Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-04-06

Gus Fitschen, one of the proprietors
of the saloon and lodging house at Il
North Main street. was shot in the back
by ]. b. johnson at about 1880 o'clock
last night and dangerously wounded
Johnson, who was formerly proprietor
of an employment agency in the Owsley
block, but who lately has been en-
ployed as a collector, had some words
with Fitschen and called him vile
name Fitschen reached over the bar
and slapped Johnson in the face and the
latter. it is alleged. deliberately drew a
pistol and shot Fitschen in the back as
he was trying to get out of range be-
meath the bar.
The shooting attracted the attention of
Officers McQueeney and McGlynn, who
rushed into the saloon and saw Johnson
standing at the bar trying to get an
other shot at FitSchen. who was lying on
the floor behind the bar Officer Nc
Queeney seized the gun and Johnson eX-
claimed:
BE careful: wait until pull the trig-
ger down."
Johnson was taken to the county Jail
and the wounded man was conveyed to
his home at No. ia South Arizona
street. DR.. c. V. Norcross was called in
to attend to Fitschen and after an eX-
animation stated that the bullet had en-
tered the center of the back and TAX
ing a course toward the arm pit. had
lodged between the scapula and the ribs.
He probed the wound but was unable to
extract the bullet last night. He says
that the wound is a very dangerous
one, although it is not necessarily fatal.
According to the story told by the
wounded man, Johnson entered the sa-
loon shortly before midnight and, open
ing the door leading to the living apart
ments, commenced to ascend the stairs
Fitschen called out to him asking him
where he was going. Johnson replied
that he was going to his room an6
Fitschen replied that he was mistaken
as he did not room there. Johnson Their
said that he was going upstairs to see
another roomer. a woman. He did &c
upstairs and remained about half al
hour =.
When he returned he stopped in the
barroom and asked for a drink. While
he was drinking Fitschen apologized FOL
speaking to him as he had done, eX
planning that it was necessary to keel
track of all people who endeavored tC
go upstairs. Johnson replied
We'll you are lot of - - ------
and YOU all look alike to me-"
Fitschen got excited and, saying HI
would not stand for the name, slapped
Johnson in the face. The latter reach
ed for his gun and Fitschen dropped
behind the bar in the hope Of getting
out of range. He was trying to get
under the bar when Johnson leaned over
and discharged a pistol within foot OF
two of his body. The gun was held sc
close that the white coat Worn by
Fitschen was powder burned. The bull
let went through the suspender and, a:
stated, entered about the middle of the
back Fitschen fell to the floor and the
policemen entered the place before John
son could fire the second shot. Wher
arrested Johnson appeared to be Yer.
indifferent and at police headquarter
said:
Lock me up for shooting - -
He refused to make any statement i
regard to the shooting and soon afte
being locked up went to sleep He wa
taken to the county Jail where he will b
held until the extent of Fitschen's in
juries can be determined.
1t is stated that Johnson was for thre
years in charge of the subscription Dc
partment of the Independent, at Helena
and was formerly a clerk in the Fir
National bank at Moscow, Idaho. At tt
time of the shooting he appeared to
slightly under the influence of liquO
The gun with which the shooting w;
done is an ld-fashioned 41-calib
Derringer with two barrels.
The bullet had not been located up
a late hour this afternoon but DR.. No
cross will endeavor to locate it by meal
of the X-ray.