Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-19
Thos. Pooley Kills His Daughter
and SOn-In-LaW.
END OF FAMILY TROUBLE
Thomas Littlejohn and Wife the VIC
tims-Woman Had Her Baby
in Her Arms.


A shocking tragedy which cost two
lives occurred about 1880 last evening
when Thomas Pooley. a ray-nalreo
grandfather, shot and killed his
lydia, and her husband, Thomas Little
John, The shooting was the resuit ol
family trouble of long standing, dating
pack to the marriage of LittleJonn 10
Miss Pooley three years ago. The father
st%renuously objected to his )
sutton, but as is usual in such cases the
daughter paid little to the IA
theirs protest and married the man OF her
choice. Since then Pooley and his son-ln-
law and daughter have been estranged,
and have nursed the little quarrel, which
yesterday resulted so terribly.
The shooting of the woman was acct-
dental, and Pooley claims that he o
his son-in-law in self-defense, after hav-
ing been knocked Down by Littlejohn.
Pooley also claims that Littlejohn had re-
peatedly threatened to blow up the Pooley
home with dynamite. On the other hand
Littlejohn's friends assert that Pooley
had made threats against his son-in-law's
life and hat the killing was pre-
meditated.
Three years ago Littlejohn met Miss
Pooley and began to pay her some atten-
ton. Pooley did not like Littlejohn and
told his daughter so, and objected to ms
daughter going with him.. The girl paid
little attention to the parental objection,
and one day she slipped away from home
and accompanied her sweetheart to Deer
Lodge on a picnic. On her return her ia
Their ordered her from her home. Little
john promptly did the manly thing ii
married the girl.
The father never forgave his daughter,
and the only intercourse between the W
families has been of a troublesome ma
ture. Sometimes, when Littlejohn was
under the influence of liquor he would
hunt up his father-in-law and open up the
old u n .
According to the story told by Pooley
last night Littlejohn came to his saloon
between three and four months ago and
told him that a baby had been born to
Mrs. Littlejohn. Pooley told Littlejohn
that he would go and see his daughter,
but Littlejohn replied that he would not
permit him to do SO, you did not visit her
when she was sick,'' said he. and you
cannot do SO now. You are a - -
-- and no good" -Pooley remon-
strated with Littletohn and the latter
struck him on the head with a beer bottle.
FOOl0y uICW d I0NOlNci anu uTOVc LllIlC-
john out of the place. AS Littlejohn left
the saloon he said he would put dynamite
under the Pooley home and blow up the
family, and that he would blow up the
saloon.
After a few more days came more
threats. Littleiohn went to the saloon,
and exhibiting a couple pieces of giant
powder said:
You old ----Tm going to
fix you now. I'm going to blow you
whole - place up"
The father-in-laW made Littlejohn give
up the powder at the point of a revolver
and Littletohn repeated his threat as he
left the place.
Since that time friends have repeated.
ly told Pooley of Littlejohn's threats
Yesterday Con Murphy came into his sa.
loon and informed him that he had over
heard Littlejohn say he would kill tn.
whole family.
Pooley's saloon is at 701 North Montana
street. About 1928 last evening he lef
400 North Montana street. On hi
way he met his daughter ant
son-in-law. Mrs. Littlejohn had he
baby in her arms. Pooley stopped Little
john and told him he had heard of hi
threats and that he would hav to sto]
talking or there would be trouble. Little
john retorted in kind. Pooley had his gul
AL Hi 0AAo dAAu AlAoAA u lCS
up the street, but came back. then start
ed way again and again returned. H
struck POOley, knocking him down, an,
as Pooley rose to his feet he began shoot
ing. He knew that he had hit his son-in
law, but did not know that he had sho
his daughter. Then he went to his home
where he was found a few minutes late
by Officer Call, arrested and taken to tn
city jail.
That issPooley's version.
The shooting was witnessed by j. H
Stapleton. Stapleton says he was at
tracted by the quarrel, and saw Poole,
following Littlejohn and his wife. Poole,
was threatening to use the u and Lit
tlejohn turned to him several times an
told him to put 1t up.
Finally Littleiohn turned attempted t
take the gun away from Pooley. Mrs
tlejohn was standing close to the tw
men, pleading for peace, when Poole
fired the first shot. The woman fell wit
a groan, and Stapleton ran and picked u
the baby. While the men continued t
struggle two more shots were fired. tt
second missed. but the third penetrate
Littlejohn's heart and he died almost In
stantly.
In the meantime a crowd had c~Ollecte,
. Mrs. Littlejohn lay where she had falle
, and it was some minutes before any or
| thought of sending for an ambulanc
Then she was taken to Murray
Freund's hospital where h died n,
quite an u after h shooting. tt
bullet entered the right nostril and pas,
ed up through the brain.
After Pooley had told his story at poll,
I headquarters he was taken to the count
Jail, and while he was in the sheriff's o
flee the news of LittlejOhn's death WI
received. The old man tainted. A sho
time later he was apprised of his daugl