The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-02
OUARRELS END
IN BLOODSHEO
Partnership Troubles in Ely
Gambling House at Last
Reach Shooting Point.
FIGHT OF LONG STANDING
GUN PLAYS OF FREQUENT &C.
cURRENcE BETWEEN TWO.

Ia Salt Lake, as well as in Ely. the
shooting of John II. Mcmahon by his
partner, Little Tex" Richard. was not
a surprise. It was known that there had
been bad blood between the two men for
long time-almost a year There have
been gun plays. made chiefly by Little
Tex, but in each OF the encounters or
the past Mcmahon uniformly gained tile
upper hand. That he was shot on Friday
night Is believed by those who knew the
two men TO be due to McMahon's con
tempt for Little Tex" He did not be-
beve that his belligerent partner would
shoot, after having seen so many armed
demonstrations which had proved to be
nothing more than buster.
Mcmahon went TO Ely nearly yea
ago, from Butte, Mont. and paid S2l 900
for a half-interest in the Capitol saloon
and gambling house. conducted by Little
Tex" Before his arrival, Richard had
had many partners. but one after another
they had retired after more or less brief
experiences with Little Tex" Mcmahon
however. would not retire From the
day he became Richards partner there
was a struggle between the two men for
mastery.
Two Types of Men.
Mcmahon was cool and a man who had
gained lsrge experience among men; Rick
ard was excitable and possessed little sa-
gscity
For this reason il was the general opin-
ion that McMahon would ultimately wiz
in the struggle. The shooting of Friday
night brings the troubles of the partners
to an acute stage. Hundreds of men in
Salt Lake and throughout the region in
which the two men are known are wait
ing TO learn the outcome of this clash,
and there are many speculatiOns as 10
what is going to happen.
Richard had seen a great deal of ad-
yersity before he arrived in Ely two years
ago. He had been waiter and had fol-
lowed other occupations in which there
was little pay but plenty of hard work.
10 u-ha ne q
stage which had carried him to the then
inland mining camp. In addition TO this
he mad a cheerful, sanguine disposition
and a penchant for making gun plays.
This was a novelty in Ely. as 1t had al
ways been a quiet. law-abiding camp. in
which men got along well together The
goOd-natured miners laughed at Little
Tex's" armed demonstrations and liked
him because ne was unlike any other
stranger who had wandered into their
district up to that time. RickarG opened
gambling games in Tom O'Neil's Palace
saloon and made a great deal of money.
Then he bought the Southern club, taxi
ing TEX" Hall as his partner. The two
men decided TO part. The terms on which
the partnership was dissolved were de-
cided on the roulette wheel. Richard TAX
ing $500 and Hall keeping the saloon and
gambling house.
When the Trouble Began.
With the 5000, Rickard bought the Cap
itOl saloon from Walt RynearsOn. 1t was
tHEn a quiet tcSOIl OF fdIClltIS anu liiitl-
ing men. Richard made il the leading
gambling place of the camp. He was lib
eral and had many parasites who followed
in his train. Their presence saved him
frequently from the jeopardy in which his
lust for the reputation of bad man.
placed him.
Then MeMahon came following a long
line of partners who had tried Richard
and parted with him. Many stories are
told of the clashes between these men.
Each time Little Tex tried to bluff
the Montana gambler the bluff was called
and laughter filled the camp. 1t is be
Heved that Richard, stung by this de-
rision. at last pulled the trigger.
Mcmahon had a good reputation as a
gambler i'm Montana before he went 10
Nevada. EIe was looked upon as an hon
orable man. with considerable business
ssgacity. He has a family living at Deer
Lodge. In addition to his partnership in
me Ely resort. Mcmahon was interested
IN Helena and had been in business in
Anaconda. Mont. He was at one time
sheriff of Powell county, Montana