The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-28
Contractor McCarter Is Found in the
Roadway on Madison Avenue
Terribly Wounded.
The Scalp on the Left Side OF Hi0
Head Completely Torn from
the Bone.
Doctors Consider His Condition Serious
hut Not Necessarily Fatas--A Man
Under Arrest ON Suspicious.

Alfred McCarter the we'll known CON
tractor, was found lying in the middle OF
the road at the extreme north end near the
motor line, about l:3O O'Clock this morning
with the entire left side OF his head cut
open. Whether he was assaulted or wheth-
or he fell from his horse or was knocked
down ana run over by vehicle,
is not known at this time,
as Mr.. McCarter WAS unable to give any in
formation himself, and no one else has
been found 80 far who can shed much light
on the subject. The police, however, are
inclined to the belief that brutal assault
was committed while the doctors say that,
from the very nature Of the wound, II was
evidently done with sharp instrument.
The spot whore he was found is q lonesome
one,. with no policeman near, and
on the road which Mr.. McCarter ls known
to take when walking to his Lfme. which il
at the corner of Wilder avenue and Allison
str ct.
J. g. Hagerty, hackman who lives on
Mandison avenue and who owns his own
rig, was driving home shortly after one
O'Clock this MOI mag. As his team neared
the north ena of Madison avenue
.be horses SHE'D at some OBJ
suddenly Hagerty dismounted and ap-
preached. He found a man lying in the
middle Of the road. and another man trying
to lift him or turn him over. closer in
spection showed that the PROSTATE man
was badly cut about the head and was un-
conscious though moaning feebly. With
out losing any time HaQerty mounted the
box of his hack and drove with all speed
possible to Main street. where he informed
Policeman Vanasse. The two drove back
to Madison avenue. The object Of their
journey was still lying in the road and the
other man was still standing over him.
Raising the unconscious man the policeman
recognized him as MIR. McCarter With
Hagerty's assistance he VAS seated in the
hack and the policeman got in with him to
hold him, as the shock or the loss Of blood
had rendered Mr.. McCarter incapable of
found with him was ordered to get up on
the box with Hagerty and the
team was driven rapidly to
police headquarters. There the. wounded
man was seated in chair and for the first
time the extent of his injuries was seen.
the centre Of the head, the scalp on the left
side, from back to front, had been cut
away clear down to the ear, leaving bare
the skull. The scalp hung over on the
cheek and neck andi it seemed as il tha
Drs. Leiser and Morris were summoned
and responded promptly. They made
careful examination of the wound and
been made with some slIarp instrument.
This idea is strengthened by the fact that
piece of the side of the skull WAS clipped
off. A blow from blunt instru-
1nent that would have made such
wound would most likely have
discover no fracture beyond the little piece
clipped off the bone. They washed and
dressed the wound, sewed on the scalp and
t'laced him on cot in the station house
under the influence of ether to counteract
the effect of the shock, which seemed to be
the main thing he was suffei ing from then
While the wound is not necessarily
fatal, vet MIR. McCarter is in dangerous
condition, and it will require time and
careful nursing and attention to bring him
through. The doctors saiu ut an early hour
this morning that il MIR. McCarter recov-
ability recover. Otherwise his chances
were not favorable.
While the doctors were busy with the in
jured man, Policeman Vanasse and Ser
geant Quirk turned their attention to the
man who was for nd near him and who had
been brought to the station. He proved to
be John Larson, carpenter, living on
Madison avenue, not tar from where Mr..
McCarter was found. He WAS considerably
under the influence of liquor. The
police decided to place him
under arrest, at he could not give clear
scious man in the roadway. His story was
that he was on his was home and saw Nc
Carter lying in the road. He went to find
help and ran across a man who, like him.
self, appeared to be belated on his way
home. The two we're unable to move the
prostrate form. From there on Larson's
account of what took place is somewhat
muddled. He says he does not
know the man who tried to
help him, Tor does he know what became
OF him. On searching Larson II lot Of
small change was found in his overooat
pocket and some silver dollars in his trous-
ers pockets. The part OF the small change
beng in his overcoat pocket led the police
to believe he had been going through MIR.
McCarter's pockets, as that gentleman also
hnd considerable silver about him. Larson
made no protest against being locked up,
but stouty maintained that he had no hand
in any assault ON Mr.. McCarter.
report reached the police that MIR. Lar
son, the nnan under arrest, and another,
had been in Il Main street saloon during the
night, but it could not be confirmed.
Several theories were advanced as to the
way Mr.. McCarter was hurt. The nature
of the wound, as already stated, made it APP
pear that II sharp instrument, snch AS an
ax, a hatohet or butchers cleayer, had
been used and with great force.
, Mr.. McCarter on Thursday received the
final payment for building the First ward
had all that money about him last
night, though some one who knew
he was in the habit of
carrying u large amount may have taken
The opportunity to lay for him on his way
home. The theory of robbery is somewhat
by the fact that fine gold
watch ana chain were not taken.
II there was an assault, many believe it was
from malice. No instrument WAS found nt
.he spot where MIR. McCarter was /, ing, but
mother search will be made this mo, ning.
Another theory is that he was riding home
IN horseback and that his horse threw him
md tramped ON him. Still another is
hat he was driving III a buggy
md that there was a runaway. Still an
,ther is that he fell in the road and WAS
mn over by q passing vehicle. The con-
lit.on OF his hat, which was torn TO shreda.
gives some little color to this idea. II Mr..
McCarter RECEIVERS he will be able TO shed
'ome light on the subject. During brief
'pells Of semi-consoieusnes this
morning he was questioned but could
,ive no account. No one was found who
,ould say whether he started home on foot,
IN horseback, or i'll buggy.
Mr.. McCarter came hero from Dakota
our years ago. He ia noble grand Of
Montana lodge of Odd Follows, and has
lone considerable work In this section, one
II his largest contracts being the builiing
II the state arsenal. He has ewifs aud
c,r ehiidrau