Two Livingston Men Shot Down By Crazed Man

No Trouble Known to Have Existed
Between Slain Men and Slayer; Attempt on Others Fails

LIVINGSTON, AUG. 21 (AP)—As Peter Holt, Livingston chief of police, and Martin Zollman, traffic officer and former aviator, sat in the chief’s office this morning, Rollin Davisson entered, called Holt a name and fatally shot both officers. 

Holt was shot through the heart and died almost instantly.  Zollman, though wounded in the breast, lived long enough to leap over a table and drag Davisson to the floor as the latter attempted to shoot two other men, Robert Bailie, city treasurer, and J.P. V. “Trapper” Evans, 68, curio dealer.  The gun failed to fire and Evans called for help.

Clyde Neal, a fireman, was attracted to the scene.  He seized a cement block and beat Davisson unconscious.  The enraged man was taken into custody by Sheriff Clarence Gilbert. 

No trouble is known to have existed between Holt and Davisson, but it is believed that Davisson had a fancied grievance over being asked to leave a cabin he occupied. Yesterday the man came to the chief and told him George Riffler, owner of the cabin had ordered him out for failure to pay his rent.  It is understood the chief told Davisson to vacate the place and not to cause trouble.  Sheriff’s officers tonight said the man would not discuss the shooting.

After firing at Holt, Davisson apparently became enraged and decided to shoot everyone in the room.  The gun taken from him was an automatic luger.  It contained six bullets, two of which had been fired.

A coroner’s jury this afternoon placed the blame for the shooting on Davisson but did not give a cause for the killings.

Holt enlisted in the U.S. army in 1893 and in 1897 came to Yellowstone National Park from Idaho with the 6th cavalry.  Later he became a scout and guided a presidential party through the park.  He is survived by his widow, a son and daughter, all of whom were visiting in Los Angeles. Burial arrangements are pending their arrival here.

Zollman became an army flier in 1917 and last fall conducted an aviation school in Helena.  He was employed here recently as a tariff officer.  He was about 35 years old, unmarried and had a brother and sister in Milwaukee.  The body will be sent to Milwaukee for interment.

Davisson came to Livingston about two years ago.  He was in poor health last winter and the Elks lodge furnished him with groceries and lodging.  The aid was withdrawn after Davisson’s condition was better this spring and he went to work.

Havre Daily News
Havre, Montana
August 22, 1919

SLAYER GIVEN DAY TO PLEAD

Killer of Livingston Policemen Seeks Counsel 
 

Livingston, Mont., Aug 23—(AP)—Rollin Davisson, who killed Police chief Peter Holt and Patrolman Martin Zollman, Wednesday, appeared considerably worse for wear because of the beating he received when a fireman subdued him with a cement block after the shooting.

Mourners at the funeral of Zollman Thursday night overflowed the Masonic temple where services were held and packed the street in front of the buildings.  Children, with whom the officer was a great favorite, Friday were pouring their nickels and dimes into a box to provide a wreath for burial service to be held in Milwaukee.

Mrs. Holt and her daughter, Minerva, reached here Friday night from San Diego and arrangements were completed for the funeral of the chief. 

Livingston, Mont., Aug 23—(AP)—The Masonic temple here was crowded to overflowing and streets in all directions were blocked Thursday night when more than 2000 persons assembled to attend funeral services for Martin Zollman, traffic policeman who was killed Wednesday by Rollin Davisson.

Members of the American Legion and of the police and fire departments of Livingston formed a guard of honor. Zollman’s body was sent to Milwaukee for interment.

The Billings Gazette,
Billings, Montana
August 24, 1929

JUDGE DELAYS MURDER TRIAL

 Killer of Policemen Unable to Find Counsel

Livingston, Aug. 24—(AP)—Further postponement of the plea of Rollin Davisson, who killed Police Chief Peter Holt and Patrolman Martin  Zollman, was allowed Saturday by District Judge B. E. Berg. Judge James F. O’Conner, who was tendered the task of defending Davisson, told the court he did not care to serve but, if allowed more time, would make a further investigation of the matter.  Judge Berg set the plea for 10 o’clock Monday morning. 

DIFFICULT TO FIND COUNSEL 

Livingston, Aug. 24—(AP)—Friendship of local attorneys toward Peter Holt and Martin
Zollman, police chief and traffic officer, respectively, who were killed here last Wednesday, made it difficult for the court to appoint counsel for the defense of Rollin Davisson, accused of the double murder.

Three firms of attorneys excused themselves on the friendship plea Saturday and Judge B. E. Berg postponed Davisson’s arraignment until Monday morning.

Davisson without funds, is dependent upon the court for the appointment of counsel for his defense.

Funeral services for the slain police chief will be conducted Sunday afternoon under the auspices of the Masonic lodge, with Spanish war veterans and the American Legion participating.  Services for Zollman were conducted Thursday evening and his body was sent to Milwaukee.

The Billings Gazette
 Billings, Montana
August 25, 1929