Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-08-08
SHOOTING ON
MAIN STREET
Panic Caused on Crowded Thorough.
fare Friday Night by Charles Por.
ter Rice, Of Missoula.
WANTED TO KILL w. r. sEee
Mistakes Joseph Likes for His In
tended Victim and Fires Four
Shots at Him.

tended Victim and Fires Four
Shots at Him.
Mistaking Joseph Likes, who is
employed at George M. Stafiord's har-
ness store, for w. T. Bebb, Charles
Porter Rice, recent arrival, made
a desperate attempt to kill him on
Main street Friday evening, and gave
about the most reckless exhibition
OF shooting on crowded thorough.
fare ever witnessed in Lewistown.
Rice fired four shots, and all the bull
let's except one hit Likes or went
through his clothing. One struck
him in the shoulder, inflicting an ug-
ly flesh wound, while another tore
through the flesh of one arm near the
elbow, and the third struck pack
age of letters in his coat pocket, and
glancing of comb, finally dropped
down into Likes shoe.
Three Windows Broken.
One bullet went across Main street
and smashed plate glass window in
"The Kids" barber shop, next to
Shannon's store. Another, after 60
ing through Likes clothing, broke a
plate glass window in front of the
Gold Bar saloon, SO that altogether,
Rice succeeded in doing a good deal
of damage, although he did not sue
ceed in killing anybody.
Cause Of the Shooting.
The shooting occurred shortly after
8 o'clock and was the result of CO!
lisions during the early evening be-
tween Rice and w. T. Bebb, in each
of which the former was worsted.
1t is stated that the men came tn
gether on three separate occasions,
and once, at least, Rice was knocked
down by Bebb.
| While it is asserted that Rice was
not drunk, it is certain that he had
been drinking more or less during the
day, and after his last fight with
Bebb, in which he was knocked down,
he went to the Dark Horse stable,
where he had been employed for a
few days, with the intention of going
to bed. He related his troubles to
one of the men there, asserting that
Bebb, who was a comparative strang.
er to him, had mistreated him with.
out any reason, and showing the
marks Of the combat.
| Starts Out Cunning.
| Nof, II SC, lI =;
revolver, and started up the street
looking for Bebb. When he reached
Phillips drug store, Mr.. Likes wes
standing near the outer side of the
sidewalk, talking to Al. Smith, the
men being nearly in front of the Sill
yer Dollar Rice mistook Likes fol
Bebb, and without the slightest warn
ing drew his pistol and commenced
to fire. The street was crowded a.
the time, but Rice apparently cared
nothing about the number Of lives ht
placed in jeopardy so long as he coult
satisfy his lust for blood. After flrinf
the four shots at Likes, and causing
the liveliest scattering of Pedestrian
ever seen here, he turned and walked
into the Silver Dollar. A number o
men were standing near the bar. ant
as he entered, Rice waved his smok
) ing pistol along the line and said
} ~Get out of here, all of you"
The order, backed by the gun, caus
ed a perfect stampede among the
men, who rushed for the rear door
and the place was cleared as if b.
magic.
Placed Under Arrest.
When the first shot was fired, Mar
shall Marion Burke was riding dow
Main street horseback, being just a
the bridge when he saw the fash an
/. heard the report. He came on at
. run, and was in the Silver Dollar jus
after Rice had given his order tina
caused such a scattering. The maj
. shall went up to Rice and said. "Giv
, me that gun" Without a word, Rfc
handed over his weapon, and the mai
shall Immediately placed him unde
arrest and took him to the count
!. Jail.
Makes an Grafton.
; Arriving there, the prisoner prt
ceeded to make an Grafton. He wa
still considerably excited, and talke
! like a man making a stump speech
! He said he had been here only fe'
days, that he was from Missoula, an
+ that Mr.. McClain, of that place, wa
:. his step father. After telling ho
D Bebb had misused him, without caus
y as he claimed. Rice declared he ha
l. finally made up his mind to kill hin
Was Bent on Murder.
Il went up there to kill that man
g said Rice, land l am sorry that
failed. OF course l realize now th'
Z one of those bullets might have XII
u ed an innocent person. and l shou
It regret that very much. but l wantt
r. to kill that man. I shot to kill, al
when l get out of here, l will tai
it up again, and kill him II it TAX
IS me all the rest of my life to do II
N Rice was soon locked up in c.
e. and left to reflect on the position
1T which he had placed himself. Satl
sr day morning be was entirely sober Al
n to the officers expressed regret
I'd what had occurred. He said he W
le under the influence of liquor at t
III time, which led him to act as
had.
at Talks to County Attorney.
Ill Saturday afternoon. County Att
'ir ney Ayers visited the prisoner. "
in talked in the same strain. He v
or very sorry that he had mistaken I
he Likes for Bebb, but stated that he b
shot to kill, and did not deny that