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Mentally Deranged, Arthur Freeman Shoots Down John Nevins,
Popular Business Man and Citizen - Then Kills Self.
A sad tragedy was enacted at Whitebird last Saturday when John
Nevins, well known Salmon river business man, banker and leading citizen
was shot to death by Arthur Freeman, laborer of the river country, who
took his own life after killing Nevins. Laboring under the
delusion that he was avenging a wrong, Freeman shot down in cold blood
this popular citizen and brought a cloud of grief to the entire
county. The shooting occurred at noon as Nevins was on his way
home and resulted in the almost instant death of the victim of perturbed
mind as letters left by Freeman plainly indicated he had been brooding
over an imaginary grievance for some time.
Killed on His Way Home
Nevins had left his place of business along about the noon hour and
was on his way to his home when just opposite the Methodist parsonage
Freeman walked across the street and covered Nevins and a .38 special army
Colt. Rev. Anderson, who was the only witness to the tragedy,
stated Nevins was reading a paper at the time. Freeman covered him with
the gun and had no chance to realize his position. Freeman uttered
some words and Nevins apparently made a reply but the conversation of
both was inaudible. Freeman, who was less than ten feet from his
victim immediately fired two shots, one bullet entering the left
shoulder of Nevins and passing through the back, the other the left
arm. Nevins fell and struggled to get up but Freeman was at once
upon him and fired at close range, a bullet entering just below the
right eye and the other shot the right temple. Freeman then walked
to the Methodist church steps, about fifty feet from where Nevins fell
and fired a bullet into his own brain, dying several hours after.
Lives But Briefly
Immediately after the shooting, Rev. Anderson rushed down to the
office of Dr. Foskett and in company with the Doctor and others,
returned to give attention to Mr. Nevins, who passed away several
minutes after the arrival. Freeman was carried to the home of his
sister, Mrs. Meyers but never regained consciousness, passing away
several hours after the shooting.
Victim of Deranged Mind
Upon the body of Freeman was found a letter dated August 17, and
addressed to his sister, making certain requests as to the disposition
of his body and referring them to two letters he had written and left in
his grip at the home of his sister. These letters, which were
dated August 13, showed the murder was a premeditated one and that Freeman
had been laboring under an imaginary wrong. In the letter to his
people he spoke of the sorrow such a tragedy would bring to them but
felt it his duty to kill Nevins. One was addressed to the county
attorney and was similar in tone to the one he left his people.
According to reports, Freeman has been having more or less trouble with
Nevins and other members of the school board, holding them responsible
for the non-retention of his sister, Mrs. Meyers, as a teacher of the
public schools down there and had acted in a way in times past as to
indicate he was not in a normal mental condition. Later he left
the country and went to Cascade to work and none suspected when he
returned to Whitebird last week that he was bent upon killing
Nevins. He had made preparations for his burial, having placed his
best clothes out upon the bed and also made suggestions as to his
burial. Saturday morning he appeared at the stage barn and assisted
in the work, remarked he felt fine and to all was in a normal mental
condition.
Nevins Held in High Esteem
The tragedy was a terrible blow to the Salmon river people who looked
upon John Nevins as one of their very best citizens. Out of
respect for the deceased all the business places of the town were closed
following the shooting and here and there could be seen little knots of
people bemoaning the fact that the life of so good a man should be
taken. No man in the entire river country had as many good and true
friends as John Nevins. Your troubles were his troubles, your
welfare his welfare, the people, the country and the development and
happiness of the community were placed above his personal interests.
Coming from good, old Irish stock to this country when a young man, he
has experienced all the vicissitudes and hardships incident to a pioneer
country and through his kindly way and self-sacrificing spirit made
friends from one end of the the river to the other. He was a
common man in his way but far above the average in his
accomplishments. Working first as a miner and packer, he finally
entered the mercantile, business in a small way, running a small store
at Slate Creek originally and building up until he finally became the
head of a chain of stores up the river known as the Salmon River Stores
and recently branched out in the banking business, his business judgment
and standing in the community resulting in his selection as president of
the Whitebird State Bank. Nevins was known and truly appreciated
not only in his home country but Grangeville, Lewiston and other points where
he had made many lasting friends. He is survived by a wife and
three children, the oldest of which is thirteen.
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