The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-15
SHOT THROUGH THE HEAD
At Belt Jack Conlin Kills Adam
Gibson.
OEATH
INSTANTANEOUS
The Shooting Grow Out Of q Quarrel In
q Saloon Where Coniin Wa Bar
tsndsr-Ceniin Arrested and
Lodged In Jail

Great Fails. Oct N.-Eariy this morn
ing IL was reported In this city that q
murder had been committed At Belt. "A
telephone message later stated tins q
bartender named Jack Coniin had shot
and killed Adam Gibson. q miner. From
all accounts II appears that Gibson had
been In the big beer hall at the top Of
the hill In Belt. where Comm Is en-
ployed. some time early In the morning.
Gibson had been drinking n a slight
quarrel arose.. during the progress Of
which Gibson called the bartender some
evil names n then left the building.
This forenoon about 10 o'clock he re-
turned TO the place. some say to apollo
gize, while others claim that Il was to
renew the quarrel. However that may
be. the two men exchanged some words
and then Gibson started out of the
door saying. Come on then. you -
:. n we win settle 1t outside" Con-
lin picked up the revolver lying on the
back bar and fired q shot which struck
Gibson In the base of the neck and
ranging upward came out of the left
eye. producing practically instantane-
Gus death.
The murdered man fell through the
OPcn uOOT. SntIln lFOCtOT nApptned 10
be In the vicinity OF the hall and start
ed after the murdepsr, who had run up
stairs. where he was GUN In his room.
He a no resistance and went at
onos with the sheriff to the TOP of the
hill.
Harry Miller. night wstohman at the
mine. WAS met on the way and by him
the sheriff dispatched for a team and
buggy. When he returned he was sent
m 20 CrAns Hana vufNH A. --
while Proctor, returning 20 Belt. tele-
phoned TO his deputies 20 meet the pr1s-
oner half way and take him 10 the coun-
ty Jail.
All of this was done 10 any
possible violence on the part of the
Belt miners. among whom Gibson was
quite popular.
Gibson was about 20 years OF sse and
unmarried. He q been a resid ent of
Belt for the past four years and at the
present time was a mule driver for the
coal mines OF the Anaconda company.
So far as known he has no relatives i'm
the state. He vas not ordinarily a
quarrelsome man but when under the
influence of liquor he was apt to do a
good deal of oud talking. Conlin has
also the reputation of a quiet man. He
Is about the same age as his victim
and has lived at Belt Tor the past two
years.
II IL a coincidence that the saloon in
which the shooting occurred has now
a bloody record. Charles Leyden having
shot a man there about three years ago.
Leyden was q gambler and one of the
players quarreled with him and went
out. Later he returned with a gun, but
Leyden got at him first Ind killed him,
for which he was sent TO the peniten-
tisry, but was pardoned out a few
weeks ago.
Deputy Sheriff Reynolds ARRIVED In
town with his prisoher about 2 o'clock
this AFTERNOON and at once lodged him
In h county jail. He tells the follow
ing story of The shooting: He was tend
ing bar in Floods saloon this morning
when Adam GIBSON came in and said
that he wanted to see m of the dodgers
in the roomS above the saloon. Con-
lin told him that the men had beer put
to h rally One night before and II was
q shame to disturb them Gibson. how
ever. Insisted on going up and Conlin
went after him and, taking him by the
arm. led him downstairs again. This,
Gibson. who had been drinking. resent
ed and commenced to call Conlin names.
After abusing him for some time, Glib
son len ths saloon. Conlin saye mat
while Gibson was under the influence
of liquor, he was not so drunk that he
did not know what he was doing.
After he left Conlin went to work
cleaning ND the work bench under the
bar and had been at work about half
an hour. when GIBSON returned. accom-
PANIED by another man. and commenced
TO abuse him again. The other man
left shortly afterwards. but Gibson still
kept on calling him names. until Con
lin felt called pom to defend his moth
er's name and told him he must stop
such language. With that Gibson came
at him and struck him on the shoulder.
Just as he did this he jumped back and
placed his hand on his mp as though
to pull a gun Conlin. thinking II was
time TO defend himself and that he
could take no chances. picked up HE
u n shot. killing Gibson. He says
that while he mean to shoot Gibson,
he did not mean to kill him. n he full.
ly realizes the position he is in, but he
believed he had to shoot in order to
save his W life. He say that Gibson
was a large man, noted as a wrestler
and never came into the saloon unless
ne a been drinking. and on such &C.
GA WAS very ana rrelsoma