The Benton weekly record., 1880-08-20
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A
A man named pI1flinon Turfer ,Tas re-
Gently killed under circumstances of 1
most remarkable nature, the particulars of
which have been furnished US BY Michael
Hendriekson, partner Of Wn1. Slew, who
was arrested for the crime, biit exonerated
by The coroner's jury. Itappears that the
| three men, William Slew, Philimon Dur
fer and Michael Hendrickson, aceompan-
led by two squaws, were encamped on the
east side of the Snowies, en- route from
| Flat Creek to Yogo; and in the night the
horses Of the party becoming restless, VIM
Slew, who was on guard, concluded that
there were Indians or horse thieves in the
vicinity of the camp, and woke up his
partner, Hendrickson, 10 assist In guarding
and quiettng the animals. Hendrickson
was at the time suffering from pain in
his side, and requested Slew to wake up
Durfer, who got up, took his gun and
started towards the herd The night was
extremely dark and stormy, but the two
men soon succeeded in quieting the ami
mails and returned to the wagon, and sat
down one on each side of the vehicle. Slew
states that the horses soon became restless
again and that he went out towards the
herd, leaving Durfer, as he sup
posed, still sitting by the side of
the wagon, but Durfcr must have left the
wagon about the same time and probably
thought that Slew had not gone out. At
all events the two men met somewhere
among the horses, and Slew, mistaking
Durfcr tor an Indian, fired at him With fa-
tai effect. Durfer did not fire, but Slew
states he heard the click Of gun lock, and !
an examination Of Durfer's gun showed /
that he was probably in the act of loading |
when he received the fatal shot. Durfer |
had bed-sack or ticking over his head |
which in the darkness gave him the ap- |
peaTance of an Indian envelopcd in robe |
or blanket. When Slew discovered his |
mistake he grasped Durfer. in his arms and |
called to Hendrickson for assistance, and !
the two conveyed the wounded man to the |
wagon. 1t was found that the ball had |
taken effect III the abdomen near the naval /
and that the victim was in a dying condi-
tiCn. He lived about an hour and was con-
scious until nearly the last moment. He
spoke but little, but said that he had no i'll
will towards any one and believed that his
death would save him good many hard
knocks aud requested that his friends in
Canada should be notified Of his death
A coroner's inquest, held ut Yogo, re-
turned Il verdict of accidental shooting at
The hands Of VIM. Slew, and exonerated
the latter and his partner, Hendrickson,
from all blame in the matter. The case is
4 remarkable one, but there appears to be
no reason to doubt the statement of the
parties concerned. Hendrickson informs
ls that Durfer was a stranger to them, and
bat he had asked permission to accompany
hem OH the trip from Yogo. The squaws
,orroborate the testimony of Slew and
Lee Smith. Chaa. Rowe and Pat Dono-
,ue arrived on Monday from the Barker
Mining District, with specimens of quartz
rom the Hancock and Benton lodcs.
The specimens from the latter lode show
native silver and if the lucky discoyercrs
lavc body Of that kind of ore, they may
&c classcd among the money kings of the
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