Headlined in the New Northwest August 27, 1880 was a shooting at Hasmark over a lot that the well known businessman, Weinstein stated he owned. Apparently Weinstein planned on building a cabin on it. Wm. Hardy, who had recently bought Tom Patterson’s Saloon apparently offered Weinstein $40 for the lot and when Weinstein said he would sell it for $100, Hardy decided he had as much right to it as Weinstein and would “jump it” then proceeded to fence the property off. This action created a real fracas and resulted in John Yandell interceding, a fight breaking out and Hardy being shot, dead.
According to the September 3rd New Northwest Coroner’s Jury proceedings Weinstein went to retrieve some tools and returned with Mr. Gillies and Mr. West “seemingly to build a house”. He pulled down one panel of the fence Hardy had put up and Hardy standing in the window of his house told him not to come on his ground (the lot in dispute), and was holding a gun. Hardy then came down to the area in dispute and repeated the command: “Do not come on my property.” Weinstein and his men then walked off the property and stood in the road. Jack Yandell then came running up the road and said “Weinstein hold the lot.” Then Yandell and Hardy began to “tussle” over the gun. The gun discharged; Hardy struck Yandell with the gun and Yandell fell out of the lot and ran across the street toward his cabin. “Hardy, meantime returned to his house, went in, closed the door and stood in front of the window in the west wall, the lower sash of which was raised about two and a half feet from the sill…” Yandell then came up the street with a gun in his hand and standing in the shelter of the house corner, raised his gun and shot without aiming his gun.
Witnesses saw Hardy fall backwards from the window.
The Coroner’s assessment written by Dr. C.N. Bowie stated: “William Hardy came to his death from a bullet penetrating the left breast two and a half inches to the right of the left nipple, the said bullet penetrating the heart, ranging obliquely upward and backward passing out of the body one inch to the left of the spinal column.”
Dr. Bowie treated Yandell’s injuries which included a gash on the head about five inches long, a fractured skull; a lacerated tongue and loss of teeth. All witnesses present believed that Yandell was delirious from the head injury when he fired the fatal shot.
Hardy had been in the Territory a long time where he was first employed by Caplice & Smith then worked for the Algonquin and most recently bought the saloon. It was believed he was in his forties.
The next information found regarding Yandell was a September 12, 1889 Mail article describing “The invitation dance given by John Yandell at the residence on his ranch in upper Flint Creek Valley was one of the most pleasant social affairs that have taken place in this vicinity for many months. About twenty couples responded to their invitations, and not one had reason to regret being present. The night was perfect, and the drive from town to Mr. Yandell’s place, a distance of six miles over good roads, was also a rare treat to the many who seized the opportunity. Everything that Yandell could do to make the affair a success and for the comfort of his visitors was done. Good music was furnished for the dancers and a spacious floor provided. At 12 o’clock supper was served and not often have we had the chance to sit down to a more tempting spread…”
On July 30, 1897 a notice was in the Mail that the Yandell ranch was up for a three year lease. and that John Yandell had departed Philipsburg for Seattle where he was seeking treatment from his Cousin Dr. Yandell for his ailments that had bothered him for some time. George Metcalf took up the lease in September of 1897.
February 18, 1898 Yandell’s obituary was published in the Mail and stated he had been buried in Seattle about 10 days prior. John Sharp Yandell was born in Mississippi in 1840 and joined the Confederacy to fight in the Civil War. After the surrender of General Lee, he emigrated to Montana and had been involved in mining and ranching for the past 30 years. His only kin were the cousins in Seattle.
The 320 acre Yandell ranch was advertised for sale by Henry Yandell M.D., beginning in July, 1900 and was bought by the current leaser and new sheriff George Metcalf according to the November 1, 1901, Mail.
No comments:
Post a Comment