Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-01-13
FATAL EFFECT
OF GUN PLAY
James Skinner Dies From the Terri
Bile Wound inflicted by John
Flynn, the Barber.
FUNERAL HELD THIS AFTERNOON
Fraternal Order Of Eagles Have
Charge of the ceremonies-Bit-
ter Feeling Against Flynn.

John, Better known as "Jack"
Flynn, shot and fatally wounded Jas.
Skinner last Thursday afternoon
about o'clock, the shooting taking
place in the Mint saloon on the cor
ner of Main street and Fourth ave-
nue.. From the testimony of all of the
eye witnesses of the difficulty, Skim
ner, Flynn, William Kimball, w.
Scott, Jack White and George Cor
don. were in the place when the con.
versation turned to difficulty which
Flynn had in the morning with neg
ro over some borrowed money. Skin
ner commenced to twit Flynn with
having had trouble with a negro, say
ing among other things that he
thought it strange that fellow
couldn't pick row with some one be-
sides negro.
This apparently angered Flynn, who
said: well, maybe you want some
trouble" and at the same time struck
Skinner under the left eye with his
clenched hand. Skinner was taken
by surprise and instantly grappled
with Flynn. They scuffled around
and finally both fell to the floor at
the end OF the bar Here George Cor
l., A.. lo, touda, iptarfarad and
pulled the men apart. Flynn then
went into his barber shop, which is in
the rear of the saloon building and
separated from the bar room by a
small card room some ~ or IA feet
wide. His face was bleeding from
scratch received in the scuffle and
he went to the glass and with towel
commenced to wipe away the blood.
All of the while he and Skinner were
talking, the latter upDraiding Flynn
for striking him when he was only
"joshing" him. Flynn opened a
drawer of a small BARRIERS stand and
took out revolver. After holding 1T
awhile he placed 1t back on the stand.
As he did so, Skinner said, IF | were
as big as you | would not get a gun, I"
and also said something about flynn
being too big coward to shoot any.
one. Flynn said that if the words
were repeated he would shoot an
eye out" Skinner repeated his re-
mark and, quick as fash, Flynn grab
bed the gun In his left hand and fred.
Skinner half doubled up, and with his
hands to his side, staggered up
against a peg pool table across the
room from the bar. While Billie Kim
ball was taking care of him, George
Gordon went into the barber shop and
told Flynn to give him the pistol. This
Flynn did and then Gordon went out
in the street to assist Kimball get
Skinner to Delzell's drug store across
from the saloon.
Within a few moments the officers
were on the spot but Flynn had utter
ly disappeared. The last seen OF him
was by Red" Scott, whom Gordon
left In charge of the place, who saw
Flynn pull off his barber's coat and
20 out OF the back door onto Fourth
avenue. The officers made hurried
vi tuc htai thS piott
of the shooting, but could discover nc
signs of the missing man. They then
searched the southern part of Town
but were still unsuccessful In finding
any trace of their man.
About an hour after the shooting
Sheriff Slater returned to the place
where the tragedy was enacted tC
make yet more determined search
of the premises. Going back to the
rear of the Mcdonnell saloon he saw
Flynn peering up from behind some
beer cases and boxes. The man was
pulled out and taken to jail. He ap
peared to be maudlin drunk, bu
whether 1t was feigned or real re
mains a question. He has refused tt
say anything about his terrible deed
After being assisted to the 1rut
store, Skinner was attended by DIR
Attix, who happened to be passing b!
when the shooting occurred, AMI lat
er by DR.. Treacy. who was called II
consultation. It was found thut tn,
bullet, which proved to be from
46-calibre Colts revolver. had pene
trated the right side just below tn
tenth rib, passed through the righ
lobe of the liver and came out BIZ
tween the tenth and eleventh ribs
about 2la inches from the center O
the spinal column. As soon as pos
sible he was placed in vehicle an
taken to the city hospital. On Frida
his condition was slightly encourat
ing and II was thought that he ha
la In ftfa ntt tha IL
tense pain which he suffered made
necessary for the physicians to kee
him under the influence OF oplate
part Of the time. Saturday night hi
condition became critical and on Sui
day the attending physicians abal
doned all hopes OF recovery. His n
bust constitution Is probably all ths
kept him alive Sunday night, but O
Monday morning at 1910 o'clock h
weakened body gave UP the struggl
and death claimed james Skinner Il
Its own.
In the afternoon his body was take
10 the undertaking rooms OF GeoTg
Creel. where Drs. Attix and Treac
made a post mortem examination
The examination showed that the
clinical diagnosis had been correc
Death resulted from acuIe peritonlti
on Monday morning, a coroner
fury. composing d. B. Morris, Villa
Hortop. Morris Sloan, Sam Weave
]. ID. Boone and Noble Walker wei
to the hospital and viewed the r
mains. after which they postponed Il
inquest until yesterday afternoon
2 O'Clock. The inquest was held
the office Of Justice MacFarland, wi