The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-15
IT WAS A BLOODY DEED
Cruel Murder and Suicide a, S,eYanS-
vile
WAS NO EXCUSE FOR 1T
T., -. Smelling shot Charley Nc
CuI ough's Head TO Pieces and
Then Took His Own
Worthless Life.

STEvENsvILLE, March ii AS the result
of q drunken spree last night, Charles ID.
Mccullough and L. ID. Smelling are lying
dead to-day, the former murdered and
the latter killed by ms own hand. The
two men had been drinking during tho
evening at the saloon near tho depot and
after spending some time there, Smelling
invited his companion to go home with
him 10 the Tyler ranch, near by, where he
was employed, as II was late and McCul-
lough's home was at the Slverthorn mills
some distance away. The invitation was
accepted and the two men left the saloon.
going to Snelling's home, where they ar
rived in a short time.
Mccullough remained here for while
and then prepared to 20 on to his own
home at Sllverthorn. While he was maxi
ing his preparations 10 start, he said that
he would remain in the house while SMELL
ing hitched up the horse and brought him
around.
This remark was innocent enough, ap-
parently, but it seemed to enrage SHELL
ing, who said mo, you won'tn and he hur-
ried to his room. He stepped out in n
moment armed with a shotgun and, be-
fore anyone could interfere, he shot Nc
CulIough through the head, the charge
coming out through the side of his neck
and mangling him horribly. Tho victim
dropped to the floor without a Croan.
Death was instantaneous.
The people in the house took the gun
from the murderer, who left the premises
at once and hurried to n neighbor's.
where he borrowed a Winchester rifle
with which to shoot himself by placing
the rifle under his jaw and dIscharging
the piece. The bullet pierced his brain,
emerging from the top of his head. He,
too, died instantly, with no word of ex-
PLANTATION. This action was "A source of
amazement to the people who had loaned
him the rifle, as they knew nothing
of the terrible tragedy which had trans
pired at the Tyler ranch.
Smelling was a single man, n ID ainter
by trade, ami had been working at the
Tyler ranch for some time. His parents
live in Eastern OHIO and a telegram was
sent To- them this afternoon.
Mccullough, the victim of Snellinp's
wrath, was n rauchman, whose place was
near the Sllverthorn saw mills. He leaves
a wife and two small children. lie had
been in Mssoula, II Is said, for a day or
two before yesterday.
IL appears that Smelling had been bois-
ferrous at the saloon and had made some
gun plays there. Mccullough had taken
some cartridges away from hun and had
remarked to the saloonkeeper, THAT man
is crazy" The saloon man said: "Why
didn't you take his gun away?n There
upon, Smelling opened fire and riddled
the little building with bullet holes. lie
nearly killed the veteran Harry, who runs
the saloon, and succeed in demoralizing
the structure in good shape. Two big
holes are in the bar, the lamp is shattered
and the roof and walls are thoroughly per-
forated.
All of this was before tho tragedy oc- |
Cured and when the men left they were |
on good terms. There had been no quar- |
rel between them at any time.
The coroner's jury is still at tho scene |
OF the tragedy and will not complete tho |
inquest before tomorrow morning. All |
sorts OF rumors are afloat here, but moth |
ing is known that could have prompted
the action of Smelling. Mccullough re- |
turned from trip to Missoula yesterday |
morning and some say he had a sum of |
money. None was found on the body. He |
had no intimate acquaintance here and |
no one seems TO know much about him.