Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-04
TROUBLE OVER A BOY.
4 Guardianship Case Causes Trouble
Near the Dexter Mill,

Yesterday morning q youth who ap
peared to be about IA years OF age, o
emaciated appearance, was taken by Com
missioner Jack to the courtroom of Jus
tice Nichols and q guardian asked to b.
appointed over him. The boys story tc
the justice was to the effect that he lived
with his brother, Patrick Meeney, and
family near the Dexter Mill; that he was
much abused and denied enough to eat
and that his brother, firing OF him, Wished
to get rid of Kim.
It is asserted that Mr.. Madiean, who
resides close to the Meeney cabin, agreed
to take the boy, and either put him to
work, or, il he was not strong enough, to
send Linn to school. Justice Nichols ap-
pointed Mrs. Madigan guardian Of the
youth, and he accordingly went with her
to her home.
This was in the morning, and nothing
further was known of the affair until last
evening, about 6 O'Clock, when Mrs. Madi-
gan rushed crying and terror-stricken to
Justice Nichols court, and, a. soon as she
was able to compose herself, told the fol-
lowing story: She had left the boy at lib
erty during tho day, and when evening
came she went to search for him. She
found him at the home of the Meeneys, and
Mrs. Meeney drew pistol and fired at her,
while her husband stood behind her and
urged her on.
THE ARREST.
A warrant for the woman's arrest on the
charge OF assault to murder was sworn out,
and given into the hands of Constable
Judge. From Mrs. Madigan's manner and
remarks it was supposed that trouble
would he had in making the arrest. Con-
sequently Chief Cody agreed to attend
Constable Judge while making the arrest.
Accompanied by q MINER reporter, the
officers proce, ded to the scene. The cabin
Of MIR. Meeney is situated near the Dexter
mill. nearly opposite the blacksmith shop,
on the Silver Bow road. Arriving at the
cabin, the Constable knocked and the door
was Immediately opened. At the sight OF
the officers, Mrs. Meeney started back, and
when the warrant was read she broke into
tears.
MRS. MEENEY's STORY.
After crying and sobbing for some time,
Mrs. Meeney told her side of the story. 1t
is substantially as follows: She said that
she and her husband had always treated
the boy well. He had never wanted for
anything He was given everything there
WAS on the table, just the same rs her own
son "a boy l3 years old.) The boy
Tommy (the brother of Mr.. MeeneyN was
fond OF delicacies. and was q very poor
eater. Some times when he went out for
the day to tend the cows, when asked by
Mrs. Meeney to take lunch along, he re-
fused, saying he could not eat it. He was
not beaten any mole than their
own son, and only twice to her recollection.
She also said that the Madigans, who have
no children of their own, have been want
ing to get the boy to tend to their cows,
but that she wonld not let them have him.
She said that the only trouble between her
family and the Madiyans was slight dif-
ference in regard to the prices charged by
both for the milk of their cows. She de-
MED having discharged the pistol, and said
that she merely took it out from under her
apron, and that Mrs. Madigan was so
frightened that she went out Of her head.
After telling her story. Mrs. Meeney
dressed her little girl, about a year old, to
take along with her, as she was too young
to leave at home. A team was hitched up,
and the party drove to town about 10
o'clock.
Justice Nichols was found, but refused to
allow Mrs. Meeney to furnish bonds, and
that last night she would have to 60 to
Jail. She was brought to the Court House
and lodged in the county jail.
At the Jail a five-chambered revolver was
found on the person Of Mr.. Meeney, with
one of the chambers empty. MIR. Meeney
drove his team home and returned to the
Jail to keep his wife and child company
during the night.
Mrs. Meeney is rather tall woman about
35 years of age. She has smart appear
ance, and talks in a quick, decisive manner.
The boy over whom the trouble took
place, and who looks to be but 13 or II
years OF age, says that he is a little over II.