The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-10
masked MEN KILL A
JUDGE OF ELECTIONS
DAILY Shot Down by Determined Assassins Who Tried to
Steal the Ballot Box in a Heavy Democratic Precinct.
0Leary Was Wounded = No Clues.

IN making a thorough search OF DuDlln
Gulch but 10 trace OF the murderers
was found N II now seems doubtful
that they will be apprehended as each
wore a mask. a handkerchief or piece
of white cloth over his face and all the
description those who saw them could
give. was with regard 10 size. one is
described $ about five foot. s or 3
inches tall and stockily built. The other
Is aid to have been not far from the
same height but more slightly built.
As they left nothing behind which
might lead to their identity the only
clue the officers have, Is about as indie
finite as II could be.
There can be no doubt. II would
seem, that the purpose OF the despera-
does was to steal the ballots. The
theory Is advanced hat robbery was
the motive, but none Of the judges, or
others who were present, at least.
neither Of the democratic judges nor
any of the others who were IN the booth
are willing to accept that theory. They
all believe the object was to steal the
ballots and prevent the heavy democrat
tic returns from the precinct. They
say the idea that robbery was Intended
is to them highly improbable as IL Is
not likely any one looking for money
would expect the judges and clerks Of
an election or the few outsiders who
would be at the polls in such a locality
to nave enough money about them to
make such a desperate undertaking
worth while. II was said by the paper
advancing the robbery theory. that
Andy Higgins. n of the judges, had
exhibited a large amount of money at
the polls during the day but Judges
Eugene Sullivan and Jerry Sullivan say
they did not see Higgins flashing any
money. They both say the leader. or
spokesman of the pair. headed straight
for the ballot box as does also Deputy
O'Leary and those are all convinced the
motive was to steal the ballots. IT may
be stated. also. that all the authorities
are convinced Of the same theory.
Special Deputy O'Leary was seen at
the Sisters hospital yesterday. His
wound had been carefully dressed and
although his collar bone on the left
side had been completely shattered.
causing him considerable pain. he was
resting as easily as could be expected
and il is not believed ne is in any dan
ger. He related the circumstances OF
the attack as he remembered them and
in enc disclosure there IL a singular CO.
incidence. Mr.. O'Leary said:
II went to the polls yesterday morn
ing to vote and was asked tn serve as
a deputy. ] consented and was sworn
in. Not expecting Iwould be asked to
act, | had no gun with me- and as |
did not go home again during the day.
/ had no opportunity To get a gun. and
was therefore unarmed when ! should
not nave been. Anyway. no one
thought there would be n occasion 10
need a gun. although n Of the other
deputies said to me at supper time that
he would go home and get his gun, as
he had heard an attempt might be
made to steal the ballots. / thought he
was talking nonsense and paid no at
tention TO the matter. This deputy did
not come back again hat night. ! had
forgotten his remark and no n was
thinking of danger when the men sud
denly mad their appearance. ! was
half reclining on a bench when the door
opened and the first fellow stepped in.
When he told us to throw up our hands
/ was so surprised I did not think he
mean IL for a minute, or n second ]
suppose II was, but when ] glanced
up and saw his mask and heard his
second command. i knew he meant
business and ] jumped for him. ! got
him by the throat and forced him to the
ground and he dropped his gun. In
the meantime the con fellow came
in and DAILY started for him. He shot
me and then turned his gun on Daily.
| had to let go of my man and in an
instant he had recovered his guns and
they were gone the partner of the one
l had tackled firing a third hot as they
went ont. Everyone seemed to have
been p~aralyzed and no one attempted
to follow them. / am satisfied by the
way the first man made straight to-
ward the ballot box. that they were
there to get the ballot and for no other
purpose"
Mr.. O'Leary could only give the gen.
eral appearance of the men and aid
he saw nothing else by which they
could be identified. When Mr.. O'Leary's
ct atannpnt NTH rafaranna tn nna nf the
other deputies saying he would get his
gun as he had heard an attempt to
steal the ballots was to be made, also
his statement that this deputy did not
return was communicated to the au-
thorities, IL was regarded as a very
singular. II not significant, coincidence.
but the first statement may be ac-
counted for by a statement made by
Eugene Sullivan, one OF the judges,
when seen. Mr.. Sullivan. after relat-
ing the circumstances OF the attack
practically as given, said:
II am confident the fellows csme
there TO get the ballots. All this talk
about robbery i regard as poppycock.
IL Is aid Higgins. n Of the judges.
was flashing a big roll OF none around
the polls all day. but IL he did any such
thing as that ! did not see IL. and !
vas there all the time. He did make
a big nuisance of himself. however.
He came to the polls prepared to run
things. He declared he was an A. p. A,
and a fusionist and he would show us
we would not carry the precinct as
We had IN the past. He made his
brags that he had got his share Of
the Clark money and said that after
the par he had taken In the csm-
paign. he could not live in Butte any
longer. so he was going to get in his
licks that day. He talked a whole lot
- - 800 -
and myself, the only democratic
judges. paid no attention to for a time.
till he made such a nuisance OF him
self by his talk and by challenging
nearly everybody who came 60 vote.
that ] called him down finally. and
after that he behaved himself. A lit
tie while before the shooting occurred
Higgins went and laid down in a corner