The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-13
mccoy USED A BIG GUN
In Trying to Effect a Settlement
With Shaw.
THE BLUFF DIDN'T WORK
Mccoy Refused to Follow the Good Adj
vice Given Him by the County
Attorney and He Is
Now in Jail.

For insisting on getting what was
foreible than is permitted by the law,
Peter Mccoy occupies a cell at the
county Jail with the serious charge of
assault in the first degree resting
against him. Mccoy is miner, who
till yesterday was employed at the Sill
yer Bow mine, which is operated by
the Boston & Montana company. He
had run a bill at the M. J. Connell
store, to secure the payment of which
he signed over his check. Yesterday he
went to the store to draw the balance
due him on his check after the amount
he owed was deducted. He was waited
on by Manager F. E. Shaw, who in
formed him that the bookkeepers had
discovered an old account against him
of $780, which debt had been incurred in
1892. He was offered what was left
of the check after the $50 and the other
bill had been deducted. Mccoy said he
never ran bill amounting to $50 in
1892, or any other time, which he had
not paid, and declined to settle on such
basis. Mr.. Shaw proposed to give
Mccoy receipt for the $50, and adj
Vised Mccoy to accept it and then look
up his receipts, and if he found he had
paid the bill he could bring suit and
recover his money. This did not suit
Mccoy, as he insisted that he never
owed the bill, and he left the store in
an angry mood.
He at once called on the county attor-
ney and asked to have a criminal ac-
ton commenced against Mr.. Shaw for
Withholding the money. In stating the
case to Mr.. Connolly he said he never
owed such a bill and that he was sure
the account must be against some other
man by the same name He was in
formed by Mr.. Connolly that there was
no ground for criminal action and
that his recourse was in the civil
courts. Mr.. Connolly advised him to
go back and reason the matter out with
the store people and satisfy himself
to a certainty whether or not he owed
the bill, and if he found he did not, to
begin civil suit.
Mccoy is said to have gone to a friend
after leaving Mr. Connolly, who, it is
said, informed him that if he ever had
owed the bill it was outlawed and
could not be collected. Whether this
was responsible for his subsequent ac-
ton or whether it was due to a Occur
d'Alene disposition is not known, but
good advice of Mr.. Connolly, but in
stead, decided to take the law in mis-
own hands, and arming himself, he
went back to the store, and walking
back to the office. showed a gun in
Mr.. Shaw's face and demanded his
money. The incident, serious as it was,
was not without amusing complica-
tions. Mr.. Shaw was quick witted. An
employe of the store stood behind the
counter near by. Calling to him, Mr..
Shaw remarked coolly: "Give it to
him." Mccoy supposing the other man
had gun, turned in his direction, gld
as he did so, Mr.. Shaw ducked out of
sight. The clerk dropped behind the
counter, and Mccoy, not knowing what
to expect, but evidently supposing the
man had a gun, followed suit and drop
ped below the counter and began MAX
ing his way toward the door. On the
way clerk made a move to stop him,
but changed his mind when Mccoy
leveled the gun at him. Mccoy reach
ed the door and escaped in the street,
but was followed by Mr.. Shaw, who
called Officer Shea and had Mccoy ar
rested. Inside of Is minutes from the
time Mccoy visited the court house to
have Mr.. Shaw arrested he was him
self in Jail
During the afternoon a complaint
charging Mccoy with first degree as
sault was filed in Justice Nichols court
and he was arraigned and took the
statutory time to plead. He made no
attempt to give bonds for his appear
ance and was committed.