Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-20
Eye Witnesses of Tragedy do
Not Agree as to Facts.
WAS P00LEY ATTACKED?
Evidence That Llttlejohn Knocked Him
Others Deny 1t
Previous Threat.

AoiOAeT Julien HelO an inquest al
Richards undertaking rooms last night
on the bodies of Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas
Littlejohn, victims of Sunday nights
awful tragedy. The verdict was to the
effect that Thomas and Lydia Littlejohr
had died from the effects of gunshot
wounds inflicted by Thomas Pociey, Mrs
Littlejohn's father.
Conflicting stories were old by the eye
witnesses last night. Michael Trevathan
and Jack Ameer were with Pooley when
ne met his son-in-law and daughter. Ac-
cOrding to their statement, Pooley ac-
costed Littlejohn and said he had heard
he had been making threats. Littlejohn
called Pooiey a liar. Pooley said he was
heeted and advised Littlejohn to get a
gun, as they would then be on an even
footing. Iittlejohn said he would, but
later said he would have Poolev arrested
instead, n with his wife started down
the hill. Pooley followed and Littlejohn
turned and assaulted him, throwing him
to the ground and kicking him., and as
Littlejchn stood over Pooley the latter
shot.
J. H. Stapleton's story differs from
that told by Trevathan and Ameer. As
Littlejohn turned to go, he told Pooley
to put up his gun.
"Ill go to hell if I do. and I'll lay you
out with it before I do" was Pooley's
reply.
Littiejohn said he would make him.
and turned towards Pooley. AS he did
so Mrs. Littiejohn tried to hold him
back. She said:
"Come away, Tom. OF he will kill us
both"
The men clinched. and an instant later
the first shot was fired n Mrs. Little
john was hit. Witness said he saw
Pooley point the gun directly at Mrs.
Littlejohn.
Richard Johns. Littlejohn's brother
in-law, was with Stapleton. He stated
that both men were on their feet when
the third shot was fired. and he did not
see my blows struck and did not see
Littlejohn kick Pooley.
Patrick Walsh testified that he told
PoOley he had shot his daughter, and
Pooley went to where his daughter lay,
and, kneeiing down, kissed her. Then he
was led away to his home by some
friends.
William Masters, Pooley's partner, tes-
titled that when he relieved Pooley in the
evening, Poolev told him that Con MUIR
ply and William Hawley had informed
him that Littlejohn had been uttering
threats against him.. Witness told of an
when Littlejohn came into the
saloon n remarked to witness that
Pooley was an old - Wit
ness told Pooley, and Pooley aid Little
john was talking against him a great
deal, and some day they would meet and
have it out.
James Littlejohn, a brother Of the dead
man, testified that on the occasion of his
brothers marriage he heard Pooley say
he would kill them both, n had heard
Pooley repeat the threat on several oc-
casions. Recently witness was passing
Pooley's saloon when Pooley called him
in and old him of the dynamite incident
and said they had better look out or he
would kill them both, Witness told his
brother, and advised him to keep away.
He told Of Pooley having turned his
daughter out of doors before her mar
riage, and that h was given a home by
Thomas Rogers. Pooley went to Rogers
n tried to persuade him to turn the
girl adrift, but Rogers would not do so.
Then Pooley remarked that If Littlejohn
married her lie would kill them both.