The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-13
QUARREL OYER
STRAY HORSES
ENDS FATALLY
Farmer Living Six Miles
North of Cleveland Killed.
Son Is Wounded
KILLER TAKES OWN LIFE
Body Found BY Posse in
Granary-Injured Lad Is
in jamestown Hospital

jamestown. N. D., May 13.-1P-
Two men are dead. a youth is in
Trinity Hospital here dangerously
wounded and Is children are father
less as result of an argument over
some stray horses between two farm
ers living about six miles north Of
Cleveland. 20 miles west Of James
town. The dead are w. +. Flint and
Saylcs Hastings. the wounded lad
being Roy Flint. the 18-year-old son
of Mr. and Mrs. W. F.. Flint.
Flint and his son were shot down
by Hastings about 5 o'clock Thursday
afternoon when Flint is alleged to
have refused to give up eight horses
belonging to Hasting and which had ,
been impounded while grazing OH
Flint's hay meadow. The shooting
took place at the Flint farm, Hast
ings returning to his home about two
miles distant Immediately after the
shooting and bidding his children,
who were at the home, goodbye.
Hastings went into his granary and
put bullet through his head.
Posse Organized
The shcriffs office was notified
soon after the shooting and Deputy
Sheriff jim Mason, with County
Coroner w. A. Gerrish, went to the
Flint farm. The wounded lad. who
is suffering from a bullet hole in
his chest. was brought to the hOspi-
tai here. Sheriff Spanton. who was
away from his office at the time of
the call. returned early in the eve
ming. He called Captain James -.
Gray, commander of Company H, and
asked him to secure several volun-
teers to go in search OF Hastings who
was reported to have barricaded HIM
self in the granary on his farm.
Lieutenant Robert Hall and about Is
men of the company enlisted to go as
| individuals with the sheriff and his
posse, pistols, rifles apd two machine
guns being borrowed from Captain
| Gray.
A cab company took the militiamen
! to the scene of the shooting in it's
! large bus. The Hastings farm was
i and the national guardsmen and
| civilians. who had Joined the posse
| depkoying as skirmishers, advanced
! on the Hastings residence Rodger
; Phillips and Ray Clarke were the
first to reach the hcus-. Lieut. Hall
leading the group which advanced on
the "ranary. AS the guardsmen ad-
vanced on the house, Ronald Hast
ings, the l6-year-old SON of Flint's
| slayer, came from the house and told
| the posse that his father had shot
! himself and that his body was in the
granary Lieutenant Hall flung the
/ granary door open. finding Hast
ings' body lying on some seed barley.
1t was evident from the position Of
the body that. while in a sitting posi-
tion. Hastings had placed the muzzle
of his .38 calibre heavy frame re-
volver, in his mouth and pulled the
trigger. The bullet had passed
through his head and come out back
Of one ear. He died instantly, the
position Of the body showing that
there had been no struggle.
Stories Tally on Main Points
The stories Of Archie Zimmerman.
son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank thinner
man. Roy Flint. the wounded youth.
his father when the shooting began,
Tailed as the main points. Ronald
Hastings. Is years Of age, the. old
est Of the Hastings family to be at
home. gave Vivid picture Of the
tragedy. He said that he had been
sent by his father to help drive the
horses held by Flint back to the
Hastings farm. He started on horse
back about the same time that his
father started for the Flint farm IN
IA buggy accompanied by Wilbur
Hastings. IA years of age. When
Ronald reached the Flint farm he
was little in advance Of his father
and younger brother. Flint refused
to release the horses and, when the
elder Hastings arrived, heated
argument took place.
Hastings finally pulled out his
heavy revolver and began shooting
at Flint. When the first shot was
fired, which Ronald said he believed
went wild. Roland and his younger
brother mounted the formers horse
and started for home. Hastings pur-
into his body. Roy Flint attempted
to get away, but was sent down with
bullet through the chest. Wayne
Flint, an older brother, started on a
horse for help. Hastings fired three
shots after him, all three bullets
striking Wayne's horse.
Mrs. Flint in Indiana
Mrs. Flint, wife Of the murdered
man, is at Universal, Indiana, where
. she was called about 10 days ago by
the death Of her mother. She was
, notified of the tragedy by telegraph
! In addition to his widow. Flint, who
} was 48 years of age, is survived b,
{ 10 children, the oldest son having
, married the eldest daughter of Hast
, ings. Three Of the daughters ar,
| attending the agricultural school q
Park River.
. Hastings leaves. eight children
/ the eldest, Mrs. William Flint, being
% years Of age. Ronald Hastingl
and his brother-in-law. william
Flint, differed as to former trouble
between the two men. Ronald said
"They have had trouble before but
| not serious" while William declared
~ never knew Of any hard feelinGi
between my father and my WIFE
e father IN
n DISTRICT COURT 10 CONvENE
e Fort YAtesThe adjourued term Il
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