The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-11-01
THAT RUMOR.
How the Report OF Beckuey'e
Confession was Received
In Helena.

oAu ~ ouA0 CAuS " Guo pei p0SI0IOI VI
the crime was ever found. At the
time of the murder John Denn, who
was an old bachelor, kept a grocery
ana liquor store on Wood street con-
nected with which was stone liquor
warehouses; sort of half cellar
(now known as the OLD city jaiD
From the store steep stairway led
down into the cellar. DEM slept in
the store and it was near the bottom
of the stairway referred to that his
body was found on the morning Of
October %, 1879. His forehead
was crushed as by blow from sling
shot or billy. Near him lay bottle
and funnel, and it was supposed that
he had been about to fill the bottle
from one of the barrels Of liquor
when he was struck down-doubtless
by the man for whom the bottle was
to be filled, and who probably made
that his excuse for getting into the
store at night. Denn was in his
night clothes, proving that 1t was
late at night. He was supposed to
have q large sum Of money on the
premises and it was for this undoubt-
edly that the murder was committed.
The murderer, however, got but lit
tie money it is thought.
Suspicion pointed to various rarties
but one by one they were acquitted
with having any connection with
the crime and were discharged.
A Herald reporter this morning
called upon Mrs. Beckney at her
home in the upper part of town, to
ascertain what truth, if any, there
was in the report. She had heard the
report earlier In the morning, and
was much troubled about it. She felt
sure there was no truth whatever IN
the story, as she had been almost con-
stantly at Mr. Beckney's bedside dur
ing his last illness and said that no
statement or intimation Of such q
thing had passed his lips while she
was present. During Mr.. Beckney's
illness, at such times as she was MT
with him, watch was kept by some
of his brother Odd Fellows, and if
any such communication was made
to them she feels sure she would have
known it. Besides, she says, Mr..
Beckney was out of town on the
night that Dem was murdered-he
was at Centerville.
1t is thought p0ss; BILE by some that
the confession might have been made
to the Odd Fellows under pledge that
it would not be divulged unless some
other Lers0n should be accused OF the
crime and be in danger of suffering
death or imprisonment on account OF
it Mrs. Beckney wrote to-day to the
lodge to which the gentleman be-
longed who helped nurse the de-
ceased, and will, she says, have posi-
tive information on the subject in
about ten days.
A, B. Beckney, q brother OF John
Reckney, was also talked with, ana
he unhesitatingly pronounced the
rnmor false. He said that John was
not in town on the night that Dem
was murdered, but was at Centervllle
or at his ranch on the MISSOURI.
While John was on his way to town
in the morning he met two men Sid
nev Gordon and another whose
name was rot recalled.) They
were about fifteen miles from town,
and were afoOt. There was something
in their appearance to make him re-
member them, md when he heard OF
the murder he suggested to the sher-
iff the advisabiii,y of following them;
The Sheriff (Cnarles M. Jeftris, d'd
follow them and capture them a.
Bedford. They were brought back
to town, but on examination were
acquitted. f,ss;o,,
is concerned" said A. B. Beckney,
1T never heard OF it before, and 1 am
confident nothing of the kind ever
Occurred. John died at his and my
mothers home in Pennsylvania, was
in his right mind and l know ne was
mot in Helena on the night Of the
murder. I am convinced that no sucn
Confession could have been made"
The rumor is certainly one which
the Helena friends of the deceased
will be slow to believe, as John
Beckney's character, while open 10
criticism in some respects, was not
that of q murderer.