, 1888-03-18
TIN HATS" WIFE.
A Woman Who Was Once Nc
EIhOne's Wife
Identifies the Skeletons Clothing
As Her Husbands.
Witnesses Positively Identify the
Accused as Patterson.


To the average man who has been at
tending the Patterson trial the identity of
the murdered man, if not that of the ac-
cused is established beyond a reasonable
doubt. The testimony of Mrs. Fonk, at
one time wife of McElhone, was the
missing link between the ghastly skele-
ton and the rowing gambler.
The appearance of Mary Isabella Fonk
in court yesterday created a decided SEN
sation. Few were aware of the exist
ence of such a person. The woman
brought with her an infant enveloped in
the voluminous folds of heavy w~rappings.
h4he child is the offspring of a marriage
contracted since the death of McElhone.
The lady is dark complicated, medium
height, regular features, brown eyes and
a heavy head of hair. She was nervous
and pale, but answered all questions I'M
hesitatiagly in clear tones.
The witness married McElhone in DC.
tober, 1888, in Laramie City. She and
Fonk contracted a matrimonial alliance in
January, 1886. The issue Of her pre-
vious marriage are still alive and with her
self mourned the death of McElhone.
Mrs. Funk recognized the pants found
near the skeleton as those worn by Nc
Elhone in life. She positively identified
the coat with the peculiar pocket in the
sleeve. Deceased earned a livelihood by
manipulation of cards and checks. AT
his request she constructed the receptacle
in the sleeve to be used as an emergency
store room for cards. Witness last saw
her husband at Riverton, Neb. They
separated here while en- route west for the
reason that McElhone's funds became ex
Her husband was five feet ten inches in
height. weighed about las pounds, and
was 2S or 80 years of age.
The cross examination was quite brief.
Mr.. Patterson questioned the ability of
witness to identify her needlework. Mrs.
Funk responded that she recognized the
stitch by the same faculty one is enabled
to identify ones handwriting.
The testimony Of Mrs. Funk is the
most important yet presented on behalfot
the territory. The outsiders, if not the
jurors themselves, are now positive that
the skeleton exhibited in court is that OF
Jas. McElhone, alias Tin Hat"
Patterson, Tor the first time since the
trial commenced, exhibited considerable
nervousness as the examination of Mrs.
Fonk progressed. He moved uneasily in
his chair and was at a loss to place his
hands in a satisfactory position.
w. J. Reid knew Harry Patterson, the
defendant, at Runningwater in the sum
mer of 1884. He met McElhone at Fort
Laramie in June of the same year. The
gambler was carried from the post to
Runningwater on a wagon driven by Reid,
at the formers request. To him Tin
Hat" had exhibited the pocket in his coat
sleeve and explained its uses, and he had
noticed that McElhone wore government
boots. The stranger had tarried with
Reid several days, lodging in his tent.
During their companionship he had OBJ,
served that '"Tin Hat was in possession
Of a roll of money, which he thought
contained about 5000. To the best of his
recollection McElhone was about 5 feet
inches tall, light c~omplexioned, with sandy
hair and light moustache.
Jos. Slime was cooking for Jas. Hogle
at Runningwater in the summer of 1884.
He remembered the advent and stay Of
Tin Hat" Upon one occasion he had
prepared a lunch for McElhone, and upor
the departure of the latter was informed
that he was bound for Hartville. Wit
ness believed hat the clothing exhibited
in court was the same as that worn by
McElhone. He knew Tin Hat" as '"Iir
Horn
j. G. Bruce was employed as bartender
by Jas. Hogle at Runningwater in the
summer of 1884. He knew Patterson by
sight, not personally. The prisoner occa
~sionally gambled. He last saw Patterson
the latter part of June. At that time
Mr.. Bruce became acquainted with {
gambler whom he subsequently learned
was McElhone. Witness described ap
pearance and attire of '"Tin Hat" stating
that deceased loafed about the saloon con
~tinuallY. He thought the hablimentl
shown in court had once been worn by
McElhonc.
Geo. NJ. Pollock knew the defendant il
1884 and a year previously as Harry Pat
terson. Made the acquaintance of "Tir
Hat" at Runningwater after the 18th o.
June, 1884. At one time Patterson was
dealing monte with '"Tin Hat as his an