at the
exact facts in the case until after the
coroner's inquest, as one or two OF the
eye witnesses refuse to give any infor-
nation concerning the affair until they
20 on the witness stand; but from state
ments of others who saw the shooting
it would look as though the murder was
both cowardly and premeditated. 1t
is probable that the testimony of the
men who now refuse to talk will throw
an entirely different light on the affair.
1t may show that Gilmore was more to
blame in the trouble than now seems
to have been the case, and that Erich
shot him in self defense. On the other
hand there can be no doubt, from state
ments made by Erich just previous to
the trouble, that when he hunted Gil
more up early this afternoon with a
double barreled shotgun heavily loaded,
he expected and possibly intended to
have trouble with him.
Erich and Gilmore never seem to
have gotten along very we'll as part
ners. They had trouble over the same
ground last year and have always been
rather at outs. Erich had been fire..
quently heard to say that he wished
some one would buy Gilmore out, as he
was a very disagreeable partner. Erich
went out to the diggings early this
spring, and has been working them
almost continuously since then, with
the help of a couple of men. He came
to town on Tuesday evening and intend
ed to go back Thursday night, but did
not start until yesterday morning, at
the request of couple of men who had
expected to 60 out with him to take a
lease and bond on the ground. The men
who had intended to 60 out with him
failed to show up, and Erich started
back in company with couple OF other
men. Gilmore went out to the mine
Wednesday morning. Before going he
had an old fashioned powder and ball
revolver fixed at Trip & Copeland's
shop, saying he wanted them to load 1t
for him, but they refused. He after
ward loaded it himself and is said to
have told julius Hermann that he loaded
it for Erich. When Gilmore went out
to the mines he was accompanied by
Richard Kermod, William Banks and
wife and a teamster who drove them
ont. Kermod tells the following brief
story of the affair:
"Banks stopped over night with Gil
more and there were two other men
and myself in the cabin. Neither Gill
more nor any one else said anything
about having had any trouble with
Erich, and there were no other threats
made. A little after ~ O'Clock Gilmore
and 1 were sitting close together In
front of the cabin and Banks was stand
ing near by. Erich came up to the
cabin with 4 shotgun in his hands and
said to Gilmore; Come out here, I'm
going to shoot you" 1 saw that he
meant business from his threatening
look, and not wanting to get mixed uI
in the fight jumped up and ran to Que
side. While my back was turned
heard two shots fred and turned
around and saw Gilmore fall to thu
ground. 1 then kept right on running
and came on to the city and reported
the murder. had to stop at Meader
Vile to change my clothes and Julius
Herm ann reached the coroner's Office
short time before got to the sheriff
Office" Mr.. Kermod gave this story o
the affair with some reluctance and b
will probably 60 more into details a
the inquest.