The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-01-11
o IT HAPPENED.
Fall Particulars OF the New Chicago
Tragedy.

New CHICAGO, Jan. 2, 1880.
Editor Butte MINER:
Sir-In Fridays issue OF the daily MINER,
l notice an article concerning the tragedy
committed opposite this place and in justice
to Boulder Fritz, who was not near the place
or in any' way connected with the affair, 1
take the liberty of giving the particulars as
near as l can get them. Philip Heenal and
Thomas Dougherty have been partners dur
ing the past season in the products of the
rauche belonging to the latter and were liv-
ing together. Heenal has had the marketing
of such articles as were raised OH the place
and appropriated the proceeds to his own use.
Some time ago, Dougherty forbade Heenal
from disposing of any thing more until such
time as they could have d settlement. Pos
sibly this demand brought about the trouble.
In the cabin where the tragedy occurred,
there is no evidence of any struggle. Every
thing goes to slow that Heenal shot Dough-
erty while the latter was sitting on a stool be-
fore the Fireplace, the first shot taking effect
directly over the left eye and ranging
downward. The next shot, evidently fired
after Dougherty fell to the floor, entered the
mouth. A Colts six shooter, small sized,
was found on the floor near the fire place
bearing unmistakable evidence of having
been recently discharged, no loads remaining.
When found, Dougherty was lying on the bed
covered with blankets, supposed to have been
placed there by Heenal, as a pool of blood on
the floor IN front eff the fireplace would midi
cate where he fell. Heenal was found near
and a little back of the door on the
inside in a kneeling position, the double
barrelled shotgun tightly grasped with the
left hand, and the muzzle of the gun wedged
in the wound in the head in such a manner
as to hold the body in position. The entire
left side of the head from the mouth I'D was
blown of. The sight was CHASTITY in tie ex.
IRENE. The body of Douehelty was frozen
stiff; that Of Heenal was not so much frozen,
requiring but little ~exerti0n to straighten the
limbs. 1t Is thought by many that it was
Heenafs intention to try and make his escape
as one Of the horses in the stables bowed
signs of having been out in the storm, but
whether from the severity of the weather, or
some other cause, it appears that he changed
his mind and did the best act of his life-that
of blowing his own brains out.
Dougherty was a very quiet, good citizen,
and an old resident of Deer Lodge county,
having Mined in early days on Elk creek.
Heenal formerly worked for Dick Knowles;
was a man Of very violent disposition, and
was known to be quarrelsome, especially
when in liquor.
Everything goes to show that the affair oc-
CURED on Sunday evening. Nothing was
known of it, however, until Tuesday fore
noon, when John A. Childs and Michael
Corcoran, in passing on their way to Elk
creek, stopped to warm and found the bodies
as described. Among the papers belonging
to Heenal was a note addressed to Dan Berry
dated November Both, in which Heenal re-
quested Mr.. Berry to take charge of his prop
erty, pay his debts, &c, which would indicate
that Heenai had meditated some rash act for
some time.
J. B. NJ.