The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1917-08-23
prominent White Bird Merch-
ant shot Down in Gold
Blood Saturday.
no WARNING GIVEN
Arthur Freeman, After Ter
rible Deed, Shoots Self
Through Head.

(Suecial Correspondence
~ little town Of White Bird was
,e,rihly shocked last Saturday when
s5ols rang out and the news spread that
john Neyin, the leading merchant and
5ssslupss man OF the community had
heen shot to death at the hands of
arthur freeman, VINO had then taken
Ms own life with same gun. It was q
iew minutes past twelve O'Clock that
NJ Eevin was seen going 3lp the street
inward his home for dinner reading the
paper. which was bis daily custom
Hr. Mr.. Anderson, who Witnessed
he tragedy says that be happened 30
- out into the front room Of the par
msrce, looking out through the door
- nm Mr.. Nevin pass By absorbed In
~ perusal Of TIE paper. he saw an
dIher man coming diagonaIly across
~ street Az he approached Mr.. New
b be spoke to him, 1.-THE words were
not distinguishable.) John Nevin look
u up from MIS- paper. and whirled as
Y 10 grab the gun or run away, when
<e nan shot and Mr. Nevin Tell on
ihe Sidewalk against the fence. AZ he
ikII be said word or two which ended
N d pitiful moan. The kfak shot took
e1ect In the left shoulder and would
not have proved fatal, but the assassin
be1t over him and fired two shots un-
Ar bis left arm. evidsnfly aiming al
Tie heart II Mr.. Nevin succeeded in
grasping the gun, the first shot hit him
under the left arm In all likelihood.
Be then walked on a few steps, and on
turning around saw his victim move
and he rushed back and putting the
Gun into the face OF Mr. Nevin fired one
shot into the left side of the forehead,
lhen another below his right eye. He
ihen ran away and seating himself up
On the steps OF the church fired shot
INTO his own brain. The bullet went
through his head, lodging In the side
q the church building.
Before Freeman had killed himself,
kfv Anderson had rushed for the doc
'of' and Mr.. Nevin was still breathing
when DR.. Foskett reached his side,
pug passed away before his home was
reached across the street.
Mr. Freeman was carried to the
nome OF his sister, Mrs. May Myers,
where ne died couple of hours later,
Wltnout regaining consciousness.
Inc gun he used was new 3S-cali-
bre 6shooter. He had three rounds of
ammunition In his pocket.
from letters found In his room ad-
dressed TO Dave Brown and the coun-
anorney, 1t appears that the whole
slaif was most carefully planned. In
he letter to Mr.. Brown he said that
sser since he saw his mother being
mwered into the grave at New Mead
sws w last May, he knew he had to kill
Af, Nevin, whom he blamed for his
nothers death. He quoted from the
piole: An eye for an eye and a
,vVtn Tor TOOTH" all of which plain
Y SNOW that his mind was unbalanced.
- saiu to blame no one; to bury him
= the simplest manner possible. The
,e''ers We're dated August the 18th. He
laa been in town but few days and
SSaiFdreu Sri 70 be unusually cheerful. The
qss "a. oelore the tragedy he helped the
11v~h .', family pick fruit and there
NJ. ns,e no Indications that he was fnedi-
a,lhs narm to any one.
!. sohh Nevin was born April 13, 1871,
T. T. .ne county Of Antrim, Ballyon. Bal
Hsmohey, ireland. He came to the
~al1ed States In 1883, and spent eight
* isals IN the eastern states. In 1891
=. - same to Idaho and engaged In min
jnsasaa : auano county. Later he became
sns mai ss'eu IN the mercantile business,
Sslmnss @ y was the leading spirit In the
i Vn ny, River Stores Co. with houses
y Wan "nlte Bird, Lucille and higgins, as
49, ta.'u as one OF the founders and direc-
sh ,JIs q the White Bird state bank,
'I,ch opened this spring.
!. ~ april 15, 1903. he was married
S..' us Jennie Newman. To them were
~ N. nree children, Anna. George. and
Il tto'lier, who survive To mourn the nm
iather. ''e y sne husband ana
n = !. me death of Mr.. Nevin the Salm-
M. 'ser country has losr one OF its best
Il g. Ills place viii be very difficult
,..aa ~. He was a booster. He was
Il & Y % help financially and otherwise
AM. m things that were needed to be
NY .'e % help the community onward
tbst 5aecess ~ In life Is due to the fact
self Is IS stuck 70 his work, proved him
nil as,vrtny OF trust and confidence
the ~ Santation he derived largely from
" school OF experience.
An.ales s'leral services were held Monday
Rss es. -. from The Methodist church
Il *. anderson conducting the services
slaS III .:a sanrch. The church was decor.
haps a.n American flags, three being
srors outside the door and three
''a 'ne pulpit and platform. An