The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-09-21
TRAGEDY At ANACONDA,
johnny O'NeaI. Aged II, Killed by William
Keefe, Aged go.


Last Tuesday evening William Keefs,
aged %, shot and killed John O'Neal, aged
IA, at Anaconda, the latter dying In few
minutes after he was shot. Keefe was arres-
ted few minutes after by Deputy Sheriff
Dickinson and Night Waterman Ames, at
the drug store, and, for safe keeping, brought
the same night to Deer Lodge, where he Is
at present in Jail. Keefe Is o SON Of the pre-
prietor of the hotel in Anaconda, and O'Neal
is SON of Patrick o'Neal, who lives near the
Silver Bow mill, at Butte. Young ONeal
was here last spring and returned from Hele-
ma to Butte only week or ten days ago
Unable in any other way to arrive at the his
tory of the tragedy, we called last evening
at the Jail, and after first cautioning him to
say nothing that would criminate himself,
received the following as
THE PRISONERS STORY.
Ny name is William Keefe. am 20 years
old My home has been in st. Louis, Mo. l
came about two months ago to Anaconda,
where my father is keeping q hotel. In st.
Louis worked in candy and pickle fac
tory. In Anaconda worked in the dining
room. The boy, O'Neal, came there few
days ago and was hired to work in the dining
room. I never had any quarrel with him.
The morning of the affair had got him out
of the dining room to keep people from ma
king fun of HIM, and brought him back after
they were gone.
On Tuesday last began drinking at about
3p. m. Some time later had a quarrel with
my father and asked him for money enough
to go TO Butte. He put me off. suppose he
thought after the drink wore off me / would
think no more of 1t. But l quit work and
went to the saloons. / walked around town
about an hour in the early evening. Net
O'Neal and took him across the street and
treated him to two glasses of beer. He then
gave me a pocket knife. Told him was 60
ing over to the house to get couple Of pis-
tolls / had there and then was going to the
woods to have some fun. ONeal said he
would 60 along. I told him he could If he
wished to and that would let him have one
of the pistols. We then went to the hotel
and sat opposite each other, although at diff
ferent tables. said, "Pm going to Butte TO-
morrow" O'Neal replied, "I'I 60 along,
and will 90 from there to Helena" / then
went and got the pistols-one self-cocking
British Bulldog and the other a fve-shooter,
and put them in my pockets. had both pis-
tcis cooked. / do not know why. was
out Of my head with liquor. 1 walked
out in the little hallway and saw ONcal
there; told him l had the guns, and pulled
them out Of my pocket to show him, and In
doing so one was discharged. Isaw him fall,
ran up to him, and asked him If he was hurt
Then l ran and put the pistols back under
the bed and ran off. After running some dis
lance met man and woman; told them what
/ had done and to come and see. They said
they didn't want anything to do with 1t. I
then ran back to the drug store and asked for
the doctor, and about that time i was arrest
ed by the officers.
Isee other rumors published but these are
the facts. About that watch business men,
toned in the Miner account, I am the one
who took the watch from the Chinaman.
O'Neal was not with me, had nothing to do
with it, and never said anything to him
about the watch. / was drinking and my
recollection is not very clear, but did as I
tell you; had no quarrel with the boy, and
the pistol was accidentally discharged.
Young ONeal died in ten minutes after he
was shot. His father took the body to Butte
for burial. The officers confirm Keefe's
statement about his returning to the drug
store for doctor and being then arrested.