The Billings gazette., 1909-12-17
NOT MUCH HOPE
FOR RECOVERY
MOsely Resting Easier, but Chances
for Life Are Regarded
as Slight.
NOW BELIEVED SUICIDE SUPPORTS A VILLAGE

OhIy hOHAdEA Mau0 Dy unfortunate
Adds to Belief That Shot Was De.
liberately Fired - Connections of
Young Man i'm Missouri Are Good.
Sustained by his remarkable vital
ity, P. A. Mosely. the young man who
on Wednesday shot himself in the
Hotel Ell Niblo, fought desperate
battle all day yesterday against death.
Early in the morning reports from
St. Vincent's hospital, to which insti-
tuition he was taken yesterday after
noon at o'clock, were to the effect
that the young man was still alive.
but was very low and that little hope
for his surviving the night were en-
tertained. His wound was yesterday
evening probed as much as his critical
condition would permit and the physi-
clans were successful in some meas
ure in relieving his suffering.
The theory that the young man in
tended suicide was somewhat substan-
tiated yesterday by the only remark
he made concerning the shooting,
which was: Don't ask any more
how it happened; 1 have been mighty
wicked" All other attempts to get
him to talk of the shooting were fu-
tile and on account of his slowly ebb-
ing vitality the physicians did not en-
courage his talking.
1t was learned yesterday that the
young mans uncle and guardian is
Clay Mosely, editor and publisher of
the Bloomfield CMo.) Vindicator and
president of banking institution in
that city. The young man worked for
number of years as printer in his
uncle's shop, going later to ST. Louis.
where four months ago he was mar
ried. He then took his bride to Myers
Falls, Wash. The money, his failure
to obtain which has been given as a
cause of his dependency and a prob
able reason for his attempt on his own
life, is deposited in Colville, Wash
From Thursdays Daily.
GLIDING stoutly to his original
declaration that the discharge of
the bullet which entered his right
side and after passing through the
liver lodged near the spinal column,
was purely accidental and was not
with suicidal intent, P. A Mos
ley is now lying in d room in the Ell
Niblo hotel, battling bravely for his
life; struggle in which the attend
ing physicians declare, he has about
one chance in 100 of winning. At an
early hour this morning he was re-
ported to be in about the same condi-
ton with little improvement but with
fair prospects of living through the
night. If he safely survives the night
and is able to be taken to the hospi-
tai this morning an attempt will be
made to extricate the bullet. In the
meanwhile all that medical science can
do is being done to save the young
mans life and he and his young wife,
a girl of but little over 18 and a
bride of but four months, are cIinging
desperately to the thread of hope Of
fered them by the physicians.
Shortly before 2 o'clock yesterday
afternoon a shot was heard in the
room which Mosley and his wife were
occupying in the El Niblo. Those who
first reached the room found Mosley
lying on the floor, smoking revolver
few feet away, while the young man,
apparently dying, was grasping his
side. DR.. Lindsey was at once sum-
moned and the fight for life wherein
death seems to hold all the advantage,
was begun. Fearing that death would
come before he could make any state
ment those in attendance urged Mos
ley to talk, and between gasps he
said:
Il did not do it on purpose. 1t was
an accident l was cleaning the gun
and it went off"
When further questioned he refused
to talk, and asked that a minister be
summoned, Rev Edward Smith of the
Methodist church responding to the
call. At other times during the day
and night Mosley took occasion to as
sure his wife and those around him
that the shot was accidental and that
he did not intend suicide, his remarks
leaving the impression that he might
have considered such a step and have
mentioned it to his wife.
Mr.. and Mrs. Mosley came to Bill
ings Friday of last week, from Myers
Falls. Wash, in the hope that work
could be obtained in this city Mosley,
printer by trade, applied at the To-
cal printing establishments but was
unsuccessful in his search for employ
ment. He came originally from Mis-
souri,, was employed for some time on
the st. Louis papers, and is said to
have an uncle in Bloomfield, Mo-, who
is president of a bank Mrs. Mosley
also declares that her husband has
considerable money, at present tied up
in a legal ENHANCEMENT, and that his
inability to obtain any of this fund has
caused him to be respondent She
says that at the time of the shooting
he was absolutely without money and
that this, and the failure to receive a
reply to a telegram addressed to his
uncle, seemed to weigh heavily on his
mind.
When kilograms were sent to Mos