Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-11
HEADED OFF.
Jack Mcdonnell had q Gun In Readi.
ness for Geoifrey
Lavell
But Was Placed Hors de Combat
Before He Could
Use 1t.
Mcconnell Badly Used Up-Arrested
and Jailed for Carrying a Con.
cealed Weapon.

Yesterday afternoon a long standias
fued which has existed for years between
Jack Mcconnell, alias blind Jack" and
Mr.. Godfrey Laveil, one OF Butte's mos,
prominent and respected citizens, culmin.
ated in what CAM very nearly being a
tragedy in which the latter was the in.
tended victim.
The ill-feeling which Mcconnell enter.
tanned against Mr.. Lavell arose from away
back in the seventies. It appears that
during The early days OF silver mining in
this district Mcconnell was the owner Of a
prospect north of the Wabash mine called
the Black Bear. Mcdonnell, who haa no
means to develop the mine, proposed to
Laveil thatifhe (LavelD would advance the
money! to prospect it, and if it did not prove
rs he represented it he would give Laveli
a deed of the claim. With this understand
ing Lavell put considerable money in the
ground, and finding nothing, he gave it up.
Mcconnell, who did not appear to be sat-
isfed, again appealed to Lavell to try it
once more. Lavell did SO, and after sink
ing $500 in the prospect quit it the second
time. Mcconnell then gave a deed of the
claim to Lavell & Co., the company con-
sisting OF William McDermott and another
person. In a short time Mr.. Lavell earned
that James Murray claimed the ground by
virtue OF some conveyance that Mcconnell
had made to him. The case went into the
courts, and after two or three years OF It'll
cation the ground was given to Lavell
& Co.
And now came Jack Devlin and Warren
Swaziland claiming the property on the
ground OF prior location. Again the mat.
ter went into court, but the suit was finally
compromised by the latter claimants CIV
ing Lavell & Co., one-fifth OF the property.
Thus the matter rests. But McConnellhas
since constantly bounded Lavell for money,
claiming that the latter owed him for the
ground, and has several times sued Lavell
d Co. for sums rarging all the way from
$4,000 to 100000. In the meantime
he attacked McDermott and the other part
ner but was stood off so enphatically that
he dropped them and went after Lavell.
1t is said be has threatened Lavell's life
several times and more than once laid in
wait fer him to do him bodily harm. This
has been going on for several years.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Lavell went
down to the Butte carriage factory on
some business, Mcconnell followed him
and while LavelI was in the carriage fac
tory he took a seat ON the sidewalk where
Lavell had his horse tied. Lavell knew
that Jack meant mischief, and not wishing
any trouble with him he sent for a police
tnan. The officer came but couldn't per-
suade Mcconnell to leave the premises.
Soon after the policeman left Mcconnell
took up a position at the door of the fac
tory, waiting Lavell's appearance. Soon
after the latter came out of the office in
the rear OF the shop and seeing Nc
Cornell blocking the way with his
hand en- his gum, ordered him
to leave. Instead OF leaving, however,
Mcconnell attempted to draw his gun
when Lavell picked up a single-tree and
knocked Mcconnell down, hurting him
severely.
Mcdonnell was taken to DR.. Whitford's
hospital in an unconscious condition where
bis wounds were dressed. He was after
wards arrested, taken before Judge Nc
Hatton where he was fined $25 and
costs for carrying concealed weapons. He
was also, upon complains, put under
$4,000 bonds to keep the peace for one
year. Failing to pay his fine and costs and
to furnish bonds he was jailed.
DR.. Whitford, Jr., attended to Neon
nell. He found a severe scalp wound
about four inches long from the top Of
head to the right ear. His chin was cut
and the third finger Of his left hand frac
tured. The wounds though painful are not
necessarily fatal. MIR. La ell WAS not
arrested, as it appeared to be a plain case
OF self defense. In view of McConnell's re-
peated threats to 40 up' Lavell, there is
little doubt if the latter had not acted
promptly he would have been 81 riousiy
if not fatally injured.