The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-01-23
MURDER WILL OUT.
rhe ruth at Las, About the Murder of Patrick
Farrell at Benton in February. 1879.


Farrell at Benton in February. 1879.
Readers of the NEW NoRTH-WEsT will
recollect that in February, 1879, Patrick
Farrell, a Old soldier, a member OF Capt.
Moale's Co. a, Sd U. s. Infantry, was MUIR
dered at Fort Benton that privates Koble,
Marsh and Fernesly, of the company, aud
discharged soldier named Campbell were
arrested for the murder that the two last
turned States evidence, testified to the
killing and putting the bpdy through the
ice in the river that Feruesiy and Camp
bell were sentenced to the penitentiary for |
life that body supposed for time to be
that of Farrell was found somewhere down
the river that subsequently a body knoDn
to be that of Farrell was found on the prai-
RE about fifteen miles from Benton that
this irreconcilable fact aud evidence led
Governor Potts to respite koble and Marsh
for thirty days that at the expiration Of
that time they were hung. Fernesly and
Campbell had meantime been put in the
penltentiary and kept close mouths as to
the facts, having implicated no one but the
four and remaining silent as to the dis
crepancy between the testimony and the
facts. SO much by way Of prelude.
On Tuesday of this week reporter OF
the NEW NORTHWEST was granted per-
mission to interview Campbell in prison.
Representing to him the uselessness of
longer maintaining secrecy, and that 1t
we're better to make clean breast of the
Occurrences, he finally consented to do SO,
qualifying bis statement beforehand that
he was intoxicated during good deal OF
| the time aud was not clear in his recollec-
t,on as 10 some of tue details. On concur
dug his statement he said that was the
first time rs had ever told the truth and
the whole truth about the affair. We give
the narrative in his own words
THE PARTIES TO THE AFFAIR.
MY name is Joseph john Campbell. |
was born in Philadelphia, PeLna., and will
be 81 years Of aye November 26, 1880. l
enlisted in the United States Army June
IL, 1878, belonged to A Co, 3D. Infantry
and WAS discharged for disability January
i 7, 1879. | remained 10 Benton and was
boarding and lodg ing at Mrs. Davis'-the
Benton Laundry.
Michael FsInesly is a German about 80
years old. Joseph K. Koble was native
of Harrisburg, Penua., thiuk. had lived
in Philadelphia and run with bad gang
there. am told he was in the Cherry
Hin prison there and was pardoned out
think he also robbed bank there. Orlan-
do Fl. Marsh was about 90 years old. All
these men belonged TO A Company. ..
Patrick Farrell the man who was killed,
was also member of Co. A. He had been
long time in the service. He was Capt.
Moals's body servant and not required to
do duty as the others. l had no feeling
against him, bat good many OF the sol
diers had. They thought he reported ev'
erything to Capt Moale.
THE GAME THAT WAS PUT UP.
Koble and another soldier had worked W
a game to which a considerable number o.
A Company were parties to desert in
body after pay day, steal some government
|, horses and go to the Cypress Hills. There
were living in Benton at the time tive
' colored women-Lzzia CLARK, malatto
and Annie Harris, black. nnie Harri
had house in Cypress. Kobie WIS golnt
, to take her and Lyons was going to take
| n 81,
occupy the Harris house at Cypress. d.
not know just What day the desertion wa
: fixed for, but they had made all arrange
ments. The day after pay day, | think
Koble bought Annie a pair of shoes ant
gave her f5, ....-
NIPPED IN THE BUD.
Just about this time Ellen Martin, anoth
: er colored woman, gave ball at her hous
!. and great many of the soldiers went t
it. During the evening, while was a
Gammon's bakery, George King came i
and said Harry Danville was arrested 70
stealing government horses. King and
: went out and to Capt. Moale's office; di'
:, not find him and went down to Probat
Judge DonIelly's Office. While standin
there Capt. Moale. Lieut.. Henry, Sheri
Healey and several others came mp. Lieu
Henry and, think. some others, had gum
HOW THE MURDER CAME ABOUT.
Ie King and | then returned to the baker
10 to wake Tom Jones, who was tight, an
1t take him to Mrs. Davis, where he LODGED
sr We couldu't wake him and went ourselvs
" to Mrs. Davis. This was about ten {
1, eleven o'clock. King went to bed and
il sat down and ate some bread. then wei
10 outside to get drink of water and crosse
Ut over to Lee fsabel's saloon. Soon after
le met Marsh back of the soldiers qnarte
st and we went to the dance. Soon afte
some one said, "Here comes Farrell.
Tom TAYLOR said "Let's club him." Mars
said /" All right" but some one else sal
"No; 90 down and get Kobie first
- Marsh said be would 90 for him and wei
down to the quarters and wal ed up Kob
- and Fernesly. Meantime / went in Il
dance house and took two or three drinl
:" OF whisky. When Fernesly and Kob
came up Koble said, Where is that dt
= robber (meaning FarrelD tn fix bim
~ Kobie pulled ont six-shooter some OF
said :. Don't shoot. Joe," and he put u
pistol back in his pocket and went into Il
40 house. remained outside talking to Il
boys. Farrell gave Marsh two dollars
- pay for hrs supper. Marsh reached it
Lilly, who changed it. Farrell then we
out to the well to get drink of waite
- Koble followed him out. They had son
words out there. That was the last se'
Of Farrell at the dance house. Marsh W
also outside. Soon after wens TO the do
~ and about 90 or 80 yards away-down }
- hind Fannie Harris house, saw Kobl
Marsh and Farrell. Farrell was down
IN the ground and Koble was ON him poun
nis ing him on the head with SIX -shoote
'es This was between one and three O'Clock
the morning. When Kobe saw me
tes called to me to come aud help Kim. as
tai cd him what he wanted with help.
ed said "To pack this thing away" / we