The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-08-25
KILLED AT Big TIMBER
Nate Young Shot Twice by Sim
Roberts, a Well Known
Character.
DEED UNJUSTIFIABLE
According to Reports Chances Fav-
Orable For Roberts Getting II
Penitentiary Sentence.


but on Wednesday night Il shooting oc-
CURED in that city which will furnish
occasion for comment for time at
least. Word was received in Billings
yesterday morning to the effect that
Sim Roberts, u we'll known character
Of that section aud also we'll known
here, had shot and killed Nate Young,
another man we'll known. As is usual
III such cases (and many others as well)
there were all sorts Of reports and con-
lectures as to what brought about the
shooting, most Of them being to the
effect that the men, who were oonsid.
cred to be old.time enemies, had quar-.
relied and Roberts had gotten hold Of
his gun first, with the above results,
but this seems to have been mistake.
From responsible party Of this city,
who was in Big Timber yesterday and
attended the coroners inquest, The
Gazette learns that the affair was about
rs follows:
In June, it IL alleged that Sim Rob.
erts stole horse from Bill johnson, a
brother Of Nate Young, but who had
had his name changed III Texas, and
had sold the animal to An Indian squaw
on the reservation. Several days ago
johnson had Roberts arrested for the
act, but the latter furnished bail and
was out Of Jail while waiting for his
henring. which was to have been held
yesterday. After his arrest. Roberts
ordered his hired man to 60 over and
locate on the place where BIZ Johnson
was, as it was unsurveyed government
land, and he thought he might get even
in this manner. lhe hired man locat.
ed on the place during Johnson's ab-
sence by putting up u tent. He left
the place and went back to Roberta.
The next morning, III company with
another man and hay.rack, the hired
man went back to Johnson's to take
the hay which johnson had put up.
They were met by the latter, who or
dered them away They returned to
Roberts and told him Of the occurrence.
Ho then had johnson arrested for AZ.
sault and the latter's hearing was to
have been held yesterday also.
Wednesday afternoon Nate Young
and friend, Tom Burke, had come into
Big Timber to attend the hearing Of
both Roberts and Jchnson. The latter
had not yet arrived. The two men
were passing down one Of the main
streets in Big Timber when they met
Sim Roberts. Burke spoke to him,
asking him into saloon to take q
drink. All the men started to 60 into
the saloon, Burke being IN advance,
when Roberts addressed Young. say
ing: Hello, Nate; you don't seem to
speak to me Of late. Young replied:
/" You don't seem to speak to me-. The
men meanwhile hAd stopped and
Young. as was his usual attitude when
talking, rested his hands on his hips.
After YounR's reply, Roberts said
" You seem to be God d-ni struck on
Yourself" to which Young replied,
mot any more than You do" He had
hardly uttered the words before Rob.
erts had whipped out his revolver,
which he always carried strapped to
him, and shot Young twice, one bullet
passing through his chin, coming out
Oh the right side of the neck, aud the
other entering about where the first
came out aud passing out At the back
of the neck. Young fell to the side.
walk, when Roberts fred again. but
this shot passed through the rim Of tho
hat OF the fallen man aud entered the
sidewalk. Roberts immediately gave
himself up to the sheriff, His pralimi.
nary hearing Ia being held today, The
ooroner's jury brought In verdict that
Young met hia death from u gunahot
wound inflicted by Sim Roberts, hut
did not state whether 1t was justii liable
or deliberate.
Roberts was always known to ba 4
man who was free with his gun, He
killed gambler In HoxeMaM in 1889,
after the man had killed his brother,
II IA thought that there Ia 4 clean
enough casa against him now 70 send
him TO tho pen!tentiasy for "A long
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