The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-09-23
HORTON KILLS CRAMER

Wallace, Idaho, Sept. 22.-W. F.
Oramer fell dead on the flocr of a
saloon in Osburn this morning, a
charge of lead from a shotgun enter
ing his open mouth, the slayer, Capt.
A. p Horton, proving quicker in the
use of firearms than Cramer, whd was
reaching for his pistol. Horton.
after notifying the sheriff's Office -
the tradgedy, lathered his face had
shaved himself in the room where the
dead man lay and awaited the arrival
of the sheriff. The coroner's jury re-
turned a verdict Of self-defense.
Cramer, who was better known in
this district as "Crazy Frenchy,
met his death In the saloon belonging
to Capt. A. p. Horton and William
Osburn at Osburn, between Wallace
and Wardner. The full charge en-
tered Cramer's mouth, fracturing
the jaw in at least five places and
causing instantaneous death.
About 80 o'clock Cramer entered
the saloon and demanded a drink
from Capt. Horton, who was cleaning
un. Horton refused to give the
drink, because, as he told the coron
er's jury, he had known Cramer's
character when under the influence
of liquor. and also because of the Sun
day rest law. Other evidence goes to
show that Cramer appears to have lost
his temper, and after smashing some
glasses on the floor reached for his
gun, which he carried in the inside
pocket of his waistooat.
Horton at the same time reached
for shotgun under the bar and dis
charged the contents in Cramer 3 face,
killing him instantly.
Hotron says that "Frenchy" hated
him like poison and had often threat
ened to shoot him, and Horton there
fore did not care to take any chances.
Immediately after the shooting
Horton himself notified the sheriff s
department in Wallace, after which
he shaved himself in the room where
Cramer's body was lying on the floor.
Six men we're present at the time
of the shooting, but none saw exactly
what had happened, as they were
playing cards and sitting with their
backs to the bar.
HORTON EXONORAIED
Sheriff Bailey. accompanied by
Deputies Angus Sutherland and
Thoma sMcCabe and Chief Of Police
Victor Langley of Wallace, all left
for the scene of the shooting i'm
mediately, and ON a search Of the
body by Sheriff Bailey a fully loaded
revolver was found in the inside waist
coat pocket. County Coroner ID. E.
Keyes was summoned Immediately,
and after considerable difficulty Miss
Ethel Wragg, a stenographer Of Wal
lace, was secured. A jury, consist
ing of g. A. Lehoeffer, William
Newell, Benjamin Flave, William
Buell., Harry Adams, P. II. Craven, NJ.
Pritehard and William Messenger,
was empaneled. A number of wit
nesses were examined and the evil
dence given by each was practically
the same as already told. The jury
returned a verdict of iustifiable bomi.
eide.
Captain Horton is one Of the best
known characters in the district and
is a pioneer Of the Occur d'Alenes,
having come TO this district in 1883.
EARLY in the spring of this year be
entered into partnership with William
Osburn in a saloon at Osburn. he
lie now 81 years Of age. Cramer wa
q Frenchman by birth, man Of good
education, and came Of an excellent
family. He was a victim Of thu
drink habit and when under the in
fiuenee Of liquor behaved strangely
de had been in Jail many times IN