A Saloonkeeper's .32 Ends a Masked Raid on Old Town

An attempted hold-up in Old Town Saturday night proved disastrous to Robert Hackworth, of Albeni Falls, ringleader in the attempt, his death occurring at the Newport Hotel Sunday night.

At about 11 o'clock Saturday evening three men, two of them armed with Winchester rifles and the other carrying two revolvers, came into the side entrance of the Dougherty & Wilcox saloon. Four or five men besides the employees of the saloon were present and promptly put up their hands at the order of the bandits.

James Wilcox, one of the proprietors, was sitting at the end of the bar with his back against the wall. At the command to hold up his hands he did so, and at the moment slipped from the chair behind the bar. He pulled out his revolver, a .32 automatic, and crawled along the bar about two-thirds of the length of it, when he stuck his head over the bar and shot, bringing down one of the hold-ups. He immediately ducked down and shifted his position just in time to escape being hit by a shot from a rifle at the hands of another of the trio. The bullet went through the front bar, shattering a demijohn of whisky between Wilcox's legs, and buried itself in the back bar.

The wounding of their companion routed the other two bandits, and after firing at Wilcox they hastened to make their escape out the door at which they entered. Mike Shea, one of the employees of the place, attempted to stop them, but realizing that he was in line with Wilcox's command of the situation, Mike let the other fellow go, after striking him a blow on the head, breaking his own little finger.

Hackworth was shot through the abdomen, the bullet entering at the right side and going clear through his body. When shot he was watching for Wilcox to appear at the end of the bar and was unprepared to see him appear at the top of the bar. After being shot he made a strong effort to get a shot at Wilcox, and it took a desperate struggle to overpower and unmask him.

Hackworth displayed wonderful nerve and made a vigorous fight for life, although informed by Dr. Boudwin that he had no chance to live. He retained his consciousness almost to the end and steadfastly refused to divulge the names of his accomplices. He at first claimed that he had met the men while on the way to Newport from Albeni Falls, and had been compelled by them to participate in their game. His every action during the progress of the hold-up tended to show that he was leader of the event. He died Sunday night without giving any information as to his companions.

His home was at Albeni Falls and he had a family consisting of a wife and grown daughters. He had lived at the Falls for several years and had been employed as a blacksmith and in camps in that neighborhood.

All three of the men were masked, wearing black cloths tied under their chins, with holes cut in them for the eyes and nose. They were heavily dressed, as if prepared to rough it out of doors if necessary to make their escape. It was difficult to get a description of his companions as events moved swiftly, but two men who have been associated with him have been missing since Saturday night at the camp where all three worked, and there is little doubt but that they are the right parties. Sheriff Merritt and Deputy Wilcox arrived early Sunday morning from Sandpoint and took charge of the case.

Hackworth's body was removed to the Miller morgue, where a service was held Tuesday afternoon, and interment made in the I. O. O. F. cemetery. Rev. N. S. Hawk officiated at the service. He was born at Oliver Springs, Eastern Tennessee, March 18, 1862. It is said that at one time he was in prosperous circumstances, but of late years had been going down the incline which led to his tragic death.