The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-06-06
A MURDER.
A Cold-Blooded, Deliberate
and Unprovoked Shooting,
John Adams Murdered Near Fort
Conrad by a Tramp.

midnight of Wednesday, bringing wit
him in light spring wagon the dead bod
Of John Adams, who had been mortall
wounded by gun shot wounds inflicted b
tramp stranger who had been permitte
to travel with them. The shooting oc
CURED near Fort Conrad two days ag
under the following circumstances. I
appears that Messrs. Brede and Adam
we're strangers in Fort Benton, who ha,
lately arrived. About week ago the
left Fort Benton to go to Fort Macleod
in wagon, and we're requested by
strange young man whose name was un
known, and who was then stopping in th
city to let him accompany them stating
that he was without means, but that be
was acquainted up north and would like
to get through. Mr.. Brede, the owner Of
the team, gave his consent, after some
persuasion, and the three started north.
Upon reaching Nine Mile coulee, 8 miles
north Of Fort Conrad, they camped for the
night and on awakening next morning
found that their horses were gone. Mr.
Brede started out in search of the ami
mails, leaving the other two at the wagon.
Upon his return, three hours later, he
found Adams under the wagon with
blood flowing freely from several wounds,
and the murderer gone Upon examina-
tion and inquiry he ascertained that Ad-
ans had been shot with forty-fve cali
ore six-shooter three times, one ball
piercing the lower portion of the stomach,
one the breast, and another going through
the leg, and was informed by Adams that
the missing man had done the shooting,
without the least cause or provocation
whatever except desire to be "tough
man."
At the time of the shooting, according
to Adams story, he was laying under the
wagon, not feeling very well, when the
would be murderer, suddenly drawing a
six shooter ordered him to throw up his
hands, exclaiming: II am the father of
toughsE" Adams, thinking he was joking,
obeyed the command, when the shooting
commenced with the results as above de-
scribed. The fend, thinking he had fin
ished Adams, took from the wagon a rifle
and several rounds of cartridges and
made off for place of safety. The muir
derer is a young man with light mus
tache; he speaks with a foreign accent,
and the edges of the upper teeth are worn
hollow He claims to be native of Po-
land, and is evidently crank, as he as
serted that he had lost papers that would
have made him some day king of Poland,
and entitled HIM to the possession of val
liable property in England. His desire
was to be, as he expressed it, ''strietly
tough" While camped at this point an
other young man from the north, who
was hunting horses, also camped with
them, and after he left early in the morn
ing, the murderer asked Adams if he
thought the young fellow had any money,
and stated that if he did he would follow
aim up and kill him, as he was tough
enough for anything.
After hearing all that Adams had to
say, Mr.. Brede hitched up, put the wound
ID man in the wagon and started for
5own. At Fort Conrad he exchanged his
leavy wagon for light spring wagon SO
hat the wounded man would ride easier.
He pushed on as rapidly as possible Ad-
ms lived until they reached Beyins' place
N Pen d'Oreille coulee. Here they
topped to get water, and during their
hort stay Adams breathed his last. The
eceased is said to have father living at
'ainted Woods. Dakota, and brother at !
'ort Buford both of whom were tele- :
raphed to by Mr.. Brede at the request {
[ Adams. p
THE MURDERER. T.
Since the above was written and in type
70 have been able to ascertain the name il
the man who committed the murder Il
nd something Of his history. Mr.. Geo. b