Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-08-23
DWYER HELD
FOR MURDER
Robt Thornton Killed at Gilt
Edge Thursday Last
Coroner's Jury Pronounces the Kill
ing Felonious and Examination
Results in Dwyer Being
Held to Answer.


ton, familiarly known az Panhandle
Bob" and a wellknown wolfer OF
this section, formerly proprietor OF
the saloon at the foot of the noun.
tains on the Gilt Edge road, was in
stantly killed by Patsy Dwyer in the
latters saloon at Gilt Edge.
Dwyers story runs about as fol
lows: Thornton had come to Gilt
Edge Wednesday and proceeded togo
upon one OF his occasional sprees.
Thursday morning he entered Dwy-
er's place, drunk, and carrying a large
weapon with which he seemed in
clined to make trouble. Dwyer final
ly took the gun from Thornton and
told him that he should cit again
as soon as he sobered up, or pre-
pared to leave the town, but that IL
was dangerous for man in his con-
ditiOn to be carrying weapons.
Thornton grew angry and it looked
then as tho trouble would ensue, but
Others interfered and Dwyer kept the
gun, Thornton going out, seemingly
satisfied. Soon after he rearpeared,
this time carrying Winchester rifle
which he had secured from his wolf
ing outfit Approaching the bar he
demanded his gun, but met with re-
fusal from Dwyer, the same nature of
remarks passing as before. Dwyer
was sober and cool, With ii remark
that he would have the gun Thorn
ton stepped back, raising, the rifle,
out just as the muzzle reached the
height OF thebar Dwyer raised Thorn.
tons revolver and with death
wound In the temple Thornton fell.
Dwyer Immediately gave himself
up to Justice Beatty and j. B. Wash
burn started for Lewistown with
him, no officers being in town. When
the circumstances as above stated
had been explained to the officers
here the request OF Mr.. Washburn
that Dwyer be allowed to return to
his family in Gilt Edge was granted.
Under Sheriff Slater accompanying
the prisoner until after the inquest.
Friday noon coroner's Jury, in
cluding Owen Dunn, T.. &. Abbott,
RObt. Sharp. Aubrey Brown, F. W.
Sherman and Geo. Caldwell, was i'm
panelled and proceeded to view the
remains and hear the testimony, Mr..
Dwyer being represented by Attor-
ney w. Il, Cort. G. w. Wickes, Mike
O'Brien, Peter McCulloch, also known
as Robert Ray, and Hugh Lackey
had been In the saloon at the time
and saw the shooting. but their sto-
ries do not entirely agree. Lackey
claims that Thornton stepped back n
trifie and raised his gun with his
right hand tn about the level Of the
bar, when Dwyer killed him, while
the other three say Thornton did not
step back and two sly he did not
raise his rifle, but that it was still
hanging In his hand and he hnd one
foot ON the bar railing when he was
killed. The jury heard some eighteen
| witnesses, some of whom testified TO
the revolver being taken from I horn
tphs 90 t'fh III bNJtb - anu
Others to threats made 10y Thornton
as he apprO the saloon with his
rifle in hand. The jury about mid
night brought In a verdict in accord
ance with the facts aad characteriz-
ing the killing as felonious. Dwyer
was at once brought To Lewistown
by Under Sheriff Slater and lodged i'm
jail.
Mondaya preliminary examination
was begun before Justice MacGo wan,
the same witnesses being heard as at
the inquest. and Attorneys Cort and
+. X. Cheadle appearing ior the de-
fendant, while County Attorney
Smith acted for the state. The ex-
animation was attended by a large
delegation of citizens from the east
side OF the mountains, many Of whom
seemed decidedly impressed with the
belief that it was about time shoot
ing affrays i'm Gilt Edge were put an
end to. 1t appears that drInken
brawls, attended with liberal num-
ber OF gunplays. have been the rule
rather than the exception, and that
Dwycr has been altogether too fire.
quently a participant in terrorizing
the town, only about week ago he
aud companion firing fifty or sixty
shots into buildings and in the air
from the principal street. For this
offen5e he paid fine OF so and costs,
his partner in sport, John Biglen,
contributing like amount to the
school fund. Some time ago an at
tempt was made to have "A deputy
sheriff appointed for the town, but
the effort Jailed and the law has been
regarded very lightly i'm the camp.
Had an officer been present and at
tending to his duties, il IL doubtful
whether Thornton would have been
so active with his gun or Dwyer so
quick to take human life.
The examination progressed very
slowly, owing to- the necessity Of re-
cording ID I'm long hand, and at it's