The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-02-13
HOW HE SHOT AND KILLED HIS
RELATIVES, THOMAS AND
LYDIA LITTLEJoHN.
ALL DETAILS ESCAPE Ill.,,
Was Down and Being Kicked by Lit
tlejohn, and Only Remembered
Some One Twisting ut Wrist
Of His Pistol Hand.

Thomas Pooley, on trial for the killing
OF his son-in-law, Thomas Littlejohn,
was on the stand this morning, the
state having closed It's side OF the case
last night Pooley reclted the story of
the trouble with Littlejohn.
II said, Tom, what's the trouble?'
and he said: Them that don't come TO
see my wife when she's well can't come
when she's sick. II they do they'll be
kicked outv lie meant me and my wife.
lie said. You and your wife are no good,
either" Pooley testified.
Littlejohn went out and brought back
stick and half of giant powder.
Poolcy said.
Pooley then described how Llttlejohn
tried To light the fuse attached TO tho
powder and explode the powder, and said
that Iittlejohn told him they would all
go to hadcs together.
Pooley testified to other threats made
by Littlejohn.
Pooley testified that he got an officer
to guard his house the night following
the giant powder incident and thai he
and his family were so frightened they
remained up till In the morning and
then slept In other room than those usu-
ally occupied.
He also saw Former County Attorney
Connolly and asked for protection. and
the latter gave him permission to carry
pistol.
Pooley testified that William Hockey
told him, prior to the killing, that he had
heard Littlejohn say In station IN the
Original mine that either the latter or
Pooley would be dead before the year
was out.
Pooley, when he reached the killing,
said that he asked Littlejohn, when they
and the latter's wife met at the corner Of
virginia and Montana streets, why he
Kept abusing him, and that Iittle1ohn
called him "A "bloody old liar" and or
| fered to fight him. Then he said to
LittleJohn that the latter ought To be
ashamed to want to fight him, an old
man.
lie testified that he also told Little John
to remember III the latter wanted
trouble that he had a gun In his pocket.
Llttlejohn went down the street dis
lance. and then turned and said: II can
whip you. gun and ALL"
After that Littlejohn took him by the
neck and threw him on his back
Drew Pistol While Prostrate.
Pooiey offered to show the jury the
scare on his neck where the flesh was
torn off by Littlejohn.
He said he had the pistol In his right
hand coat pocket and drew 1t when he
landed on his back on the ground as
nearly as he could remember.
Pooley said Littlejohn kicked him on
the right cheek and on his head, and that
all he could remember then was some one
twisting at his right wrist, the pistol be-
Ing in his right hand.
The next thing he remembered was
some one lifting him up and telling him
that he had killed his daughter and that
he replied: "Oh, no; / could not have
done It,"
His testimony was to the effect that
he knew nothing about shooting Little
john and his daughter; that everything
was indlstlnct after the kicks In the face
were received.
The first evidence for the defense to-
day was that of John Annear Pooley's
friend. II was presented In the form OF
deposition and supported the opening
statement Of Pooley's counsel.
The deposition said that Annear
walked down Montana street with
Pooley to the corner OF Virginia street,
where they met the Littlejohns. There
Fooley asked Littlejhon what he was
abusing him for and LittleJohn called
Pooley bloody old liar"
Then the Littlejohns went down Mon
tana street, and Pooley and Annear
waited until they had gone ahead soma
distance, and then followed, Pooey being
on his way home.
After that Littlejohn turned and came
back to Pooley, distance of 40 or 30
rect returning like man WHO intended
to fight. He walked back rapidly.
I'VE thought we'd walk slow and then
there'd be no trouble" the witness had
deposed That was stricken out
When Littlejohn returned, Pooley
backed away. Littlejohn took Pooley by
the neck with both hands and threw him
on the ground.
What did Pooley do?" the questioner
asked
"Pooey cried out for help He said
Take him Off the witness had de-
posed.
Annear Was Peacemaker.
Annear tried to separate the men. He
put hand on each, Littlejohn being on
top Of Pooley; but he could not separate
them. Pooley then fired the shots that
killed Littlejohn and Mrs Littlejohn
I.ittlejohn took Pooley by the wrist but
not till after the first shot as fired Mrs.
Littlejohn was standing by the men with
her hand on Littlejohn's shoulder. She
was trying to pull her husband away.
The witness had heard no remarks.
There was nothing said during the strug-
gle that he heard
Mrs. Littlejohn fell on the ground after
she was. shot and some man came and
-ook the baby out of the road.
A man took Pooley home and later
ne was takensfnto custody by the police. n
On crossvexaminatio the witness had