Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-07-03

Between and o'clock last evening
Joseph 3. Tomlinson, Jr., Fred. c. Traut-
man and Frank W. May agreed upon an
hours hunt near the river, to the south OF
Belknap where, it was reported, deer were
numerous They met several parties a
mile or so from town who had seen some
deer and one of these claimed to have
fired four shots at buck, but could not
tell whether he had wounded the animal
or not Oar hunters then pushed on into
the pineries and separated, Tomlinson
| taking to the woods near the railroad track,
Nav the center and Trautman the old
wagonroad They pushed on through the
dense pineries and brush until they came
within sight of the river, when TOmlinsOn,
according to his testimony before the
coroner's jury, saw some fresh tracks in
the path he was following. The tracks
led to dense chapparel, which he ap-
preached cautiously. The swapping of
some twigs led him to believe that the OBJ
iect of the hunt was near at hand. He
being quick with a gun, brought it up to
his shoulder and fried. lie waited for
some time, and prepared to shoot again,
but hearing no noise of any Kind he con-
sidered his aim to have been fatal. He
broke through the brush and there he
found his companion, lying on his back son
marshy ground, alongside of log, which
he had evidently been in the act of step
ping upon, his gun resting by his side.
An ugly wound on the left side of the
neck could be seen, but still believing that
he had not killed his friend, he felt of his
person and called upon him to answer.
Finding that May was dead, and hearing
the report of a rifle in the distance, fhe
broke away through the forest to come to
town for help. He met Trautman, who
had fired the shot as a signal, believing
the other had also been fired for the same
purpose, owing to the falling shadows.
Trautman was soon made aware of the
deadly and unfortunate nature OF the first
shot by TOmlinsOn's wild and grief-stricken
exclamatiOns, and both hurried to town,
where the news naturally created the
deepest feeling of sadness and regret. A
large party soon gathered to accompany
TomlinsOn and Trautman back to the
scene of the tragedy, which was through
perfect Jungle of underground and large
pines, and the body found as above stated.
| The ball, 45 Winchester, had. passed
clear through the body, entering from be-
| hind between the shoulders and passing
| upward in it's way cutting several blood
vessels, breaking the neck and coming out
| on the left side of the neck. DIR. Ernest
| Crutcher, who accompanied the party,
stated that death was instantaneous. The
body was taken up and conveyed through
the dark woods to town.
The deceased was carpenter by trade
| and well known in the community. He
| had made many firm friends, as he was
honest, genial and pleasant and intelli-
gent companion. He was in partnership
| with Fred G.. Trautman, and formerly re-
| sided in DeadwoOd, Salt Lake and Haily,
| Idaho. He was 80 years of age, born in
Providence, Rhode Island, where his
parents reside. They have been informed
! of his death. ..as-. aft 81.
There was the closest friendship between
| deceased and Tomlinson, and all the evil
dence given before the coroner showed
| that Tomlinson was overwhelmed with
| grief at his tragic mistake. v4
An inouisition was held over the body at
| the Hotel Brunswick by A. H. Foye, Justice
| of the Peace of Thompson Falls, at 10
o'clock this morning. The followinglver-
dict was rendered :fa fsI.af
Territory of Montana, County of Mis-
| soula-An inquistion held at Belknap, in
said county of Missoula, on the Goth day
of June, 1884, before A. L. Foye, a Justice
| of the Peace of said county, upon the
! body of Frank W. May, here lying dead
by the jurors whose names are hereunto
| subscribed, the said Jurors upon our oaths
do say that the said Frank w. May came
| TO his death on the 25th day of June from
the effects of gunshot wound at the
| hand of J. 3. Tomlinson, Jr., and the said
wound was inflicted without malice or
| felOniOus intent. .t q. BsL.-
A. c. EDWARDS, Foreman,
A. TH0RNE.
| w r. BEAAIISH,