The Killing of Tom Belmont, Death Valley !

H ead lines read Seventeen year old Rhode Island boy kills Tom Belmont over Canvas framed Saloon, 1874! Was the saloon worth a killing, was the boy fast enough, where was the law at this time.

Oliver Roberts de la Fontaine, an adventuresome lad, had just acquired a job working in a charcoal camp near Lookout California. Upon seeking a place to stay, Oliver made the acquaintance of one Tom Belmont.

A few days later, Belmont was in Darwin where he purchased a saloon just outside of Lookout, at Nadoes Station.

Peace of mind did not come easy, for every day that pasted, Oliver and Belmont would have troubles over one thing or another. Belmont's ways were just more than the boy could tolerate. One day while at Nadoes Station Oliver ran into Welch the deputy sheriff. Welch told Oliver that he had been looking all over for him. It seem the deputy had some work for Oliver, which he claimed to have out of town business, and could not tend to matters till his return. The deputy gave Oliver attachment papers to give to Belmont on the saloon he had bought. Oliver was to take control of the saloon and hold it until the deputy returned. Oliver proceeded to tell Welch that he thought this might not be a good time to push Belmont, at least for him. The deputy just laughs. Your not afraid of Belmont are you, was the deputies reply? The deputy's instructions were, not to give up the place to anyone without an order from me, regardless of how many you have to kill.

Well Oliver went over to the saloon and upon his arrival found no one there. He posted one copy of the attachment papers on the front door and kept the other copy for himself. Now the saloon was just a canvas covered frame building. It had a long bar with a bench and a bunk at the end. Behind the bar was a long slit cut in the canvas for air ventilation and probably a quick exit way.

Oliver spent the rest of the day and crashed on the bunk that night. The following morning in walked Belmont, and since he probably could not read, he asked Oliver what the paper said on the door. So, Oliver obliged by taking out his copy and reading it to him. Belmont just asked for a cigar and a drink. There were others through out that day who came in for drinks, but Oliver refused to serve them, stating that the bar is closed. The following morning they both had breakfast at Horner's.

After they had finished their breakfast, in complete silence, they returned to the saloon. Belmont then went out, saddled his horse, and left town.

Oliver stayed hold up in the saloon all day. It was not until four o’clock that afternoon when Belmont finally returned. He had a rit signed by judge McMannus in Darwin stating that Oliver was to return the saloon to Belmont. Pending his instructions, Oliver told Belmont he needed papers from Welch the deputy sheriff if he wanted his saloon back. Belmont then protested, growled and kicked everything in site. At the most, did not cause any great trouble. Well they spent the night together again at the bar. Oliver was starting to ware down for lack of sleep. He knew that if Belmont had the chance to get the drop on him, it would all be over.

Late the next morning, Oliver talked Mollog into taking his place and left his gun behind the bar in case of any trouble with Belmont. Oliver then saddled up his horse and rode to Darwin. Finding no one knew anything about the order to return the saloon. Oliver realized Belmont had tried to pull a fast one. Oliver then had bad feelings about leaving Mollog at the saloon, as well as his gun. After acquiring a British bulldog pistol from the sheriff, Oliver rode back to the saloon.

As Oliver approached, several friends came over and tried to talk him into leaving. About this time out came Mollog claiming he did not know about the gun Oliver had left and that Belmont now had it. He then stated there were a dozen men in there and they will kill you if you go in. Oliver told Mollog to tie up his horses as he headed in. Once inside the door, Oliver found seven drunken men who had been drinking free all day at Belmont's expense. As Oliver made his way over to the end of the bar, in an effort to protect his backside, he ordered everyone to vacate at once. Not a one of them started to move, so Oliver yelled again, Gentlemen, please leave. At that moment, Belmont jumped out of his chair and start cussing, as he went for his gun. Oliver pulled his and fired. Belmont had on a woolen jacket, which detained him from shooting first, and caused him to miss on his shot. Oliver dropped to one knee and fired several more rounds. It had looked like Belmont had dropped to a knee as well and continued to fire. The room was completely full of smoke and neither one could see the other. At this time, Oliver thought he heard a noise, and fired several more shots. When the smoke cleared, Oliver found the room empty, except for Belmont lying on the floor. Oliver quickly decided to slip out behind the bar just in case the gang was waiting to jump him out front. What he did find in front of the bar was, Mollog, his friend Tom Hamilton and Johnny Barnes. It had seemed that the drunks had left the bar in high order and were headed for Darwin, and were long gone by then.

Hamilton asked, are you hit, Oliver said no, and then Hamilton asks, what about Belmont. Well said Oliver, go in and check for your self, he is on the floor. By this time they had attracted quit a crowd outside of the saloon. Once in side, Hamilton looked at Belmont and found he had one shot in the neck, next to his throat, and another one under his ear, besides the fact, he was still alive. Well they all managed to get him over to the bunk and bandage his wound some, to keep him from bleeding to death.

Oliver knew there had to be an inquest to settle the matter. Oliver asked Hamilton, Mollog, and Barnes, if they would go with him to Darwin to get the Doc and have the Judge hold court and get this straighten out.

When they rode into Darwin the first person they met was the sheriff. Before Oliver could say a word, the sheriff said he had already heard all about it and wanted to know if he was hurt. Oliver said "no". But did you kill him, the sheriff asked? Oliver again said "no", but you need to send the Doc over quick.

By eleven o'clock that night, the Doctor had returned with the news that Belmont was dead. The inquest was then set for ten o'clock the following morning, but when Oliver arrived in court, he found the judge to be intoxicated. He refused to be tried by a judge who was drunk, so the hearing was postponed until 3 o'clock that afternoon, and the judge was put to bed to sober up.

The judge finally entered the court, stating that he wanted to hear all evidence, and make it short. The judge then called upon the first witness, of many, Johnny Barnes. Oliver was obliged to do want he did to protect himself and property under attachment, Barnes stated. The judge then hit his gavel and said to Oliver, you are hereby honorably acquitted, with out being sworn in or giving statement. Then called the court adjourned. Oliver was taken by surprise, Judge said Oliver, am I free. The reply was, "Yes, and God Bless You Son." I hope you keep up the good work, now let us all adjourn to the bar and have a drink.

If there were ever to be a newspaper in Lookout, it could have had a major headline. Instead, this is one of those untold stories about the Wild West that never was printed, in a newspaper.