The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-24
GETTING AT THE FACTS
The COfOnar's Inquest On the Death Of
Owen Walsh.
EVIDENCE OF WITNESSES
several Men Testify That Officer
Dwyer Was Assaulted BY
Number OF the Dead
Mans Friends.

convened at the Butte Undertaking.
rooms at 10 o'clock this forenoon. The
examination of witnesses was conducted
Dy Assistant County Attorney Mattison.
Dr. Iremblay, who arrived on the scene
a Few minutes after the shooting, testified
10 the nature of the wound and the proba-
Die course of the bullet, which entered the
leit breast just below the heart.
hchard Walsh testified to the quarrel
IN the saloon between his brother and
Bill Dwyer and Officer James Dryer. He
was not IN the saloon when the fatal shot
was fired.
James Walsh, another brother of the
uead man, testified that officer DIVER
ueilperately pointed the revolver at his
brother and fired. At that time he said
the officer was standing about rs feet
away from Owen Walsh.
NJ. (. Holland gave the following testi-
timony: II went into Phil Harrinpton's
saloon shortly before IL o'clock and sat
down IN the Office near the front door.
About 10 minutes afterwards five or six
men came in and walked up to the bar
ana called Tor the drinks. Dick Walsh
was the only one in the crowd that I
knew. L noticed the man who was killed.
owen Walsh, in the crowd and he was
pretty full. After they had had a couple
Oh rounds OF drinks Owen Walsh started
10 light with some one, but before thov
came to blows Phil Harrington got in be-
tween them aud carried Walsh's oppo-
nent into back room. just about this
time Of1cer.Dwyer came in the side door.
The officer said something to Walsh. when
Two or three of the party caught the ofIi-
Ger and backed him up against a pile of
barrels at the end of the bar. Three men
IN all had hold of the officer at this time.
and ono of them held him by the throat.
UP to this time no weapon had been
drawn, although the officer seemed to be
making an effort to get his hand in his
pocket. When Phil Harrington returned
from the rear room he released the officer
and the latter walked out in the center of
the saloon. owen Walsh was very abusive
ana called HIM several mean names
walsh told the officer that he had no
business in the saloon, to which Dwyer re- |
pied: You must be id fool il Won |
!nlnk nave no business here Here Phil |
harrington addressed Walsh and said |
Dwyer had a right there. Walsh replied: |
asked the officer to drink with him. bur
Dwyer refused with the remark thar he
drank only with gentlemen
walsh replied with a YER offensive ep;-
thet, and the officer walked over to Walsh
ana was about TO grasp him by the collar
officer drew his revolver after being
struck. Owen Walsh, Richard Walsh aud
others rushed in on the officer and backed
hlm down to the east end of the bar The
0iIlcer requested the men TO let him 60.
Two OF the men were struggling TO get
hold of the revolver and another held the
weapon by the muzze. When the officer
yot Tue weapon in an elevated position he
Tired, the bullet striking the stairway
above where l sat: As the weapon was
lell2 moveu around In dangerous man
ler got down behind the bar, and while
was STOPPING down the second shot was
lred. moment before this the officer
ma Walsh were struggling and the latter
vas saying that he would fix him. After
he second shot heard Walsh crying Pm
NOT, m shot, and on looking uD saw !
Walsh lying on the floor between the
Green anu the front door. Dryer was
landing near his feet. l did not see either | ,
tichard or James Walsh at that time"
The testimony OF John Weart, the next
,ltness, was almost identical with that of | !
tolland. tie did not see Walsh have any | :
'eapon.
Clty PHYSICIAN Gum, who arrived Just a I
ew minutes before Walsh died. testified )
D the nature of the wound. He mad made
n examination of tho coat worn by s
V alsh and found that il was Dovder | I
urnel FOR two or three inches around tho 5
ullet hole. DIR. Gum said that the shot |
ouid not have been fired at a greater dis
lnce than five feet. S
James Donovan testified that after the
'uffis between Officer Dwyer and Walsh
the latter called him a vile | a
anne and struck him several times about {,
he face and shoulders. The three Walsh e
rothers. he said, had hold of the officer a
one time. When the second shot was
red he was standing within about four e
ct OF the men: They were struggling ~
nd Walsh had hold of Dwyer, but he did q,
ot think he had hold of tho gun when the
lot was fired. After the shot Walsh r.
lggered back and fell to the floor SAYING u
m shot," Dryer pulled the revolver pi
ter he was struck the first time and the o
Ithess thought that It was in his right
ma overcoat pocket. Donovan said that m
mes and Richard Walsh came in the | el
ont door after the second shot was fired. VI
ne evidence of Phil Harrington was sim ",
n TO that OF the others and was substan- Tl
lily the same as his story of the affair I'll
lich was published in the STANDARD on as
morning after the shooting. He be- le
we'd that Dryer fired the first shot in &c
ltlonally TO brighten his assailants. -
JIlcer william Hogan arrived just after .,
. second shot. Phil Harrington was 81
lnding at the door of the saloon blowing an
police whistle and he told him to ''go in pr
d help Dryer for Gods sake" He I'm
lrched the saloon for the knife that was u
pposed to have been used by Walsh, w,
{ could not find it. pa
William Dryer was the first witness ex- l..
lined at the afternoon session, Dwyer ne
the man who got into the fight with sci
zen Walsh in Harrington's saloon o'C
evening which started the ev
uble, but he testified that he was blind
INK at the time and absolutely did not 81
member anything that happened. He sci
not hear either of the shots fired and vi
only thing that he remembered was !
u harrington carried him into a back SUI
m and left him there. ~
oe Murphy testified that he worked at | in
High Ore No. mine with Owen Walsh | eve
J had known him ever since he came | spt
Butte. He and Walsh went off shift at ON
clock on "Wednesday afternoon and X.
nj to the Office and got their checks. (
I being pay day. The witness saw OF
lsh again two or three hours afterwards 10
Drlscolfs saloon. His brothers, Dick -
Jim. were with him, and they. had a ,bo
drinks together. Continuing Murphy m,
-lhed as follows: about half past 10 m.
ock that evening, or possibly later / Ha
in Phil Harrinpton's saloon whet, vii