The Anaconda standard., 1895-12-22
ONE LONG, ONE SHORT
Two Highwaymsn Make a Vicious
Assault on Old Man Joyce.
OFFICER GRANT NABS THEM
He Marches Them to jail Single
Handed-it Happened In a Lone
iy Suburb OF the City-The
Victim VIII Recover.

buttt, ltC. lnt tOnC4y P&1t ~ |
the southwestern outskirts of Butte. |
generally known as the vicinity OF
Clark's barn, was the scene tonight OF
a dastardly assault and highway rob-
berry with an evident attempt at mur-
der. Clark's barn Is about a quarter OF
a mile south of Park street on the west
side of Missoula gulch and In as lonely
a region as can be found anywhere
about the vicinity of Butte.
Mike Joyce, generally known as "Old
Pat" lives about a half mile beyond
Clark's barn. near the city dump. on
the same lonely road. Joyce Is the man
who for several years has made liv-
ing in Butte by going around with an
old cart and a white horse collecting
tin cans and other old tin utensils to be
used In Ledford's copper precipitating
process. Joyce was up town last night
buying a few groceries and started
home towards 10 o'clock with his pack
ages, including tea, salt. sugar and
few other things. He was almost di-
rectly In front OF Clark's barn when
two men. one tall and the other short,
as is frequently the case In Butte's
hold-ups, called to him: Throw up
your hands"
Joyce had noticed the two men Just
they looked suspicious. He had $40
gold piece in his pants pocket, together
with some small change. and he had
$40 bill in his inside pocket. Just before
reaching the men. Joyce. as n precau-
tionary measure. having lived In Butte
some time. took the $50 piece from his
pocket and dropped II In the road; he
could not get at the $40 bill. When the
command came 20 throw up his hands,
Joyce was slow to obey. and as re-
suit, there was a scrimmage down near
the barn which had no spectators. but
in deadly intensity surpassed any foot
ball game that was ever seen. one or
the men began beating him with the
butt end OF a revolver. Joyce, although
about 80 years old, Is pretty stocky ana
can usually hold his own In scrim-
mage After n rough and tumble COM
bat OF a minute or two he broke away.
The gun was leveied at him and he was
again commanded to surrender. He did
not do it; a shot was fired. the bullet
striking him on the left arm which was
half raised. as II to ward soff a blow.
Joyce kept fighting, one man using the
gun to beat him on the head while the
other assailant pulled n knife. When
II was evident that his head was too
hard to be knocked insenslble. one OF
| the men began sisshing him with the
knife Joyce succumbed, his struggles
grew fainter, and he became insensi-
bic. The highwaymen then took the
$40 and the change. together with his
watch and began TO walk up toward
town.
Meanwhile the cries OF Joyce and the
pistol shot had attracted the attention
OF Mrs. John M. Stewart. wife OF the
music man and ex-alderman. Mrs.
Stewart was visiting friend across the
gulch In the neighborhood OF Ciark's
barn and had started for her home.
which Is on this side OF the guich. She
heard the shot and the cries OF "mur-
DER" and ran up TO Park street. repeat
ing the cry of murder" and told those
she met on Park street that man was
being murdered down near Clark's
barn. Among those who heard her
excited story was a small son of II. c.
worthington.
The entire section Of the city west of
Missoula gulch is placed under the pro-
lection all night long OF oficer w. f.
Grant. the colored policeman. onicer
Grant had entered Campanrs grocery
store to light his pipe when the Worth
ington boy ran breathlessly In. inquir-
ing II there was a policeman there.
Officer Grant lost no time In hurrying
west on Park and south on Alabama
20 wards the place where the disturb
ance had been heard. The ofieer had
only turned into Alabama street a
short distance when he met two men
coming up from the direction OF Clark's >
barn. One OF the men was very tall
and the other was short and thick set.
They were fairly well dressed
did either OF you young gentlemen
hear a shot down this way7" inquired
the officer.
mot a shot" was the reply.
did YOU hear anybody holier7" pur-
sued the officer.
I'VE heard nothing down here at all.
Just got of the train" Onicer Grant
noticed that the short man had his
left hand In his overcoat pocket as
though he might have hold OF n gun.
During the conversation the officer had
passed the two men.
Turning suddenly. he pulled a NAM
moth Colts out OF his pocket. leveled
IL at the tall man and said; Throw up
your hands"
why. certainly" said the tall man
II don't want TO get killed"
I'm be damned II I'll throw up my
hands for any living man." said the
short fellow. keeping his hands In his
overcoat pockets
IL was one man against two. but the
man had a nerve and fortitude which
never were excelled by any officer In
Butte. and he would not have hesitated
had there been a half dozen. lie low
cred the big revolver from the big
mans face and showed II into the short
mans face.
Throw uD those hands; this gun Is
mighty hard to hold"
The short man threw up his hands
and the wey in which he did II left no
doubt In Grants mind that he had
had plenty Of experience in the throw
ing uD OF hands.
Now. YOU -. march TO town.
was the officers next Injunction.
The two men turned into Park and
moved toward the town. After a few
steps the men lowered their hands but