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IDAHO DAILY STATESMAN – BOISE, IDAHO - AUGUST 15, 1905

SHOT TO DEATH

Charles Hanlin Killed by Tom Little at Randall’s Transfer Station

KILLING HELD TO BE JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE

Victim Struck By Two Rifle Bullets, One in the Heart, One In The Abdomen

Hanlin fires first and is shot down by Little in self-defense – Claimed Little should pay him an account owed by the company with which Little was employed – After words in a Saloon he returns to camp, secures a rifle and attempts to kill Little – Inquest held by man named Jones, elected by citizens for the purpose.

At Randall’s Transfer on the Roosevelt road on Friday, Charles Hanlin was shot and instantly killed by Tom Little. The latter had a hearing and was discharged on the ground that the killing was justifiable.

The men came out from Roosevelt together, where they had been employed. The company for which Little worked, it seems, owed Hanlin, and the latter thought Little should pay the account. They were drinking together and the subject of the debt came up in the saloon. The testimony at the hearing showed Hanlin was disposed to be ugly over the matter.

Little left and went to where he had pitched camp, being followed by Hanlin. The latter, upon arriving at the camp, walked over to a tree some 30 yards away, where his gun was standing. He picked up the weapon, according to the evidence, and fired at Little. The latter thereupon secured his gun and fired twice at Hanlin. ON shot pierced his heart and the other struck him in the abdomen. Death was instantaneous.

There was no justice of the peace of other officer authorized to hold inquest and the people elected a man name Jones to officiate. He heard the testimony of those having knowledge of the affair and turned Little loose on the ground that the homicide was justifiable.

Nothing is known of the antecedents of Hanlin. He had been in Roosevelt for two years, but none knows where he came from or where he may have had relatives. He was 45 years old

Little’s home is in Boise, where he has a family living on North Sixth street.

IDAHO DAILY STATESMAN – BOISE, IDAHO - AUGUST 27, 1905

STORY OF TRAGEDY

ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF THE KILLING OF CHARLES HANLIN BY TOM J. LITTLE AT KNOX, IN THUNDER MOUNTAIN COUNTRY

The Roosevelt News gives the following additional details of the killing at Knox of Charles Hanlin by Tom J. Little, who was later exonerated after having been given a preliminary examination:

T.J. Little hire Mr. Hanlin here in Roosevelt some time ago and took him over to the Sunshine mine where they were going to do some work and after working three days (allowing a day to go over) and two days after arriving, Mr. Little was telephoned to close the mine down and nail it up. Mr. Little was acting as foreman for the Spears’ American Exchange and had sent the time in and gone over to Knox to wait instructions. Mr. Hanlin really had only two days coming from the company but was allowed time for three days.

They were camped about a half a mile from Knox, and were up at town when Hanlin demanded his money and told Little that “he would go down and take the camp and sell the horses.” Hanlin was drinking some and when under the influence of liquor was very abusive. They tried to reason him out of this idea but this he would not listen to.

Little went down to the camp to avoid trouble and Hanlin finally followed him down and before reaching the camp he picked up a 44 Winchester rifle which he had secreted a few feet from the tent and informed Little with an oath that “it was all off with him” an began firing and Little returned the fire with the above result. Mr. Little used a 44 rifle.

One bullet passed over the heart and one under and either would have proven fatal.

IDAHO DAILY STATESMAN – BOISE, IDAHO - AUGUST 25, 1905

TOM LITTLE IS LIBERATED

MAN WHO KILLED CHARLES HANLIN GIVEN HIS FREEDOM

(Special Dispatch)

Knox, August 24 – Word has reached this place that Tom Little, who shot and killed Charles Hanlin at Randall’s Transfer on Friday, August 11, was exonerated after a preliminary examination at Roosevelt and liberated. Little was formerly a teamster in Owyhee county.