The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-07-02
ANGUS M'DONALD'S TALE.
he Aarfates the Events Of The Day on
Which SteIans Was KILLED.
HORRIBLE AWAKENING
He and Stsvens Fell Asleep and
When He Was Aroused His
Arm Enc!rcied the Dead
Body Of His Friend.
Special Dispatch to tho Standard.

ctsShsh StsPosSu " shc eeehaSt"
MIssouIA, July LIN the presence OF
well filled courtroom. and with tho inter.
est almost at fever heat In Missoula's now
celebrated murder case, Angus =. Me-
Donald took the witness stand this morn.
ing to explain what he knew OF the cir.
cumstances surrounding the murder OF his
companion, John Stevens. on the I'D Of
last May. and for which offcnse he. him.
self, is at present on trial. Mcdonald
proved to be an excellent witness. He was
far more composed than many Of those who
had preceded him, testifying to matters OF
but little importance. His answers TO tho
interrogations put TO him BY the court and
counsel were free and distinct and at tho
conclusion of his testimony, many IN tho
court room were deeply impressed in his
favor.
Mcdonald testified that he had first mot
Stevens about seven or eight days prior to
tho day upon which tho Grim, was com
mitted, and that ho next saw him nj n
saloon in Horse Plains on the morni NC of
May %. when Stevens Informed him that
he was going out TO Arthur I.aravie's
ranch, where he had been promised EN-.
ploymcnt, and requested permission to
who wcrc about to proceed in the same
direction.
"when out from Horse Plains some
thing moro than mile, We met two In
dian policemen and stopped to talk with
them. Tho Indians asked mo for somo
whisky but I was skeptical about giving II
to them, and asked Curry aud Stevens to
ride on and would overtake them. After
they had gone on the Indians again re-
questcd some whisky and finally agreed
to shoot with them at . mark. for the
hottie that had. and they won 1t from
me. After taking two or three moro
drinks, proceeded on my way and over
took Curry and Stevens, when they were
about four and half or Ave miles from
Horse Plains. Curry then noticed
that had lost . package that
had been strapped on behind my
saddle and concluded 70 turn back and
pick Il up. Stevens wanted TO accompany
mo. but told him he had bstter GO on
with Curry, 80 my horse was better than
his aud We would net lose 20 much time N
! went back alone. Stevens, however, In
sistsd on retusninG with me and ne
turned back, Curry continuing on. was
pretty drunk ut this time, and can only
remember that We dismounted, at some
spot in the road, and took three or four
more drinks out Of bottle we had with
ms. From that time on, my mind 10 q
perfect blank until ! WAS awakened.
think, by something rubbing against my
head. At this time. Stevens was lying by
my side. with my right arm around his
shoulders and neck. I shook him and
told him to get up, 40 II WAS getting late
and We had to continue our journey. Not
receiving any response from him, raised
his head and then noticed that no was
dead. I Immediately stood up and no
ticcd that had befouled myself.
"After arranging my toilet as best
could under tho circumstances, lighted q
cigarette. got on my horse and wont back
to Horse Plains as fast ~ my horse could
travel. ! Immediately hunted up Joe
Thomas, the constable. and In the pres
ence Of Colonel MCGOWAN explained to
them that my companion Of the morning
was lying dead by tho roadside about
three miles from town. We three went
back to where tho body was found. and
then returned to Horse Plains, when
was placed under arrest. After
my arrest. and until went
to bed, about ~ minutes later,
| l conversed with number of people In
McGowan's store. but never In any way,
shape or form admitted that had killed
Stevens or knew anything concerning his
death. On the contrary, ] steadfastly de.
MED any knowledge of the affair. The
| statements made by Witness Sears yes.
tertlay are all false and were nctuated by
| a personal enemity existing between MS.
| ! never told Cummings that had had
trouble with Stevens on tho hill. and tha,
| I might have struck him over tho head
with my revolver. Stevens and ! were
very friendly for short acquaintances.
had taken u great fancy TO him and am
positive that never struck him."
Mcdonald. In his cross examination
was handled In an ablo manner by Count,
Attorney Denny, but he stuck steadfastl,
to his story in all its particulars.
| Tho first witness called this morning b,
the defense. Eleinehum, Pend d'0reills
Indian. toggci out In new suit OF clothe,
of decidedly lice cream" character. tes
titled that he was on his way to his camr
ut Camas prairie, latc on the afternoon o.
the murder. and whom near the spot
where the body was subsequently found
saw three horses. saddled and bridlei
grazing near the side OF the road. one
black horse. one cream and tho other
bay. He also saw two men working at
fence some distance up the hill from
where the horses were seen.
Eugene McCarty had known Stevens Il
his life time, and hal heard him say tha
he had had trouble with the Kootenai
over some land and horse race durin,
the summer of 1891. and that the Indian
had then threatened his life, and h
feared that IL he went back on the reser
| ys,,on tbey xyotild attack him.