Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-03-05
THE BOX ELDER TRAGEDY.
Full Particulars Of the Fight Which Resulted
in the Death Of Samuel Krobol.
Al. III. Baker Found TO he the Man Who
struck the Fatal Blow.

DT- Ldpdiinc Tciurhcu iTOih DOA
Elder creek last Thursday, accompan-
led by c. l.. Coder. Through the kind
ness of Mr.. Coder, who, being justice
of the peace in the township in which
the tragedy occurred, was the acting
coroner, we are enabled to give the re-
suit OF the inquisition held over the
remains of Samuel Krobol. The in
quest was held at the upper cabin on
John Butterfeld's ranch, on Tuesday,
Feb pa. The body was taken to the
cabin and by the application of hot
water and cloths the head was thawed
out sufficiently to enable a careful ex
animation of the wound. There were
two witnesses to the affair-John But
terfield and Vital Turcotte. The lat
ter being mail carrier between Magin-
mis- and Rocky Point, he was unavoid-
ably absent at the time of the in
quest, but his testimony will be taken
on his return to Maginnis. Following
is the testimony of witness, finding of
post-mortem examination and verdict
of jury:
John Butterfield, being duly sworn,
testified as follows:
Monday, Feb. 16, S91, about night,
Vital Turcotte came to my cabin. The
herder, Sam Krobol, and came into
the cabin about half-past seven. Al
Baker and Vic Baker were in the cabin,
and we all sat down to supper. After
supper Krobol sat on the bunk on the
east side OF the cabin, about five feet
| from the door. / sat on the bunk on
the west side of the cabin. The table
was standing under the west window.
Al Baker sat on a chair in front OF the
heating stove, facing Krobol, about
three feet from him. The subiet of
Meagher county came up i'm converse
ton. AL Baker pronounced the name
OF the county ''Meeger." Krobol said:
"What is that you call it? 1t is not
'Meeger;' it is 'Meagher.' Al Baker
said: "It is no such a ID thing; you
are a liar" Krobol then got off the
bed. AL Baker got up from his chair.
Then Krobol called Al Baker a bastard
and lying son-of-a-b--. Vic Baker
then said: "Hit him smack" / then
got up from the bed and said: ''One is
enough to fight. II they want to fight
|
AL Baker q son-of-a-b-. Then AL
Baker grabbed the chair, which was
the only chair i'm the room, by the back
in both hands and hit Krobol over the
left eye, the end of a cleat, about one
half inch thick, nailed across the legs,
being the part that came in contact
with Krobol's head. Both AL Baker
and Krobol were standing at the time
| the blow was struck. Krobol fell back
on the bunk in a sitting position, but
got up Immediately. Vic was half sit
ting on the table. Got right up and
grabbed Krobol. Igrabbed the chair
from AL Baker and showed him back
on the bed on the west side of the
cabin. Vic Baker and Krobol scuffied
| from in front of the heating stove to
the southwest corner of the cabin.
They were still clinched, krobol hav-
ing Vic Baker down on one knee. They
then raised up on their feet and crossed
the room to the bunk on the east side
of the cabin, and after | saw the blood
on Krobols face, which was flowing
freely, said: "That is enough" They
separated. Krobol sat down on the
bed and said: "You have whipped a
said to me: "John, get some water and
stop this blood" Krobol washed the
blood from his face in two basins OF
water Vic Baker got some flour,
which was put on the cut, and then
tied up the wound with a white hand
kerchief Krobol sat down on the
bunk, but seemed to be uneasy. Twas
standing i'm front OF the heating stove.
AL Baker was sitting on the bunk on
the west side of the cabin. Vic Baker
was leaning against the table at the
foot of the same bunk. Vital Tur.
cote was sitting at the head of the
bunk on the east side of the cabin
After talking back and forth, Baker
said to Krobol: "You want to be id
careful how you talk" Krobol said
81 will talk as 1 g-d-d-d please
Krobol still seemed to be uneasy. Tht
row quieted down about half-past ten
and we all went to bed. Krobol ap
peared to be all right when he went tc
bed, and, as far as l know, slept wei
that night. Next morning asked
Krobol if his head hurt him. He sait
no. Turned to Baker and said: 'Yot
fellows can try it again II you wan
to-" After breakfast told Krobol
his head hurt him / would herd TO
him. Krobol said: "No; l can herd.
! Krobol and went out with the sheel
away. / then left him with the sheel
and came back to the house. i ha,
hardly got to the house when / sa,
Krobol coming in. Wick Baker the
!, went out to the band, carrying CUR
As soon as Krobol got to the cabin b
went to bed and remained there unit
afternoon, when he got up to eat
Toward night Krobol complained {
's his head paining. l then got some 81
Jacobs oil He applied it to his head
Krobol seemed to rest well that NIGH
> Wednesday morning l asked HIM no
he felt. He said: "My head feels prett
sore" 1 then bathed his head wit
warm water and put on a clean ra
saturated with st. Jacobs oil. TIL
is all that was done for him, and !
remained in bed all day. He ate
- little toward night. AS far as
. know he rested well that nigh
- Thursday morning he looked bad
and complained a good deal; had col
siderable fever. He asked me to g
him some sage bi ush, which did, ar
made some tea, of which he drank tw
cups. About noon / asked him if
had not better go for a doctor or g
some medicine. He said, "No, l thir
will be all right" About 1 O'Clock
gave hlm an egg ana a snaIi piece
q toast. He remained in bed all th'
day except while eating. Thursds
night, about 10 O'Clock, he got u
opened the front of the heating sto
and stood there about three minut
and then went back to bed, and so +
as ! know, rested well that nigh
About o'clock Friday morning. vi
Baker got up and built fire. Kroh
then raised up in sitting positi'
no with his feet on the floor. Vic Bak
s said to Krobol, "are you cold ?'' T
latter said, Eyes, am cold"
Baker then said, 81 will soon have
room warm" Then I got up a
commenced to dress: saw Krobol r