The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-07
He ATTEMPTEO SUICIDE
Cowboy Preacher Tries to Take
His Own Life.
WAS DRUNK AT THE TIME
He Was in q Box at the Butte Cafe.
The Gun Was Knocked From
His Hand by His Com
panion.

John Shelton, formerly known as the
Cowboy Preacher" and at one time
pastor of the M. E. church south at
Helena, either attempted to blow his
brains out Or made a grand stand play
with the object of eliciting sympathy
last night in box at the Butte cafe,
in the presence of Gov Robert B.
Smith, whom he had invited to take a
late supper with him. Whatever was
the object no greater harm was done
than to give Governor Smith and per-
sons in an adjoining box great fright,
and mar slightly the elegant finishing
of the cafe.
Shelton came over from Helena yes
terday, and last evening drank rather
immoderately. AS Governor Smith re-
turned from the G. A. r. banquet,
which he came to Butte to attend, he
met Shelton in the office of the Butte
hotel. Shelton invited the governor
into the cafe to have supper. Governor
Smith observed Shelton was considera-
bly, intoxicated, but knowing him quite
we'll. accepted the invitation. at
They took box in the cafe and Shell
ton commenced reciting his troubles
growing out Of his stewardship as ad
miristrator of the estate of James
Smith, from which office he was dis
charged by the court for alleged mis-
management. The two talked a long
time. and Shelton seemed very de-
spondent. At length about midnight
he suddenly drew gun from his pocket
and made a motion as though to put it
to his head. Governor Smith quickly
struck his hand down just as the gun
went off, the bullet burying itself in
the oak paneling which divides the
box from another. Fortunately the ball
went close to the floor or there might
have been a casualty in the adjoining
box, in which Manager Mcfarland of
the opera house and his wife We're at
the time eating, as the partition is a
thin one and they We're in line with
the bullet.
The cafe was filed with members of
the Entire Nous Dancing club who had
just come in from the ball for supper,
and instantly there was great confu-
sion. some of the ladies being badly
frightened. Several gentlemen went at
once to the box and Shelton was es-
corted out of the cafe and to bed The
fact that his gun was not taken away
from him led those who knew the cir
cumstances to believe Shelton was
making more Of a huff to work on
Governor Smiths sympathy than an
attempt to kill himself. Governor
Smith was greatly wrought up and at
once retired and could not be seen.
Shelton obtained much notoriety or
fame some years ago as a cowboy
preacher and is yet so known Later
he became pastor of the M. e. church
south at Helena. Some five or six
years ago he was appointed admins
traitor of the estate of James Smith, one
of the early pioneers of the Pricklv
Pear valley, who died very wealthy.
There were some rather sensational
rumors concerning his administration
of the affairs of the estate and he was
finally discharged. 1t is said his for
tunes have not been of the rosiest of
late and that in fact he had become
very hard up. If he really intended
suicide, it is supposed dependency over
this fact was the cause.