Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-20
THE soRsr MURDER /.

THE B0RST MURDER.
Post Norton ination-Testimony
Developed by the lnquest-The Yer.
aict-Arrival OF the Murdered
Mans Father and Brother.
Preliminary to the inqustt called in the
case of c. A. Bout, murdered on the 9th
Of November, a Frozen Mans creek, forty
miles west Of IT. Pierre, . post mortem ex-
animation was made BY Dn. Miller and
Daniels yesterday afternoon. Attwo o'clock
the inquest began at DR.. Etters Office.
A jury consisting fl. r. Sanborn, ].
c. McVay and Harry Wynn was impannel-
ed by Coroner Etter to sit upon the case.
JOSEPH E. BuDD SWORN.
He testified that he resided in jackson
county Iowa. Was acquainted with G. A.
Borst, the deceased. Was driving teams
for Bont from Deadwood to Yankton-
hired to him. On the evening of the 26th
Of November We camped at Frozen Mans
creek, 40 miles west of Fl. Pierre. On the
morning ofthe 9th between four and five
o'clock started for the cattle. Returned
about o'clock. found Mr.. Borst lying
dead. Things were scattered out of the
wagons-blankets, hay and everything.
The bedding that was worth taking away,
and our clothing, were missing. I gathered
up the things and threw them into the hind
wagon and loaded Mr.. Borst in the front
wagon. There were two wagons. then
started for Ft Pierre. There was
no one with me. When I found
Mr.. Borst he was lying partly under the
forward axletree Of the forward wagon, with
his head close to the wheel. His clothes
were all loosed off him. noticed no
wounds, except that he was bleeding and
had bullet hole in his head. I didn't take
time to make much examination. I noticed
but one hole, that think was over the left
eye. The wound was still bleeding. If
there had been more than one hole I might
have noticed. I found check in his vest
pocket for 1888. l did not examine any
other pockets. The check I saw sticking
out Of his pocket as I wrapped him in a
blanket and took it. As fastened his cloth
ing noticed that he felt warm about the
heart. The evening before there were two
men came to our camp about dark. They
tied their horses to some willows on the
bank and came down to our camp fire.
They asked me if there was any stray
stock with ours. told them no.
One of them asked me if we were going
to herd them that uieht told him no.
They..started to GO away and told me if I
didn't herd the cattle the storm would drive
'hem off asked them where thev were
camped. They said. over the hill could
not see their faces. 1t was storming bad
ard they were muttled up We were camr-
ed in dry water hole to get out os the
storm. think Mr.. Borst had only about
$3.50 in money. That was all I know
about. He might have had more, hut I
dou't think Re did. He showed 1t to me at
Croak City. Had no freight. Had little
erubaud no clothing. We bad an old gun
in the wagon and c>uple of old revolvers
in the jockey box. Neither were loaded
and we had no ammunition. The gun
wouldn't 60 off. I was acquainted with
Borst in the Hills. Had been working for
him since about the 18th of November. He
never paid me for it. His valisc was hrok.
en- open. / don't know what, if anything
was taken out of it. went about
three miles for the cattle
1t was showing and blowing. Parties al
small as ours often travel between Pierre
and the Hills. Mr.. Borst told me his rela
tives resided at Independence. Wisconsin
I sent them letter anda telegram. think
Mr.. Borst was about 20 or 80 years of age
l lost two shirts, coat, pair of pants and 9
pair of blankets. Mr.. Borst was out of bed
when left camp found tracks of men
in the hole where We were camped, which ]
supposed to haye been made by others than
Mr. Borst. There seemed to be the tracks
Of two men. I paid little attention to any
thing after 1 got back, except to yoke ur
and get out of there. was scared.
think it was white men who killed Borst
Had seen no Indians for several days. The
property brought down believe to have
belonged to Mr.. Borst, Mr.. Borst was in
poor health, but think in his right mind
I heard no report of gun while I was gone
after the cattle. I wrote his friends from
Ft. Pierre, November 3Oth, and told then
to address me at Yankton. l trav
eled all alone all of the wa,
from Frozen Mans creek. Met a train nea
Pierre and told the men about the deatl
of Borst. The two men who visited oul
camp had guus on their saddles. One was
short man and the other was tall man
1 left Yankton last march for the Hills
Left with AL Woods train and from Will
low creek went on ahead and footed it tc
the Hills. I first became acquainted will
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