The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-05-18
Thomas King Killed by Theodore
Gushing, Tuesday.
SELF DEFENSE HIS EXCUSE
The Tragedy Was Enacted at Mr.. Cush
ing's Ranch on the Little Spo-
kane River.

Known men IN the city DullueT Oh the
Cushing block at Howard and Sprague,
and a pioneer of 10 years standing, is
an inmate of the county jail, while 10
miles away, at Cushing's country home,
lies the dead body of Thomas King. Mr.
Gushing shot King twice yesterday with
q shotgun, and his plea is self-defense.
Cushing has retained Blake and Post
as his attorneys, and Mr.. Post last night
gave a Spokesman Review representa-
tive the following account of the tragedy.
as he had it from his client:
Last November King came as a
tramp to Cushing's ranch on the Little
Spokane, about mile above Darts mill,
and sought employment. He secured it,
and remained through the winter This
spring Mr.. Gushing had been paying
him 81 a day, but this morning King
made a demand for an advance to
$1.5O. Cushing declined to pay it, and
thereupon King made peremptory de-
mand for S12 that was due him. Mr..
Cushing replied that he did not have
the money at the time but would get it
when he went to town. This angered
King, who grew abusive and threaten
ing. He laid hold of a club and hung
around the house for two hours. Mr..
Cushing told him to go away, but he
refused, and kept on demanding his
money, and repeated his threats.
Finally Mr.. Cushing, with a view to
frightening him away, went into the
house and brought out his double-bar-
relied shotgun. But it had a different
effect, causing King to make a rush for
Mr. Cushing with his club. Mr.. Cush-
ing then fired one barrel at Kings legs,
hoping to check him in his rush. This
had no effect, and in -self-defense, he
fired the second barrel Some of the
shot took effect in Kings abdomen.
'Mr. Cushing hitched up his team and
came to Spokane for a doctor, but before
he could return to his ranch word came
that King had died. Prosecuting Attor-
ney Feighan and Sheriff Rinear were
notified by us of the killing, and Mr..
Gushing surrendered himself to the au-
thorities, and tonight is in the county
Jail. In the morning we shall take steps
to have him released on bail"
WAS the shooting witnessed by 9TH
ers?"
II do not know"
Al d. Hughes of Spokane was fishing
on the Little Spokane yesterday near
the scene of the tragedy. 1T is singu-
lar" he said last night, that l heard
dence about a mile beyond Darts mill,
where he has been living, with his fam
lily. I was at his place a day or so ago,
and saw two men working around the
place, both of whom seemed to be for
eigners. The story of the killing, as 1
heard it from the people of the neigh
borhood. was that the hired man de-
manded his wages, and Mr., Gushing re-
fused to pay him. He then struck at
Cushing, and the latter fired. The
shooting took place about noon"
A deputy sheriff went out to the Cush-
ing place last evening and took charge
of the remains of King.
Coroner Newman and Assistant Pros
ecuting Attorney Wells will drive out to
the scene Of the tragedy this morning.
MIR. CUSHING TALKS.
by advice of my counsel" said Mr.
Gushing last night lying upon a
couch in the county Jail, my tongue is
tied. Nevertheless. I can tell a few
things. I am not a desperate. Those
who know me ought to realize that 1
would not commit an act of this kind
without ample justification. This man
had worked for me for a few months"
would you mind enlightening the
public as to the provocatiOn for the
shooting?" the reporter asked
1T was done solely in self-defense,' -
was the quick response. 81 deemed that
my life was in imminent peril"
what We're the circumstances lead
ing up to the tragedy"
II think / ought not to discuss that
at this time. AS soon as it was over /
started for physicians, and as rapidly
as I could drive"
Ibid you know that the man was
dead?"
Il did not. I may state, further, that
did not commit the deed in the heat
of anger or of passion. I cherish no ami
mostly against any living man. I felt
and still feel that 1 was i'm danger OF
either a severe beating or possibly being
killed"
Ibid he attack your"
II think everybody knows I would not
shoot a man without provocation. new
er had an alteration at fisticuffs.
have always been peaceable man. ]
would suffer great injustice rather than
injure any one"
Had you previously any alteration
with this man?'
mo. I had just seen enough of him tC
feel that he was a dangerous man
Please do not quote me as saying any
thing to his discredit He came TO my
place as a wanderer. Don't confuse
this with the word tramp which might
be deemed an opprObrious epithet. He
had no money, no clothes except those
on his back, and no blankets. ] DOM
want to say anything disrespectful oil
his memory. Let us stop there"
Were you in the habit Of carrying