Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-01-30

SSSA
making this territory for about a wear.
and that he knew March, part Of their
territory being on the same lines. On,
the evening of the shooting he had first
seen the two men, March and West.
standing at the left end of the. hotel
counter, about at the curve where they
were talking. He could not hear
what was said, and their conversation
low, but something in the earnest
ness OF the remarks passed attracted
his attention. There was a parley of
but a moment and then March struck
west twice, knocking the latter to the
floor. He did not know whether both
blows were struck with the same hand
or whether both fists were used.
Conway at the time was standing at
the radiator at the south of the room
near the office desk. He saw West
fall to the. floor after being struck by
March, and at the time West had his
hands to his face for protection. When
West fell to the floor, March stood over
him and struck at him twice again.
Witness thought he struck at his face.
but did not see whether or not the
blows landed. The blows were struck
straight downward at Vests face,
March standing over his body. Wit
ness at this time came towards March
and West, about ten feet, and stood
there till the trouble was over. He
saw Wood come rapidly across the
room from the telephone booth, and
grabbing March pulled or backed him
away from West about four or five
feet. West got up from the floor and
put one of his hands to his hip pocket.
seemingly in reach for his gun, and
later pulled it from his pocket, as he
did SO. walking south along the Office
desk about six feet and stopped about
on a line running from the railing of
the desk to the settee in the center of
the room and about four feet from the
desk. He carried the revolver with
the muzzle pointing downward till he
reached the place where he fired the
shot. He had his eye on March all
the time, but had been walking side
ways. When he stopped he faced
March and drawing the gun up a tride.
about on a line with the lower part of
his chest. Witness located March ait
the time of the shooting as standing
about four feet from the settee, and
between it and the north wall of the
Office. He was standing still and fac
ing West when the shot was fired. He
estimated the distance between the two
men as about Is feet when March was
shot. Witness heard West make some
remark just after he shot, but could
not remember what it was. though he
was quite certain that the word "die''
was used in some way. Witness paid
no more attention to West but followed
the movements of March. who after
the shot said I'm shot," or something
to that effect and took a step or SO
backward. ..-
On cross examination by Mr.. Coch-
rane Mr.. Conway stated it was after
the second blow was struck that West
fell, and that he fell backward. He
did not hear his head strike the floor.
After West fell he scrambled about
and kicked up his feet in an endeayor
to keep March off. March, however,
held one of his legs and continued to
strike at him. The blows were appar-
emily aimed at Vests face, but witness
could not see whether or not thew
landed. Witness had not followed the
movements of March from the time he
was pulled from West till the shooting
was done, but he was positive that
when West fired the shot, March was
standing about four feet month of the
settee. Regarding some points wit
ness was very clear, but on others his
memory was lacking. He said this
was because some things had inn
pressed him at the time and he had
taken particular notice of them. and
that others were dim on his mind. as
events transpired SO rapidly that it was
impossible for lin to follow, them all
at once and be accurate. The things
he paid particular attention to he re-
membered well, but other happenings
that took place at the same time he
had barely noted if at all. Witness
thought that from the time West got
from the floor till the time the shot
was fired a person counting at the usual
rate of speed would count about six or
seven. Witness said he was very GER
tain as to where the two men stood
relatively, and in connection with the
desk and the settee, but that he would
not be certain as to the exact distance
that separated them.
The noon adjournment was here
taken. On r~eassembling after dinner