The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-16
TRIAL OF THOMAS RILEY
It Comes Up This Morning Be-
fore Judge Smith in Helena.
FRIGHTFUL CRIME
He Shot Down Patrick A. Largely in Cold
Blood-He Was Taken to Hell
ena on q Change Of
Venue.

1
murder of Patrick A. Largey. late presi-
dent of the State Savings bank. will
begin in Judge Smiths department of
the district court i'm Helena this morn
ing. County Attorney Stapleton and
Judge Stapleton, who will d the
prosecution. Attorney Cason, one of the
defendants lawyers. and a large num-
prosecution left for Helena yesterday so
as to be on hand when the case is called
this morning. Riley will be tried In
Helena on a change of venue which
was granted a few months ago by
Judge Clancy on Inc application Of the
county attorney. who thought IL would
be difficult to obtain a jury In Butte.
where nearly everybody has expressed
an opinion in regard to the murder.
The crime for which Riley Is to be
tried was one that shocked the city of
Butte more than any other murder ever
committed in the town. Mr.. Largey
was one Of the old-timers Of Butte and
one of the wealthy men of he state.
His business enterprises were numerous.
He was a heavy stakeholder in the
Butte Hardware company. whose ware
house was one Of the two that were
blown up on the night of the fateful
18th of January, 1895, by which more
than two-score men were killed ana
half as many more were badly injured.
Explosives had been stored in the ware
houses of the Kenyon-Connell
cial and Butte Hardware COM
pany, and when fire broke out in the
latter nobody had warning of the great
danger. The fire department and hum
dreds of spectators went to the fire and
when the flames reached the powder
several terrific explosions ensued
scattered death and destruction around.
Thomas j. Riley. who was a specta-
tor at the fire, was one Of the injured.
He lost his left leg. Many suits for
damages were instituted by the injured
and relatives of the dead, but i'm order
to escape the effect of judgments that
might be obtained the Kenyon-Connell
failed in business and the
Butte Hardware company subsequently
also went out of business. Riley was
one of the few who did not institute
suit, but instead he inaugurated what
might be termed a bleeding" process.
He obtained several hundred dollars
from NJ. j. Cornell, who also obtained
employment for Riley several times. He
threatened Mr.. Largely and also got 5000
out of him at one time, and altogether
the people indirectly responsible for the
loss Of Riley's leg gave him about $500,
which he sunk into a prospect hole in
Deer Lodge county. As soon as he had
lost all his money he again began
bounding Largey, Come and kenyon.
He threatened the life of each and on
one occasion waited for Mr.. Connel
with the avowed intention of carrying
out his threat. He was arrested n a
big gun was found on him, but at the
request of Mr.. Connell he was released,
He continued his threats, however, and
demanded money. Employment was
furnished him, but either ne could not
perform the work or did not wish tc
and he never held a position very long
He threatened both Kenyon and Con
nell again and again and the two men
were actually driven out of town anc
Mr.. Kenyon out of business by the
threats. Mr.. Largely was also threat
ened. but he would not be frightened
On the morning Of the 18th OF last Janu
airy Riley went to the bank again ane
for the last time. He called Mr.. LIarges
to one of the windows and demanded
employment. Mr.. Largely informed hin
he had none for him and told him u
stop coming around and bothering him
Riley saws he threatened TO have hin
arrested. Anyway, when he was refused
work he pulled a gun fired tw'
shots at close range into Mr.. Largely
body and he dropped dead.
Riley was arrested and offered no re
sistance. A short time after his arres
he was interviewed by a Standard re
porter and to him he made the state
ment that he went into the bank witt
the determination of getting work o
killing Largely and that as soon al
Largely said ne would have him ar
rested he made up his mind to Kill MIN
and he was not sorry that he had kllle'
him. Riley is about IS years of age AM
a native Of Nebraska. Some OF his PEG
pie reside near Lincoln. =.
Judge Clements of Helena VIII be nj
chief counsel. The defense will prob
ably be insanity. brought on throug'
brooding over his m~isfortunes and tn
injury he sustained by the explosion
and for which he believed Largey wa
i'm part responsible. The attorneys be
lieve they will have no great difficulty !
securing a jury and that the trial WI
be concluded this week.