Salt Lake Tribune | 1905-06-11 | Page 1 | Former Eureka Miner Takes His Own Life

former Eureka Miner Takes His Own Life Sends Bullet Through Brain After Attempting the Life of a Companion. Special to Tho Tribune. BUTTE. Mont , June 10 Angered because be-cause his friend ordered seltter Instead of whisky when Invited to take a drink, Claudo Billings, a miner from Eureka. Utnh. sent a bullet Into his brain after shooting hl companion. Ievl Bacon. In tho thigh. The tragedy occurred in Dan Drew's saloon In this city shortly after noon today. Billings lingered but a few-minutes few-minutes after the shooting. Other Attempts on Life. Upon threo different occasions Billings has attempted self destruction within tho past year Four months ago. after a prolonged pro-longed spree, he swallowed a quantity of poison, but ho prompt efforts of physicians physi-cians saved his life. Had Drank Heavily. For two days past he has been drinking drink-ing heavily This morning he called at Drew's saloon armed with a revolver and threatened to commit stdclde Ho was disarmed by a friend, but later returned with another weapon Inquired for Friend. Upon entering the saloon the pecond time, Billings approached Mike O'Brien, a friend from Eureka, and Inquired for Levi Bacon. The latter was In a back room of tho saloon asleep, but was aroused by Billings and Invited out to havo a drink. Bacon ordered, a seltzer sour. Heated argument followed as to what Bacon should drink, Billings Insisting Insist-ing It should be whisky Opened Fire on Companion. Finally Billings whipped out his gun and opened flro on his companion, who dropped to tho floor upon tho third shot being fired. Billings, thinking ho had killed Bacon, turned tho gun upon himself, him-self, sending a bullet through his head, dying half an hour later at police head-iuart.'i head-iuart.'i s All From Eureka. Billings. O'Brien nnd Bacon hall from Eureka, I"t..h I'.lllti f was years ..Id and wus employed at tho Mountain Con. mine. Ho has a mother, two sisters and two brothers in Utah, who wore Informed of the tragedy Tho remains will probably prob-ably bo taken to Eureka for burial. Billings Bill-ings WSS formerly a member of battery D of Eureka