The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-05

by Indians, led to his untimely end.
we would judge that he was about fifty
years of age. Everybody who knew
hlm Will regret the sad death of Bill
Jones, as he was familiarly called, and
1T is to be hoped that his murderers
may be apprehended and transformed
into good Indians after the most ap-
proved style.
THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS.
The sheriff is taking every step possi-
BILE to effect the capture of the murder
ing reds, but the trouble is he has no
clue to go on. It is not known whether
the Indians are Crows, Piegans, Crees.
Or what, SO that movement i'm any di-
lrection is attended with good deal Of
uncertainty. Going upon the SUPPOSE
ton, however, that they belong on this
side the river, the sheriff dispatched Ed
mund Ingersoll and Perry Aspling down
the river, on this side, yesterday after
noon, to find out what they could, and
learn if any Indians had crossed the
river and gone north. He also telegraph
ed to the Coal Banks to have strict
lookout kept from that point, and to
Col. Coppinger, post commander at Fort
.Assinnaboine, asking his aid. Col
ICoppinger replied promptly, informing
the sheriff he had sent out all the scouts
at the post, and would assist to the full
est extent in the effort to capture the
.murderers. Col. Coppinger's message
has the right ring.
To-day Sheriff McDevitt will send
couriers up the Marias, and when more
definite news is heard from Arrow creek
he will get on the track of the red devils
if possible, and bring them to Justice
Il propose to nail these fellows" was
the determined remark of the sheriff to
our reporter last evening, and he will do
it if anybody can.
The scene of the murderis so far away
that no news whatever has been recev-
ed except what was brought here by
Bryant.
From Tuesdays Daily.
An inquest ON the body of VIM.
Jones, who was murdered by Indians
on Arrow creek. was held Monday
morning, Coroner Wheelock having
summoned jury of six persons, as fol-
lows: o. w. Kelly, VIM. Rowe, Joseph
and J. III. Green. Messrs. Gillian and
Morris were examined, and also the
physician who examined the wound,
and the testimony OF the former was al
most exactly in conformance with the
account first published in the RIVER
PRESS. The fatal wound was received
in the head. the bullet entering the back
of the cranium, above the ear, and COM
out high on the forehead, on the same
side. It produced instant death.
1t was believed Sunday that Jones'
gun was found i'm the possession of one
of the captured Indians, and witnesses
were examined on that point, but they
could not say definitely whether or not
the gun was the property of the dead
man, although it looks very much like
his weapon.
The verdict of the jury laying the
crime to three Indians, unknown to
them, is as explicit as the evidence
would warrant, and that part charging
up the primary blame to the Indian
agents who permit war parties to leave
their reservation without an escort, is
well timed. According to the terms of
the treaties the Indians have no right
to go off their reservation without per-
nit and escort, and if this law was
strictly enforced by the agents, there
would be an end of Indian troubles Of
all kinds. The demand for the enforce
ment of this rule cannot be made too
often. Following is the verdict of the
jury:
TERRITORY OF MONTANA, ss
COUNTY OF CHOTEAU. %
An inquisition holden at the city of
Fort Benton, in the county of Choteau,
and in the territory of Montana, on the
third day of March, "A. D. 1884, before
me, J. w. Wheelock, coroner of said
county, upon the body of William Jones
there lying dead, by the jurors whose
names are hereunto subscribed, the said
Jurors upon their oaths do say, that Will
liam Jones came to his death on the 9th
day of February, 1884, at Arrow creek,
in this county, by means OF a gunshot
wound in the brain, said wound having
been given wilfully, maliciously, and
feloniously by an Indian or Indians to
the jury unknown:
And the jurors do further find and
say that the primary cause of this and
many other homicides is to be found in
the criminal negligence Of Indian agents
outside their reservations, avoWedly for
the purpose of making war upon other
tribes, killing cattle and stealing horses
from the settlers, and incidentally MUIR
dering white men who are so unfOr-I
tunate as to find them in the act.
In testimany whereof the said jurors
have hereunto set their hands the day
and year aforesaid.
O. w. KELLY.
VIM. Rowe.
JOSEPH SULLIVAN.
RICHARD NEE.
G.. III. FARMER.
=. H. GREEN.
The miners of Clark's Fork mining
district and the residents Of Cooke City
are much alarmed over the proposed
bill before congress, which extends the