Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-07-23

49, III december 27
1898, several well known citizens =
Mountain Home and the surronndin
country were enjoying the tholida
season IN a sociable poker game !,
the Palace saloon, a popular resor
in the city of Mountain Homo =
which BRUCE was one of the pronrie
tors.
While the game was in progress
three gamblers, Joe Farrell and tw,
brothers named Bilyeu, came info m
saloon, and Farrell seated himsaIf =,
the table, calling for ehipg PER-,
Waters, who was dealtne Cd ~
time, told Farrell that it was a work
ingman's game and that they desiref
none OF his kind of people in tbt
play. Farrell insisted on getting in.
to the game, and picking up a hand
of cards that was dealt to one of tbf
players, Walters ordered Farrell r.
lay the cards down on tine tahla u
which Farrell drew his revolver and
struck Walters on the head with II
threatening language as he did az
Waters drew his pistol in his own
defense, when Farrell began firm
at Waters, who returned the fire
mortaly Wounding Farrell and nrov.
identially escaping injury himself
from Farrell's murderour fire Saw.
eral shots were exchanged and dur
ing the fusilade Bruce walked over
to Farrell, ordering him out of the
place, and received a bullet Through
the head, killing him almost in
~stantly.
According to the statement of
Charles Chester, a creditable witness
at the coroner's inquest, Farrell,
while firing at Walters, suddenly
wheeled around and taking quick
aim sent the fatal bullet on its err
rand of death in Bruce's head.
Farrell then fell upon the floor
and lying there mortally wounded.
but bent on his murderous design.
pointed his gun at Waters, attempt
ing to fire.
Waters gun being empty and see
ing that Farrell was still bent on
shooting him, he jumped over to
where Farrell laid and commenced
to beat him on the head with his
gun to make him desist.
At this stage of the proceedings,
Larkin Bilyeu seized a large iron
poker, flew to 0'Farrell's assistance
and began to beat Waters ON the
head with it, using all his force,
until Walters sprung up and wrench
ed the poker from Bilyeu's hand,
when Bilyeu ran out. accompanied
by his brother.
A post mortem examination hay-
ing been made on the body of Bruce
by Drs. Nieukirk and Maxey. Cor
oner May held an inquest that lasted
three days, Judge K. |. Perky ap-
pearing for Waters and e. M. Wolfe
for the Bilyeus.
The jury returned a verdict,
charging Farrell and the Bilyeus
with the wilful murder of A. J.
Bruce.
On the 18th Farrell died from his
wounds, and Coroner May held an
other inquest, in which the jury
rendered a verdict generating Wat
ters from all blame in the matter, as
the killing was justifiable. Waters
was released from custody. The Bill
yeu boys ven arraigned before JUS
t1ce B. B. Swan on charge of MUIR
derous assault, and were held to an
sWer to the charge.
After a series of postponements
consuming a year, which the law
allows under certain conditions, the
Bilyeus were brought to trial and
acquitted by verdict of jury.
A neat headstone, erected to his
memory by admiring friends, marks
the last resting place of Alex Bruce
in the Mountain Home city cemetery,
and a street in that place bears his
in honor of his memory.
CHAPTER xxx
The newly-elected commissioners
John Holland, Robert Griffith and
B. Stanfield, met in regular
session in January, 1899, and organ
.zed by the election of John Holland
rs chairman.
The following newly-elected coun-
" officers qualified and we're duly
sworn in: Clerk of district court
md ex-officio auditor and recorder,
G, Smith; assessor and collector,
VIM. Arthur Davis; sheriff, James
probate judge, John s.
prosecuting attorney, A. M.
treasurer, F. P. AXE; sur
,eyor, s. G. Roades; superintendent
If public instruction, Miss Anna L.
The offices of prosecuting attor-
ley and superintendent of public in
'truction were newly created offices
a constitutional enactment.
County Recorder A. G. Smith APP
r. N. Griffith as his deputy,
md Sheriff O'Neill appointed James
\. PurtiM as undersheriff. w. H.
danion became deputy tax collector.
The Gilmore Republican was des-
grated as the official organ of the
under contract to do the
printing at $500 a year.
DR.. Nieukirk was elected as madi-
al member of the board of health
md county physician.
The Easley building, adjoining the
was purchased and fitted up
nto offices for the school superin-
endent, attorney and surveyor.
Governor S~teunenberg remember
d Elmore county by appointing G.
n. Payne as a member of the state
of arbitration and r. P. Chat
in as state sheep inspector.
In May of this year occurred the
.ynamiting of the Bunker Hill mill
nd mine at Wardner, Shoshone
ounty, which resulted in Shoshone
ounty being placed under martial
wv aud u,hn1acaIn arrests under