Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-01-15
PAT Largely ASSASS|NATED
SHOT DOWN IN HIS BANK.
Thomas j. Riley, the Murderer,
Claimed That Largely Had Prom
Used Him work. hut Deceived
HimI-Denicd by Lnrgcy's Friends.


Him-Denied by Largey's Friends.
Butte. Mont, Jan. l2-Patlick 4. Lar
gey, president of the State Savings bank,
one of the best known citizens of Butte,
was shot and killed in the bank building
about ! o'clock yesterday afternoon by
Thomas j. Riley.
Riley entered the bank five or ten min
utcs before committing the bloody act.
He called Largely to the cashiers win
dow and the two talked for five minutes
or more. They were conyersing in ordi-
nary tones, and there was nothing to in
dictate that their talk was otherwise than
friendly. Suddenly Riley drew gun and
shot through the window at Largey. The
bullet struck the latter in the left arm
and shattered the bone. Largely stopped
down, and had he continued in that posi-
ton he might have escaped with his life,
as he was protected by the counter. How
ever, he rose partly, and as he did so Riley
fired IA second shot The bullet struck Mr..
Largely squarey in the forehead and he
fell over on the floor dead.
The murderer started for the front door
ON Park street. As he passed the tellers
window he took a shot at those behind
the railing. The bullet narrowly missed
Frank Holmes, one of the clerks, dug II
hole III his desk and went through glass
in one of the windows on the Main street
side of the building. Riley then rushed
out Of the Park street door, thrusting his
pistol into his pocket as he did so.
Assassin Was Captured.
William Huselton, n customer of the
bank, was outside the railing when the
shooting occurred. He made rush for
the man, but deferred by the sight of the
weapon, did not grab him. He followed
Riley out, however The murderer hur-
ried west on Park street, followed by Hus-
elton, who kept calling out to arrest the
man.
Officers attracted by the shooting did
so. and he was taken to jail.
"IIe fooled me too long exclaimed
! Riley. when he arrived at the county Jail,
and killed him. lie kept promising me
work, but he did not give me any. and |
could not stand it any longer Now, if
/ you want to hang me for it, all right.
Give me a quick trial and end it.
The murderer has but one leg. He lost
the other in the explosion Of the powder
warehouses at the Montana Central yards
on January l5 1895, and has since worn
4 cork leg.
Grew Out of an Explosion.
Largey was the manager OF one of the
companies whose warehouses exploded and
caused the loss of SO lives. In contradic-
ton to his statement that Largey refus-
ed to help him. it is well known fact
that the banker frequently helped him. lie
secured employment for him number OF
times, but Riley was unable to hold II
position any length of time. Besides,
Largely occasionally supplied him with
money.
/ 1t is asserted that the killing was the
result of a conspiracy or understanding to
murder more than one man who had man
aoerial or proprietary interests in tile two
warehouses that were the scene of the eX-
blossoms. These warehouses belonged to
the Butte Hardware Company, Of which
Largev was manager, and the Kenyon
Council Company, of which w. R. Ken
Won was the head.
Suits for damages aggregating S25O,OOo
were brought, and several verdicts secnr-
ed, but the explosions and subsequent at,
tachments had exhausted the resources OF
the Kcnyon-C Council Company, while the
Butte Hardware Company had gone into
liquidation and the judgments are unsat-
isfied.
There is strong talk of lynching Riley
and four other murdcrers, confined IN the
Jail.
Riley was taken to Deer Lodge peniten-
tiary this afternoon in company with BOB
Shadwell, the other murderer, to prevent
lynching, which looked possible They
were Struggled out Of town IN the poor
farm ambulance.