The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-02-28
HOMICIDE WAS
UNSUITABLE
HOBO KILLED A. CUSTER az
HOTEL EMPLoYE.
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY
Night Bartender at Green's Hotel
Forced to shoot Man Named Het-
land, Who Was Breaking Into the
Hotel-Exonerated by Jury.

While he was attempting to break
into 2. L. Green's hotel at Custer.
early yesterday morning, q man named
Hetland, who is a stranger in the
community, was shot and instantly
killed by Sam helms, night bartender
at the hotel.
Deputy County Attorney Charles
Taylor, Sheriff Webb, Coroner Smith
and stenographer Mitchell returned
last night from Custer, where they
beld an inquest yesterday over Het-
lands body.
According to the story told by wit
nesses at the inquest. Aetland ar
rived in Custer Wednesday morning
from Miles City, where 1t is said he
was arrested on suspicion OF being
Ed Grady, who il wanted for the muir.
der Of Sergeant Robert Hannah in
this city.
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He hung around the saloons at Gus
ter all day Wednesday, begging drinks
and loafing. 1t was brought out that
he told one Of the men around the
saloon that he was q nephew OF Tom
Collins. q former saloon man Of this
city who is running a saloon at Joliet
at present.
Mrs. Green, wife Of the proprietor
Of the hotel, first heard Hetland at
tempting to break into her room. He
had broken the window pane and she
could see his. face through the
broken window.
She became frightened and notified
Nelms, who was tending bar in the
saloon, which is in the front part OF
the hotel. helms, fearing that an at
tempt at burglary was being made,
grabbed a gun and ran to Mrs. Green's
room.
He called to Hetland several times
and, receiving no answer, opened the
door and called again. Hetland did
not reply, but started toward him in
a threatening manner, whereupon
helms fired three shots, all CT which
passed through Hetland's breast and
pierced both lungs and probably the
ascending aorta. From the wounds it
is evident that death was almost in.
Simultaneous.
After helms had shot the man he
notified every one in the hotel Of what
had occurred, and the body was Gov
cred up and the coroner and sheriff
notified.
After the arrival Of the officers a
coroner's jury vas formed. and after
all the witnesses had been heard their
verdict was that the death Of Het
land was due to gunshot wounds in.
ficted by a gun IN the hands Of Sam
Nelms, and that the homicide was
UNSUITABLE"
Nothing was found on tHetland's
body that would give any clew to his
identity, in fact all that the mar had
in his pockets was a five cent piece
and half a flask OF whisky.
helms OF Good Character.
helms, the mon who shot Hetland
fs q fine appearing young man whose
reputation at Custer is the best pos
sible. He Is well educated and, not
w~ithstanding the fact that he is. tend
Ing bar, does not drink q drop He
expresses sorrow that he was forced
to shoot Hetland In order to protect
himself and the hotel from being
robbed, and is said to have taken fal
greater chances tnan the law requires
before he did kill Hetlana. His repu.
tation for cool h~eadedness and self
control is excellent, and the consensus
Of opinion IN Custer Is that he. was
perfectly Justified in killing Hetland
and that no blame should be attached
to him.