The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1904-08-19
SHOT DEAD
IN SALOON
lack MADTGAN KILLED BY
"OLE" ELLIOTT.
Joseph Hamilted Received TLo'Sulf
Wounds and Is Not Expected
to Live.

last Saturday night in Elliott's saloon
Jack Madigan, Il well'known faro dealer,
was instantly killed and Joe Hamilton
received wounds from which there is
hardly a probability that he will re-
cover. Both men were shot by W. :.
Elliott, the proprietor Of the saloon in
which the affray occurred.
There we're number df people in the
saloon at the time Of the shooting and
their stories of the tragedy do not differ
materially as to the MAIN FACTS Glowing
that Madigan and Hamilton were the
'aggres sors and that Elliott shot them in
self defense.
On the night of the tragedy .Madigan
and Hamilton had been drinking quite
heavily together. They entered the s:-
ioon and went over to the faro game
where Madigan, who had lteen playing
'hesvily for several nights, placed large
bet on the layout. The bet was much
greater than the limit Of the game and
the dealer told Madtgan that he would
not turn for it, Madigan insisted and
some words passed between him and the
dealer, the elimination being that Mad
igan reached across the table and slap
.ped the dealer. Elliott, who was stand
ing at the bar, went over to the game to
quiet the disturoanc" and tried to get
Madigan and Hamilton to leave the ta-
'ble They refused to do SO and words
passed between the three. Hamilton
it is said, .nade some remark to the cf-
feet that if there was going tc be any
trouble he would declare himself in on
it and struck at Elliott. AS he did so
,Madigan stepped back and drew a re-
volver. Elliott grabbed the weapon and
IA three handed struggle for it's posses
sion commenced, tire bystanders making
a dash for the doors to be out of range
when the shooting commenced. After a
short struggle Elliott succeeded i'll get
ting the revolver away from Madigan,
IknOcked him down and then turned
away from him. Hamilton just at this
time struck Elliott from behind and the
latter again faced around and Madigap,
partially arising from the floor, grabbed
Elliott around the deg. Then Elliott
fired the fatal shot and Madigan fell
back and expired tslmostEnstantly. The
ball entered his right breast, then
glanced and ranged upward, passing
through his neck and severing the jueu-
lar.
All this time Hamilton was hanging
on to Elliott from behind. The latter
wrenched himself partially free, turned
trigger. The ball struck Hamilton in
the right groin and he fell to the floor.
He arose partially and Elliott fired the
second shot, the ball striking Hamilton
below the right shoulder blade, ranging
upward and lodged lin the back Of his
head.
The whole tragedy was enacted in
mach less time than d. takes to tell of it.
Immediately after the shooting Elliott
surrendered himself to the custody of
Constable OToole.
Madigan's body was removed to the
Miners Union hall and Hamilton was
taken to the home of friend and 1ar.
Turner was called to attend him. Later
DR.. Rowland of this place and Dr. Ham
mond Of Tonopah We're called in con-
sultation. From tine nature of tie
wound in the groin the doctors pro-
l.ounced it as almost certain to prove ia
tai. The doctors located and extracted
the bullet which lodged in the base Of
the skull. At latest accounts Hamil-
TONS condition was as favorable as coukl
he expected. The chief danger is that
blood poisoning will set in, otherwise it
is considered that there is chance Of
his recovery.
The tragedy, although most depiora-
BILE one and great shock to the COM
munity, is one of those unfortunate af-
fairs which from all accounts it appears
could not well have been avoided. FL
iiott and Madigan were former partners
in the saloon business in TonOpah, but
the latter's interest in the business.
From that time Madigan bore a grudge
against Elliott and it is said made
threats against him at various times.
This feeling was such that it had come
to be understood that climax and seri-
Gus trouble was bound to come at some
time. Madigan was well known in this
section and had made several trips to
the camp, coming here on the last one
only about week before he met his
death. He leaves wife, who resides in
Salt Lake City.
Hamilton is comparative stranger
here and only reached the camp the
early part of last week.
The inquest over the body of Madigan
was set to take place Monday afternoon
before Justice Collins. The inquest was
taken up and taking of testimony COM
menced but it was decided to postpone
the investig ltion pending the arrival of
District Attorney Green. 1t will be
again taken up at O'clock tomorrow
afternoon. =,
Elliott has been relea d from custody
on bonds in the sum Of $4,000. He has
secured the services of 5. +. Nermilyea
I;s H. nralipaipnry