The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-06-28
From Saturdays Daily.1
THE COLLETTE CASE.
The Testimony Of Donald McNabb.

The testimony in the Collette examination
as published, was that of Joseph S%uprenant
and Antoine Marceau, in relation to the con-
fession of Napoleon Collette that he had
killed Dumas Lovolle, by stabbing him with
a knife. The testimony of Donald McNabb,
who lived with Lovolle, shows where Lovolle
went, Or that ne started for Collette's cabin,
and what was done with Lovolle's property
after his disappearance.
Donald McNabb testified Il am thirty
years of AGE, and live in the Bitter Root val
ley, and | am a farmer. Formerly resided in
this county, and in the summer of 1880, lived
out beyond the Colorado smelter, distant
about five or six miles from the smelter. L.
went there in May, and about the 1st of April
moved over to Elacktail-myself and Lovolle.
Lived in the neighborlood of defendant
(Collette) before moving over. The cabins
were about three-quarters of a mile apart.
Lovolle lived with NE in the cabin at Black
tail. His full name, as he told me, was
Dumas Lovolle. We lived together III the
cabin near Collette's. Collette lived there
all summer, and after we left. l boarded
with COllette about one week in the month
of May. Lovolle took a wood contract from
Mr.. Williams and he wanted me to help him..
lie wanted me to work for him by the month.
Last saw Lovolle in the latter part of April.
we were Callpeu over OH DldCkJall. L went
with Lovolle to Benjamin's ranch, where !
helped him to catch MIR. Claimont's horse. /
helped him to get on the horse and that was
the last saw of him. He went in the direc-
ton of Collettets camp. He was to re
main at Collette's until the next morning,
and he told me he was going to Big Hole for
cattle. LOyolle had not bean trunk for three
weeks, out he had lost all mis- money in town
and it nearly crazed him, and | did not con-
slider his mind right. 1t Mas his intention to
procure cattle to bank the wood, and he
wanted to sell me the cattle If we could make
enough money at banking to pay for the cat
tie. Collette told me that Lovolle stayed at
his cabin that night and left the next morn
ing for Big Hole. Collette went over to Big
Hole after cattle and he told me that he heard
that Lovolle had gone towards the British
possessions. This was some time after LO-
vOlle's disappearance--in the latter part of May
or June. When Collette came back he told
me he seen three or four head there that
were very poor and would not pay the expense
to bring them hack. Lovolle had a wagon, a
pony, about 100 cords of :, cd and other
small stuff that did not amount to much. |
sold the wagon to Collette in the latter part
of May, after l made up my mind that Lo-
wolfe was not coming back. Collette did not
take possession Of it right away. l got in
value about SO tor the wagon. l
took LOvolle's horse, a common
pony, with me. | agreed to buy
tie horse of Lovolle, if it proved to be as he
represented it. | got possession Of the horse
some time in june from one Of Mr.. BeIia-
Minis men. 1t was a so:rel horse. Lovolle
when he went away rode Mr.. Claimont's
horse. The hundred cords of wood was
around the camp where We stayed all winter,
about four and a half miles from the smelter.
| sold the wood Tor $l.JOa cord. | sold some
to Collettn and the rest to Oliver Dumas. |
sold Collette slXty-siX and a half cords and
the rest to Dumas. | took a horse from Col
lette for pay. | have Lovollc's other things
in my possession-all that was worth
anything. Did Lovolle's correspondence.
He was from Canada, near Quebec. Collette
told witness that he suspected Lovolle Of
stealing or running away with his horse.
That was after Lovolle went away and while
| was boarding with Collette. Collette said
he did not think Lovolle was an honest man.
! did not sell Loyolle's cattle to Collette. l
told him | would sell the cattle provided Lo-
wolfe didn't come back. Lovolle, when he
went away, left everything in my charge.
Never heard a word of Lovolle, except from
COlIette, from the time he parted with Inc at
the house.
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