Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-02-10
From the Daily Herald Of February4 T.
LAUNCHED into ETERNITY !
Peter Pelkey. the Murderer
Of Charles Tacke, Expi-
ates his Crime on
the Sca6old.
The Execution is Witnessed
by Hundreds of Spectators.
History Of the Horrible Deed. the
Murderer's Escape, his Capture
and Trial.
Interview Between the Doomed Man
and a "Herald' Reporter.
ETC., Etc, Etc.
Interview Between the Doomed Man
and "Rerald' Reporter.

On the 2d of September last one Of the
most atrocious and brutal murders which
ever has occurred in Montana was committed
in the Prickly Pear valley, a few miles be-
low Helena Charles Tacke, an old settler
and prosperous ranchman, suddenly disap-
peared. His brother, becoming alarmed at
his absence and fearing foul play, came to
the city and reported his suspicious to the
authorities. Sheriff Jefferis at once pro-
ceeded to the ranch of the missing man and
instituted q thorough search of the premises.
The result was stated at length in the HER
AID of September 9th. The body Of the
murdered man was found in the manger of a
stable, covered with two barrels Of lime,
which had been thrown upon it. The mois-
ture of the body caused the lime to slack and
the heat thus generated had rapidly decom-
posed the remains, which, when found, were in
a most horrible condition. The instrument Of
death, an AK, clotted with blood, was un-
earthed with the victim. Supicion was at
once directed to laborer, who short time
before had been employed by Tacke and who
had suddenly disappeared, together with
valuable horse. The chest in which Tacke
kept his money was found to have been
broken open and ritied, which left no doubt
as to the motive that led to the commission
Of the crime. a day OF two afterward a man
answering the description Of the supposed
murderer, was heard of at various points on
the Benton road, and Under Sheriff Jas. W.
Hathaway was dispatched in pursuit. At
the Dearborn the officer recovered the horse,
which had been traded to \ ranchman. With
a fresh mount the murderer continued his
flight, and at Benton purchased a skiff and
started down the river, Hathaway following
Oh steamboat. At Cow Island, about 14O
miles below Benton, Pelkey stopped over
night at the cabin of two wood-choppers,
Mike DeVall and Stephen Hodgman, and
the following morning having purchased
horse of them, set out for the Yellowstone
valley A few days later word reached De-
Vail and Hodgman of the murder and Of the
man suspected of the crime They at once
armed themselves mounted and start
ed in pursuit AT Stevens and Bowles'
ranch, on Big Spring Creek, they were joined
by J. J. Bowles, and the three continued the
pursuit together. Tidings of the fugitive
were from time to time received, and on ar
irving at the sawmill of Burrows & Allis, on
Roberts creek, in the Judith Basin, the game
was overtaken at last. Pelky had been en-
ployed as laborer, and was at the time cut
ting timber in the woods near by. On his
return to the house he was at once covered
by the rifles of DeVall and Bowles and ord
cred to surrender. He turned to flee, but the
threat of DeVall to shoot him dead in his
tracks, had the desired effect and he gave
himself up. He confessed his guilt and said
he was ready to die. His captors at once set
out upon their return to Helena.
The day after leaving the mill, while the
party were stopping at ranch for dinner,
the prisoner attempted to commit suicide by
shooting himself with rifle belonging to one
of the party, but through his ignorance Of
the manner in which the piece Ga patent
Burgess) worked the attempt proved unsuc-
cessful. After this event he was carefully
watched, the vigilance of his custodians never
for moment tagging. AT Diamond City
the prisoner was delivered into the custody
of Sheriff Chas. T. RAIDER, who, with the cap
tors and prisoner, came ON to Helena. Soon
after arriving in the city, Pelkey again con-
fessed his guilt, declaring that all he desired
was to see French priest and then he was
ready to die. At the last term of the District
Court of Lewis and Clarke county, the case
was called for trial. Ex-District Attorney
Col J. A. Johnston appeared for the prosecu-
ton. The prisoner being destitute of money,
Judge j. E. Conger, before whom the case
was tried, appointed Messrs. VIM. FL. Dewitt
and /. B. Porter counsel for the defense. The
prisoner pleaded not guilty. The trial began
on December 18th, and the case was conduct
ed with exceptional skill by the gentlemen
to whom the defense had been entrusted.