The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-11
Three Skulking Murderers Sud
denly Spring Upon Him From
Out the Darkness.
A Crushing Blow Inflicted Upon
His Head With a Heavy
Bludgeon.
Pressed Against His Left Temple,
Deadly Revolver Is Then
Discharged.
Three Men and One Woman Concerned In
the Crime-A Conspiracy of His
Very Worst Enelnies.

BUTTE, June TO- Special. ALI ia gloom
in Butte to-day. Never in the history of
this city was there such a day of depres-
sion and such general feeling of horror
as prevailed in this city from end to end.
People stood in knots about the streets, and
in low accents discussed the terrible trng-
edy which marks the darkest day in Butte's
history. A cloud of fog hung like pail
over the city this morning. and chilled cit
liens to the bone. Early crowd gathered
at the northeast corner of Montana and
West Galena streets, where dried pool of
blood marked the spot where w. j. Pen
rose had been assassinated. All day the
police have been working on the case, and
gradually all the information known
by the people on Montana street has come
to light. The last one who saw Penrose
before the assault was Dan O'Donneli. He
lives on lower Main street, two doors from
Penrose's house. and was coming home. A
few minutes after midnight he turned into
Montana from West Galena. As he turned
he saw three men standing on the north
east corner of the street. He could not see
them distinctly. At the southeast corner
of these streets he met Penrose. That gen
tleman spoke to him. He was staggering
and seemed to be a little full. Penrose
went on across Montana street and O'Don-
nell continued down the street. He
reached the next corner when he heard q
shot. A moment later he heard a
man running down the street. The man
rushed past him. O'Donnell thought he
had committed come trihing offense and
WAS wanted by the police. He had piece
of black rag in his hand. He ian down to
the corner of Silver street and stood there.
A moment later two more men came run
ming down on the sidewalk. They had rub
bers on, or stockings, as their footballs
made no noise. Both were masked. One
of them had a gun in his hand, leyeled it
at O'Donnell and ordered him to stand out
of the way. O'Donnell instantly stepped
off the sidewalk and went into his house.
The two men joined the third
and all went down the street.
This morning O'Donnell found in yard
near his house billet. 1t was made from
a shovel handle, and was loaded with lead.
To all appearances the three men had
waited until Penrose crossed the street af-
with the billet. long bruise on the top
of the head fitting the billet. Stunned by
the blow, Penrose fell motionless. Then,
apparently. the revolver was placed to his
left temple and ball penetrated his brain.
There is also a bruise little to tho right
of the nose, which might have been caused
by blow from fist, or by the fall to the
sidewalk. Penrose's left hand was in his
pocket. and apparently he did not know
what struck him.
Belle Browning, otherwise known as
Emma Turner, is still in Jail. develop
ment this afternoon shows that there may
and three men to kill Penrose. w. II. Nc
Donald, a fireman, says he left the Crystal
saloon about 12 O'Clock. He went down
West Galena street toward Montana. He
reached Colorado and met a woman walk
ing hurriedly. In form and appearance
she resembled Belle Browning, but she was
heavily veied and he could not identify
her positively. She came from Montana
and hurried past him toward Main. Nc
Donald continued on to Montana, but cut
the corner and so did not see Pen.ose's
body. 1t was foggy and there was no light.
He went down Montana and at
the corner of Gold overlook
two men who were standing there. One of
them he could recognize again. They went
down into the placer diggings and he turned
over into Washington street, where he
lives.
w. H. hutchinson. Mr.. MoDonald's g
neighbor, found this morning that his
horse, saddle and bride had been stolen.
He told Mcdonald and they traced the
horses tracks to No. % West Quartz.
There the horse was tied, and mems tracks
were to be seen up the back steps of the
house. To-day there is nobody at the
house and no trace of the horse. The house
is that of Capt. Il. +. Wyman. who has not
been in town for some time. Hutchinson
him three weeks ago on this same horse,
and says he knew where horse and saddle
were kept.
This evening Dave M. Evans swore out
warrant for the arrest of Michael Gill
and j. b. knight, on complaint accusing
them of conoealing knowledge as to the
commission of tho murder of W. j. Pen
rose from authorities. The men were
taken before Judge Eddy and pleaded not
guilty. They gave bonds for $500 for their
appearances. Both Gill and Knight refused
to talk on tho matter. Apparently they
had talked altogether too much previously.
They had implied that they knew lots OF
things, but would say nothing definite.
Accordingly they were brought to time by
Mr.. Evans.
All day long streams of people have Wis
tied the undertaking rooms of Schneidt a.
Steveson, whore lies the body OF the mur-
dered man. Those who had been counted
hs enemies and those who were his pro-
nounced friends alike paid respect to the
dead man by hestowing parting look.
The features of MIR. Penrose are exceed
ingly natural. Arrangements have net yet
been made for the funeral, but it will likely