Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-12-06
SEEMS LIKE A BRUTAL MURDER
Many Witnesses to the Death of Vic
tor IIg Do Not Confederate
Leyden's Story.
Ilg Was Ly ing Over a Chair When
Leyden shot Him Through
the Head.

at I p. m. Tuesday from Belt. whittier
they went to investigate the killing of
Victor llg by Steve Leyden. From the
stories OF reputable witnesses, as related
to the officers, it appears that LIZ, a small
manor, rather, a boy-for, although he
was % years of age, be WAS slight of
build, WAS deliberately murde'ed 10 cold
blood by a gambler, perfectly sober,
while his victim was crazy drunk, and a
crowd of about 40 men, in, 'uding Charles
where the murder occurred, and many
tin-horn gamblers, stood by and did not
raise d hand 60 prevent the crime.
Ilg entered the saloon in the evening
and took d seal at the faro table. He
said he would bet a certain sum of
money on d certain card, but placed no
money ON the table. The card Ilg called
won, but Lcyden, who was dealing, did
not pay. lig accused Leydcn of cheat
ing him and reached toward the cash
drawer or the chip rack, when Lcydcn
pushed him away. Zig persisted and
Lcyden picked up Il II caiihcr Colts re-
volvcr from Il shelf beneath the table
and struck Jig with it repeatedly, fore
ing him out into the center Of the room.
One of the blows cut llg's head, causing
blood and hair to cling to the band Of
his hat, and another blow cut Ilg's neck
severely.
Leyuen then returned TO bis lay out
and continued dealing. Zig and Il friend
went out to ano'her saloon, but soon re
turned. LIZ stood around the stove,
mumbiIDg in an intoxicated manner,
and started toward Leydeo, his remarks
indicating that he intended to effect Il
rGcUnc!i,at!on. When ne went up to
Leyden, the latter pushed him away, u5
ing his iett hand. and llg caught that
hand. Leyden then again seized the re.
vC!Ver. One of the two jerked the other
toward hun and. ae they came together,
Leyden placed the revolver against llg'B
left side, just below ihe ribs, and fired.
the ball entering The body. They con.
tinned to scutlle and Ltyden again fired.
Whether or not toe second shot took Il
feet viii be ascerlaiDed at the post.
mortcm.
a choir was between the two men and
llg fell across it. W hlie he Was IL this
position Leyuen stopped down, deIiber-
ately placed tins weapon d -hOrt distance
behind lIg's left temple, and pulled the
trigger, the bal! passing out OF the head
just above the right ear and striking the
leg uf the faro tab,e about SIX inches
above the floor.
Leyden returned to the faro table,
stacked his chips, pocketed the cash, auu
placed Inc revolver in his pocket. Con
stable hichaL4son and Deputy ohentf
MciLeoG then arrived and placed Leydrn
uudrr arrest and Mcleod At once ron
cealrd him. II IS sand thai If Mcleod
had permitted Leyden 10 remHin IN the
saloon untiI LIZ breathed bis last the
miners would have Iynched the mur
dt rtr.
II was so drunk that he did not know
anything; the blows Lryden had struck
mad probably rendered BIN Temporarily
insane; i4eyden was perfectly eObrr. and
yet the gamblers, vino claim to have al
ways Known that LeYuen WAS peaCeable,
did not interfere. claiming tina they
were afraid, and The bartender, whose
duty 1t Is 10 preserve order in the salOoO,
did not cell Constable Richardson. who
WAS not NOR" than 100 yards distant at
the time Of the inst trouble. nor dl1 he
prevent llg's re entering the beer hal.
and whon the last fight was in progress,
the bar tender did not interfere. lie
now claims be was afraid Leyden wool
-nput ttm # he approached any nearer
although he was all the time within 20
feet of the men, and also says that he
did not interfere because ''if you touch
on" Of IN" miners. .ou touch thtm all
Iig's body was laid ON the faro table
and remained there until the officers Ar
rived. They spent the night and day in
securing evidence, and the body was
brought t" McBratncy's undertaking
rooms in Great Falls.
= The necessary steps in the prosecution
will then be taken. Ieyden has en-
ployed Leslie & Downing to defend him.
!lg formerly lved at Sand Coulee,
where he was employed about the mines
Msn who have known him for several
years say he waa II quiet, peaceable man
and had never been drunk before. The
minere' sentiment is strong against Ley.
den, He is a gambler, and, Of course,
those Of his ilk support him.
Iie's relatives live neal Chicago and
hsve requested that his remains be for
wardcd TO them, He expected TO leave
Tuesday for "a visit to them.
Having examined cy]cWitncsscs to the