Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1901-07-11
TRAGIC ENDING
OF THE FOURTH
Charlie Green Winds Up q Drunken
Celebration by Killing His
Friend, Jim
Baker.

since its organization furnished a
tragic ending for Forsyth's Fourth of
July, and as result of a pistol shot
fired in drunken frenzy by Charlie
Green, one of his best friends, Jim
Baker, lies dead The Fourth was
quiet day in Forsyth, the celebration
at Miles City having attracted all who
were inclined to make a day of it to
that town. There was no amusement
Of any sort going on and the only indi
cation that the national holiday was
at hand was the occasional pop Of a
fire cracker or the spectacle of a
drunken man making the rounds of
the saloons.
Chas. Green, young man en-
ployed as section boss on the rail
road did not go to Miles City, but con-
tented himself by showing his patriot
ism by a liberal patronage at the
bars. About eleven O'Clock at night
he was fairly and satisfactorily
drunk and dropped into Sickler &
Dowlin's place. There were num-
Der Of friends there, and the party had
d few rounds of drinks, and everything
seemed pleasant as June wedding.
| Jim Baker, who was in the party,
talked with Green and the two en-
gagged in a friendly scuffie. Baker
threw Green down, and the party
laugh:ngly took another drink togeth-
er. Green then left and walked to his
room in the Occidental Hote! and re-
turned to the saloon. No one was in
side but Baker, Tom Slater the night
bartender and a young man employed
| in Papan's restaurant. Without
word Of warning Green stepped to the
door and fired shot at Baker, but
missed the mark. Slater and the
| boy ran to the rear door and Baker
stepped behind the bar and secured
pistol from underneath the back bar.
There were two pistols in the same
compartment, a big As unloaded and
smaller gun loaded with shells. Bak-
er got hold of the unloaded weapon
and snapped the gun at Green several
times. In the meantime Green stepped
inside of the doorway and fired an
other shot at Baker. The bullet took
effect in Bakers groin and he fell Just
in front of the cigar case, mortally
wounded. Green turned ard fled and
Tom Slater and others rushed to assist
the wounded man. He died in less
than an hour.
After leaving the saloon Green
cooked his pistol and walked directly
across the street where he stood for a
few minutes on the depot platform.
From this point alltrace Of him seemed
to be lost, and his whereabouts at the
present writing is matter of conjec-
ture.
These are the brief facts in the case
as CLEANED from eye witnesses of the
shooting, and are in accordance with
the stories of the killing as brought
out by the coroner's inquest held the
following morning. OF course there
are conflicting stories as to the squab-
BILE, but s;mmered down to facts it
seems that Green was chagrned at
the result of the scuff1e and while
smilingly partaking with the others
the last ''round" of drinks, planned to
revenge himself as quickly as he could
lay hands on deadly weapon; a mat
ter of only a few minutes.
Another curious phase of the affair
is that there were plenty of people
about the streets to apprehend the
murderer, yet no effort was made to
even keep him in view if not arrest
him. Green walked away from the
victim of his wrath, sauntered across
to the depot and quietly faded into the
night without one hand raised to stay
him nor an eye to follow his course.
Deputy Sheriffs Muri and Lyndes,
who were on their way home, heard
the shots when in the neighborhood of
the depot, but supposing it a part Of
the days celebration, paid no atten-
ton to it and continued their way
homeward. They returned later when
they heard of the killing and searched
; the Occidental Hotel for traces of
Green, but could find none. A search
of his effects in his room revealed a
quantity of new goods which appear
to have been stolen. A suit of clothing
! with Marcey's price mark attached