The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-10-14
Clsalesha Thomas, Aged "a, Shot and
Killed While Tusseling With Mrs.
Frances CampiOn Who Tried
to Take Gun From Him.

Shalesha Thomas, aged 81, whose
home is said to be in Pittsburgh, Pa,
died at st. Joseph's hospital in this
city at 1870 O'Clock Tuesday morning
from the accidental discharge of .45
Colts revolver in the hands of Mrs.
Frances Campion, wife of VIM. Cam
pion, local Great Northern switch
man. The shooting occurred at one
O'Clock Monday morning at the home
Of Bill Berg, just south Of the Great
Northern passenger station.
Bill Berg, proprietor Of the room
ing house, had been out hunting Sun
day and returned about ten o'cloci.
that night. When he returned home,
Shalesha Thomas and his companion,
F. w. Kline, who had been roominr
at te Berg place for about ten daye
where in the living room with Mrs.
Berg and Mrs. Frances Campion, who
was visiting at the Berg home The
party admit they had all been drink.
ing and having merry time general
ly and it is said that Berg had been
drinking some. He Joined the party
and Berg and Thomas began to argue
politics. This led to a fight and it i
said that Thomas got the better Of
Berg, scratching his face some. Kline
parted the men and advised Thomas
to 60 up town and get ROOM Thom-
as put on his coat and said he would
do so. He walked into Berg's bed
room and Mrs. Campion, suspectine
that he was about to do some foul
work, followed him into the room. Sht
saw him take Berg's revolver from
the drawer when she tried to strike il
out of his hand. She grabbed the
gun and in some manner it was dis
charged. The bullet tore hole thru
the feshy part of the left hand, en-
tering the back and plowed its way
thru his intestines. The bullet tore
off the stem of Thomas watch and
punctured his intestines in eight
places. He was taken to the hos
pital and an operation performed a.
once. His surgeon informed him tha
he was about ready for the ''long jour
ney" and that if he had anything T.
say, it was a good time to say IL
Thomas was game fellow, and re-
marked that he had been in tigh.
places twice before and came out alive
and he predicted that he would be W
walking around in a day or two. f.
stated that he had nothing to say
about the shooting, except that tn
gun was discharged accidentally whilc
he was examining it. In the after.
noon States Attorney Herigstad an
Larry Byrne, court reporter, went t.
Thomas room and the follow stated
that Mrs. Campion was not to blanr
for the shooting. Don't blame her
I'm to blame myself" he said
Thomas came to Minot from BIZ
lings, Mont, about ten days ago. II"
was rounder and was said to be =
tough citizen. He informed Chie
of Police Lano that he was harves
hand, but the Chief noticed that hi:
hands were as soft as woman's. H
also stated that he was living OF
from certain investments and he haj.
papers with him showing that he re
ceived money on occasions. A brothc"
is said to be at the head of a Fidelitr
company in Pittsburgh. He said =
sister. Mrs. James j. Stream, lives &,
Warwick Blvd. Kansas City, Kan
and wanted the officers to notify he
She has been notified and the da,"
of the funeral will depend on word re
ceived from her.
y F. w. Kline. Thomas companion
is 35 years old. He claims ValleT
CNy and Ldgerwood, N. D., as his
home He said he had known Thomas
70" six wears.
Mrs. Camnon is rather good look
ing woman about 30 years Of age. Sh"
resides with her husband and are PIE
: pairing to move into home whlt
they have just bought on First Ave-
nue.. n. f.
Kline was held at the police static.
following the shooting, but he ha-
been released He will testify al tn
Coroner's inquest as well as Berg
Mrs. Berg and Mrs. Campion: The
state will file no charges against the
members Of the, party, but the city ap-
thorities will probably have them a.
rested for disorderly conduct.
Our old friend. Thos. Elv Of COluHl-