The new North-west., 1881-01-07
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
A Horrible Tragedy Enacted Near New
Chicago.

-
Chicago.
On Tuesday. December esth, John A.
Childs and M. Corcoran left VIM. Perrymans
ranch on their way to Elk Creek. keaching
the ranch farmed Jointly by Thos. Dougherty
and Philip Heenal they concluded TO stop
and warm themselves. They knocked at tine
door OF the cabin occupied by the men, Dub
receiving no response, entered one oI tho
visitors saw Dougherty lying on the pea anu
q pool of blood on the pillow and exciaimea
to his companion, "Why, here's dead
man." and, glancing around, his eyes met tne
hideous spectacle of the suicide, Heenal,
"Here's another; guess we'd better ieaVe'
They went to the next ranch below, Jonn
Knowles, and then to that Of Daniel Berry,
Justice of the Peace and Acting Coroner,
who went to the house and took charge OF the
premises, summoned jury and held an In
quest on the following day. AT the inquest
the following facts relative to the two men
were developed:
Thomas Dougherty had taken up the ranch
and last spring Heenal was made partner to
assist in farming the place. After the crop
had been gathered in the fall Heenal COM
menced hauling the produce to market, but
failed to render any account OF ms transac
tions. Dougherty objected to this manner Oh
doing business, and told Heenal that he would
not be allowed to transact any further Dusi-
ness until they had settlement. This caused
Heenal to dislike Dougherty and undouoted-
" led to the preparation of the tragedy.
Douyherty stopped ut Thomas Morse's ranch
on Saturday night previous to the murder,
went home on Sunday afternoon and was mot
afterward seen alive. Hsenal was last seen
in New Chicago on Sunday. 1t II thought
the shooting was done Sunday evening.
Both bodies were frozen stiff when found,
From gentlemen who visited the cabin before
the removal Of the bodies we are gwen the
following account AZ to the manner In wnicn
the shooting was apparently done: Dougher-
ty was shot while sitting on q bench near the
fire place, a. q large quantity OF blood was
found on the hearth, and afterward placed on
the bed by Heenal. This conclusion is evi-
dent from the fact that HeenaPs coat was
found under the bed covered with blood. The
weapon which caused Doughertys death was
n small fiye-shooter and had been held close
to his head, which was badly powder burnt.
The ball took effect over the left eye and
ranged downward. Heenars death was caus-
ed by his placing In his mouth the muzzie OF
a shotgun, and from his position when founo
| must have been in q stooped-over posi-
ton when he fred the shot. He had fallen
| to his knees, the muzzle of the gun penetra-
ting the wound some four inches, his lef'
hand still grasping the barrel Of the gun lie
was hideous spectacle, the entire left sidt
of his face having been torn away and MI
brains were scattered over the cabin for dis
tance of ten feet. After the inquest both mer
were taken to New Chicago and inferred In
/ the cemetery at that place.
Thomas Dougherty was hard-working In
dustrious man. He mined In California II
ls4g, came to Montana in S3 or bA am
mined on Elk Creek Immediately after 1t
discovery. Although addicted to drink h
was not ouarrelsome, and was respected b,
his neighbors and others who knew him as |
n quiet. inoffensive man and good citizen
MT. Doupherty was OF Irish descent ant
about 60 years of age.
Philip HeenaI (French PhiD has been IL
the valley but three or four years In the em
ploy of various persons. He was inclined u
be troublesome, especially when in liquor
and has not borne good character OF lats
He was native of France and aged abou
30 years. = a. ~&
Tn Justice to Mr.. Fritz schwack, who's
name has been mentioned In connection witt
this terrible crime, we desire to say on tn
! authority OF gentlemen resident near th
scene that he had not been living with Hee
nal and Doughrrty for month or more. ID
went there In the early winter and was
board with the men. Early in Decembe
Dourherty and Heenal had some trouble an
| Heenal took occasion to abuse Donghert
and accompanied his abuse with blows. Thl
!. frightened Fritz who left their cabin and wer
to George Lyons, some four or five miles bt
! low, ut which place he has since been hvinl
Mr.. Lyons SAYS Fritz was at his house at th
! time the murder must have been committed
and m one Of the Coroner's jury also sal
that no thought of Fritz having had an,
: thing TO do with the murder was entertaine
T by anyone in the valley. E#&N#D Eli
Following are the @s
vEaDIcTs or coRoNER's JURY.
TERRrroRY OF MONTANA,
COUNTY OF DEER LODGE,
An inqnisition holden on the 18th day {
December, t8S0, before me, Daniel Berry y a
, | tice Of the Peace and Acting Coroner, upo
the body of Thomas Dougherty, there lyin
dead, by the Jurors whose names are hereul
10 subscribed the said jurors upon the
oaths do say that the said Thomas Dougher'
, came TO his death from the effects Of pist
4 shot wound, said shot being fred intention
, ally by one Philip Heenal In testimon
whereof the said jurors have herennto .
their hands the alay and year aforesaid.
JoHs EDWARDS, Forema
. T. HI. GRIFrITH,
Gro. ID. LYONS,
j. 7. BoLAHD,
gl JAS. KENNEDY,
ROBERT ELLIOTT.
TYRRIroRY or MONTANA, =.
D COUNTY or DEER L0DGE,
: An inqulsition holden on the 18th day
. December, 1880, before me, Daniel Berr
: Justice OF tho Peace and Acting Coroner, Y
ON the body of Philip HeenaI, there lyil
ran