Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1902-01-16
A FATAL SHOOTING AFFRAY,
Richard Cfea Fires Three Shots Into
Tom Y. McLsod Saturday.
SHOOTING OCCURRED At THE MAZE
One Juror Refused to Sign Verdict (,
Claiming Testimony Justified
Release of Accused.

Release Of Accused.
The most deplorable affair in the
annals Of Grangeville occurred
Saturday evening at 5 o'clock in
COte's Maze saloon, in which
Thomas V. Mcleod was shot three
times and instantly killed by Rich
ard Crea, barkeeper of the place.
The particulars, as near as We can
gather them, from testimony OF
e-witnesses ut the coroner's in
QUESTION, are as follows: Deceased
entered the saloon and shook for
the drinks and treated the crowd.
Having no money he asked Cote to
charge it and the request was
granted. Later he returned and
paid the cash. Deceased then
turned to Dick Crea and made a
remark about his not liking the
idea of extending credit, to which
Crea replied that money was better
than credit. Deceased accused
Crea of treating him coldly and
showing dislike. Finally, deceased
mounted the footrail and climbed
the bar and slapped or struck at
Crea, who produced pistol and
attempted to strike Mcleod with
it, but replaced it under the bar.
Later on, after more interchange Of
harsh words on the part of de-
ceased, Crea produced piece Of
billiard cue or gas-pipe and made a
second attempt to strike Mcleod,
who was using frightful language
towards Crea, who thereupon fired
three shots in rapid succession, one
entering the body at the left nipple,
a second shattering the left fore
arm, and a third entering the body
behind the left shoulder at the
base of the shoulder blade. De-
ceased must have dropped dead IN
his tracks, for he was only heard
to exclaim: ''That's enough,
Dick" and never breathed again.
| A coroners' jury consisting Of w.
H. Clarke, foreman, X. w. White,
w. E. Gee, w. G. Chapman, F.
M. Noyes, A. T. Reynolds and G.
S. Haynes was impaneled the same
evening, and after hearing the tes-
timony of ten eye-witnesses they
brought in verdict Monday eve
ming of criminal assault, which
verdict, Mr. White declined to
sign. for the reason that in his
opinion the testimony showed the
provocation so great that the ac-
cused was justified in the killing.
The witnesses were as follows:
Erik Jansen, E. S. Davis, Warren
Cook, L. e. Smith, Lew Bates,
Monte Jarret, Irwin Overman, w.
P. Palmer and I. w Thompson.
After hearing the evidence oi
the eye-witnesses the jury brought
in q verdict that 1.-THE cause ol
death was gunshot wounds inflicted
by Richard Crea, and we further
find that the same was used will
criminal intent" This verdict wal
signed by six Of the seven jurymen
Mr.. White refusing to affix his sig
nature on the ground that the evi
dence showed provocation sufficien
to justify the shooting.
The preliminary examination
was called for Monday forenoon
before Justice Jaques, but owing
to the funeral OF the deceased Oc
curing in the afternoon it wa
postponed until Tuesday, the ac
cused meanwhile being allowed a
large on $1,000 bail, which wa
promptly furnished.
County Attorney Scales bein,
dissatisfied with the action of Jus
: tice Jacques in allowing the pris
oner out ON bail, came into cour
, Tuesday morning, and asked tina
. the case be dismissed. The cour
: so ordered it, and Crea was immt
5 diately arrested upon q warran
3 sworn out before Probate Judg
Taylor at Mt. Idaho. Upon tn
convening Of the probate cou1
at Mt. Idaho Tuesday morning d.
fendant's attorney asked for
change of venue back to Grang'
:, vile. This the probate Judge r.
9 fused to do. Defendants attorne
then asked that defendant be a
: lowed to furnish bond. This ais
i was refused and the preliminal
t examination was set for Wedne
day at 10 o'clock. The case
J still in progress as we go to pres
o but will probably be concluded tn
: evening.
8 County Attorney Scales and Cls
McNamee appear for the state al
~ J. +. Ailshie for the defendant.