The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-10-09
MURDERED BY A MANIAC
Altof Buchefinj Ills Vile and Z DalSh.
ter B, Shoots Himielf
ANOTHER DAUGHTER FLEEs
Checking Deed OF John Brandt. Q
Ranchman In the Yeilowstons
vaiisv-Hs He'd ACTED
Quser for Years.

spe:ial Dispatch 10 the Standard
MILES CITY. Oct. a-Nsws was received
here yesterday OF the finding Of the dead
bo,lics OF John Brandt. his wife and
daughter at their ranch, 25 miles from this
city. on the north aide Of the Yellowstone
river. Acting Coroner Glib. accompanied
BY Under Sheriff Thurman, left immedi.
ately for the scene. Upon arriving at the
rlnce they found . most horrible sight,
At the inquest . surviving daughter,
Laura, aged IL years, told substantially
tho following story Of an insane mans
terrible deed:
At supper time on Friday night, the
head OF the family, John Brandt. aged "a
years latter shaving himself, ate his even.
ing meal, stating that II would be the last
he would ever eot. Az he had frequently
madc similar remarks, no attention was
paid to Il. About o'clock Laura and her
sister Lille, aged II years. went to bed
and their mother, aged IL years, also went
TO bed, the two girls In ono bed and the
mother Ia another. Brandt sat in the
corner OF the Same room In q moody
humor. About IL o'clock Laura was
awakened by hearing her sistor call twice
and raising up In bed saw her father in
the act Of cutting the throat OF tho girl
beside her. She jumped out OF bed, called
her mother twice and receiving no answer
ran Q mile and q quarter in her night
clothes to Loveridge's ranch, where q
young man named OFT was staying. Both
were SO frightened that they went another
mile and hall 10 H. L. Knowles ranch
This was all that she knew Of tho matter
but an investigation by q searching party
soon told the remainder OF the horrible
tragedy.
On the floor beside his own bed was the
dead body OF Brandt, with bullet hole in
his head. entering the left temple and
passing out at the right. There was q
Winchester under him, while about Isl
yards from the house was the dead body
of Mrs. Brandt. Her head was literally
mashed to pieces with Q hammer, which
lay beside her. She was stabbed nine
times In the breast and her throat was
cut from ear to ear. This part Of tho act
10 surmise. but appearances indicate that
Brandt had gone outside, and his wife, in
her night clothes, had followed him, fear
full Of something wrong. He had evidentl,
pursued her and struck her down. Then
completing the butchery with . largs
pocket knife, be went into the house
where the girls were sleeping and cut the
throat Of Lille from ear to ear. severins
the veins, arteries and windpipe, and
leaving the dead child lying on the bed
with her feet just touching the floor. He
had evidently then taken his rifle and
seating himself on the other bed, endet
his own life with q bullet, falling over or
the floor ~ found.
Brandt has lived In this section severa
years and has always acted queerly, un
douhtedly being insane when he commit
ted the murder and suicide. Besides
Laura there is living another daughter
who 10 married to Q neichboring rauchel
named Cory Wilson, and q son Charley
aged 10. who 10 working as Q cowboy fol
the X. I. T. outfit. The coroner's verdict
was in accordance with these facts and
the remains Of all three were buried to
day.