Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1895-05-18
SHOT HIS ErAPL-OYE
thomas King Killed by Theodore
Gushing, tuesday
SELF DEFENSE HIS EXCUSE
The Tragedy Was Enacted al ttr. Cush
ing's Ranch on the Little Sp0-
kane River
Spokane. Wash, May 15.-specis

, Spokane, Wash, May 15.-Special-
; Theodore Gushing, one of the best
. known men in the city. builder of the
: Gushing 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 AIr.
Gushing shot King twice yesterday with
a shotgun, and his plea is self-defenSe
Cushing has retained Blake and Post
< as his attorneys, and Mr.. Post last night
gave a pokeslnan-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 Dart 5 miII
and sought employment. He secured il,
!. and remained through the winter This
spring Mr.. Cushing had been paying
him 81 day, but this morning King
made a demand for an advance to
S1.50. Cushing declined to pay it, and
thereupon King made a peremptory de-
mand for $12 that was due him Mr.
Gushing 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 club and hung
around the house for two hours. Mr.
Gushing told him to so 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
I
/ 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
/ fred the second barrel. Some Of the
! shot took effect in Kings abdomen.
'Alr. Cushing hitched up his team and |
came to Spokane for a DOCTOR but before
he could return to his ranch word came |
that King f.-d died Prosecuting Attor- /
ney Feighan and Sheriff Rinear were |
| notified by us of the killing, and Mr.. I
Cushing surrendered himself to the au-
| taorities, and tonight is In the county I
jail In the morning we shall take steps
to have him released on bail"
WAS the shooting witnessed by 9th
ers? ?"
Il do not know"
Al D. Hughes Of Spokane was fishing
on the Little Spokane yesterday near
the scene of the tragedy. 'It is singu-
lar he said last night, that l heard
E2 shots. Mr., Gushing has q fine resi-
dence about a mile beyond Darts mill
where he has been living with his fam
ily / was at his place day or so ago, T
and saw two men working around the
place, both Of whom seealed to be for
eigners. The story of the killing, as
heard it from the people OF the neigh
borhood was that the hired man de-
nlanCed his wages, and Mr.. Gushing re-
fused to pay MIN. He then struck at
Gushing, 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 vii! drive out to
the scene Of the tragedy this morning.
MIR. CUSHING TALKs.
"By advice Of my counsel, said MI
Cushing last night, lying upou q
couch in the county Jail, my tongue Is
tied. Nevertheless, / can tell a few
things ] am not desparado. Those
who know me ought to realize that /
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
ppblic as to tile provocation for the
shooting?" the reporter asked.
1T was done solely in seif-defense,"
was the quick response. Il deemed that
my life was in imminent peril
'Hnat were the circumstances lead
ing up to the tragedy?t
y think / ought not to discuss that
at this time, AS soon as it was over !
started for physicians, and as rapidly
as could drive"
Ibid you know that the man was !
dead o.
Il did not. I may state. further that y
/ did not commit the deed in the heat .
Of anger or Of passion I cherish no ami
mostly against any living man. ! felt /
and still feel that I was in danger Of 4
either a severe beating or possibly being
killed."
Did he attack you2"
II think everybody knows | would not
shoot q man without provocation. new
er had an alteration at fisticuffs. ] /
have always been a peaceable man, / !
would suffer great injustice rather than 9
injure any one" c
Had you previously any alteration
with this 1nan?'
No I had just seen enough Of him to =
feel that he was q 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 I
this with the word tramp which might Q
oaa o,,