The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-08-10
A MAGICIAN'S CRIME.
Prof. c. A. Lewis Charged with Murdsrinr
His Young Lady Assistant at Dillon.
The Accused Feigns Insanity and Denies
His Guilt.
Butte Miner.

| DILLON, August s.-Prof G. A. Lewis
who is well known in eastern Montana, hay
| ing travelled through that section with
| magic and sleight of hand per Torrance, 4
charged with the commission of n terrible
crime near this city yesterday. 4 beautiful
young lady known on the bills as Eva, trav
elcd with him and assisted him in the per
| formances. She was about sixteen years O
| age, aud he claimed she was his daughter
They arrived in Dillon two weeks ago, com
ing with their own wagon and team, ant
went into camp about two miles below ths
city. About 4:30 yesterday afternoon Levi.
was seen by some carpenters who were
working near by, carrying the young lady to
ward the bridge which crosses the river nea,
their camp.
The unusual spectacle aroused their suspic
ion that something was wrong, and running
TO the spot they were Mortified to find the
lifeless body Of the girl with the tor of her
head blown off They took Lewis into Gus.
tody and carried the body back to the wagon
where they found a shot gun with one barrel
discharged and the inside of the wagon cover
spattered with blood and brains When first
arrested Lewis acted crazy and talked inces-
sanity in almost incoherent language, the
drift of which seemed to be that Eva wanted
to die and be an angel and now she had her
wish coroner's inquest was held upon
the body and verdict rendered that the girl
came to her death by gun shot wound in
hicted by g. A. Lewis. To-day Lewis was
taken to view the corpse. He seemed terri
bly, affected, and for the first time since his
arrest, threw off his appearance Of insanity.
but finally, as he gazed upon the corpse, he
broke out in frenzied appeal to the dead
girl, TO speak and say that he did not commit
the terrible deed. He says that she discharged
the gun herself; that it was lying IN the {. unk
and in getting some article out of which, she
accidentally discharged 1t, killing her in
stantly, that hearing the report he rushed 10
the wagon and raised the body In bis arms,
The thought flashed across his mind that he
would be suspected of the murder and his
first impulse was to conceal the body. He
impusively started towards the river when
the carpenters came upon him and took him
into custody. Upon seaching the effects of
Lewis and the girl, letters were found which
prove that she was not his daughter but a
Miss Eva Clark Of Chicago, whom he had
engaged to travel with him. She was highly
accomplished and a fine musician. There
was strong talk yesterday evening of lyncbiup
the prisoner, but no attempt was made to do
50. The Jail isstrongly guarded.
We can hardly believe tais of Charley
Lewis. Eva, who accompanied him WIS
here with him on a tour through Montana
Ihree years ago doing the srial suspension
business but was not claimed then to be his
laughter. Mr.. Lewis then had his wife and |
me or two young children with him. i've
'ecollect Alright be stated his home wa. ~ |
ireen Bay, Wisconsin, where he had consid. |
'rable property and business interests. The
inter- Mountain corrspondentgives the fol. |
owing details:
Prof Lewis, the travelling magician, mur-
lered the girl Eva this afternoon at his camn
opposite the residences Of Mr. James Selway.
n the Beaverhead valley, about two mile.
elow Dillon, and distant from the Selvav
ridge about two hundred and fifty yards
rom all appearances ut the scene of the
omicide, the murder was . premeditateI
ne.
I'll
Lewis aud Eva were In town fbis Afternoon
nd ieft for their camp below about o'clocr
bout halfpast four, Mr.. Al. Decker. 4 car-
enter at work on Mr.. Selways new no use. 4