The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-14
An OFFICIAL INQUIRY
Into the Death Of Wilson at the
Hands Of Nicholson.
IN THE CASE
The Testimony Was All Strongly I'm
Favor OF Nicholson. Tending to
Show Thai He Acted In
Self Defense.

Coroner Tremblay began an Official
Inquiry yesterday into the death OF
James Wilson, who died at the county
hospital Wednesday evening. at III
hands of George Nicholson. as the re-
suit of an attempt or wilson's part to
force his attentions upon Mrs. Kate
Donoghue. After the testimony of the
principal witnesses had been taken, n
inquest was adjourned to this afternoon
to take further testimony. All the
testimony was strongly in Nicholson's
favor. going to show that he had acted
I'm self defense. Deputy County Attor-
ney ID. Gay Stivers was present and
examined the witnesses as the states
representatives. and Judge Lippencott.
as counsel for Nicholson, questioned the
witnesses in his behalf The inquest
was begun at 3 o'clock at Sherman's
Undertaking rooms
Thomas Mcfarland, a colored man
living at sos South Washington street.
was h first witness called. He said
he heard a shot fired Monday evening
about IL o'clock. He went to his door
and saw his neighbor, Carroll. in his
doorway. who said a shot had been fred
and they had better look into IL. They
went to Nicholson's cabin and saw Will
son lying on the ground. Wilson said
nothing beyond asking some n to go
for q doctor. Witness heard Nicholson
remark he was sorry he had been fore
ed to o Upon having his memo
ry refreshed by Mr.. Stivers, the witness
said Wilson called for some one named
Barker, but he could recall nothing else
the injured man said. Wilson was ly-
ing on the ground about two or three
feet from the front door-about cross
wise of the door. Witness and Carroll
went In the back door and met Nichol-
son standing nea the door in his un-
derclothes. He had nothing in his
hand. Nicholson made no statement,
except that he was sorry he had to
shoot. Witness could not remember
whether there was a woman In the cab
In when he entered or not. but thought
not. Another mar. named Booth. and
two children were In the cabin when
witness entered.
Questioned by Mr.. Lippencott the wit
ness said he knew nothing of the causes
leading to the shooting. In response to
a request from Nicholson. witness and
Booth carried Wilson into the cabin and
laid him on the bed. while he NichoI-
SOM went for a doctor.
Mrs. Kate Donoghue was next called.
She said she lived at 40 South WASH
ington street. Nicholson lived next
door. Witness became acquainted with
Wilson last May. when he came to her
house and engaged her to keep house
Ior MIN. one was IN MS employ TOur
days. Last Monday evening. the wit
ness said she was in bed when Wilson
came to the door about II o'clock and
knocked. She told him he could not
come in. He said. "Open the door, or
I'll break 1t n" Witness then ran out
the back door and went to Nicholson's
cabin n asked for protection. Mich
olson opened his front door and asked
Wilson why he came bothering the wo-
man. Wilson asked Nicholson what IL
was to him. Nicholson replied he had
no business troubling the witness Will
son then started toward Nicholson's
cabin and Nicholson said, "Jim. this
woman has come to my cabin for pro-
lection, N you are not going TO get
near her." Witness said she heard
Nicholson n william Booth. who was
also in the cabin. warn Wilson away.
Then she heard scuf1ing and next
heard the shot. Nicholson then came
back in and handle the gun to Booth,
remarking: Take the gun you're a
better shot than I am" Nicholson next
looked out the window ard saw will
son lying on the ground and remarked:
II guess it's all off with him. I'd bet
ter go n give myself up Witness
heard Nicholson request to have Wilson
carried in the house and he would go
for a doctor. Witness said that on pre-
vious occasions, Wilson came TO her
house and when ordered away. had
struck her.
Replying to questions by Mr.. Lippen-
colt the witness said Wilson was drunk
and when drunk he was very quarrel
some. Wilson had previously threat
ened both the witness and Nicholson.
The witness did not know whether Will
son got into Nicholson's cabin, but
thought he was at the Threshold and
that he was advancing on Nicholson in
a threatening manne Wilson was a
larpar man than Nirholenn oal ..a.
much younger, Nicholson being about
Sc years of age. Witness did not know
whether or not Nicholson knew Wilson
to be ugly when drunk or was afraid
of him. On a former occasion Wilson
had chased the witness into Nicholson's
cabin and had been ordered away.
Replying to further questions by Mr..
stivers. the witness said Wilson had
been in the habit of calling on her
during the summer
Police officer Fogarty testified that
Monday night he met Nicholson and ex-
Chief Of Police Carroll on the street
n Nicholson asked where to get a
doctor. that he had shot a man. Wit
ness took Nicholson to the city jaf.
Ex-Chief of Police f. j. Carroll was
the next witness. He SAT- he passed
Nicholson's cabin on his way home
Monday evening about 20 minutes be-
fore the shooting and saw Nicholson
n Booth going TO bed. Witness went
into his house and was preparing for
bed when ne heard some one say. open
the door, or I'll kick IL In" Witness
heard the remark repeated and then
heard Nicholson say: What are YOU
doing there. Jim? why don't you let
that alone?" Wilson replied:
What is the mi to you?" Nichol-
son said: Nothing, but ! want you to
go away n let the woman alone" A
few minutes later witness heard the
Going out. he met Mcfarland
and they went to Nicholson's cabin.
On inquiring into the trouble. Nicholson
replied IL was pretty serious and then
related the circumstances. Nicholson
he was sorry. but Wilson brought
on the trouble Xitness told Nichoi-