The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-12-15
David +. Akers and Thomas Purcell,
Outline Montanians, Meet
and Quarrel.
Purcell Useda Winchester with Deadly
Effect on Akers, His Former
Friend.
Both Parties Were Well Known e
the Early Settlens of North
ern Montana.

81 \hloClt Va ANcWS Vi I)tCeLlDoT I.
On Monday last, Dec. 4, Thos. Pun
cell, who lives on Pothole coulee abou
thirty-five miles from town, came int
q town and reported that he had eho
2 Dave Akers, a rancher who livee not ia
from him and that his body was thel
lying in his (Purcell's) corral al hi
ranch. He then proceeded to the polio,
barracks and gave himself up. A
%coroner's jury consisting of Messrs. w
Colpman, c. W. Lyall, j. B. Bright, G
P. Player, w. Cluston and j. B. Cress
man we're i%mpanelled by Corner Higin
botham and proceeded to Purcell't
ranch where the body was found lying
in the corral. The body was taken
charge Of by the police and brought tc
town and the inquest was held in the
! fire hall and occupied all day Wednes.
day.
1t has been known for some time back
that Akers and Purcell has been at enmi.
ty with each other and several law suits
have been the result. From the evi
dence taken at the inquest it was learn.
ed that Akers vent out to Purcell's
ranch Sunday afternoon to get some
cattle of his which we're in that vicinity:
when he got to the ranch there was no
one there but Purcell, and in his evil
dence he says he entered his house and
he snpposes took down a shot gun which
was hanging on the wall and left it on
the bed. He her came out to the cor
raj where Purcell was at work and on
seeing him started towards him saving
that he would kill him and struck him
over the head with a quirt Tor Indian
whip Purcell states that he ordered him
not to come near him or he would shoot
him and tried to get away from him and
IN so doing came across his gun which
was in the corral. and picking it up
snapped an empty shell at him and on
his still continuing to come on shot him
through the body.
Dr. DeVeber held a postmortem ex-
animation on the body ard gave evidence
that death was caused by the bullet
from a rifle and was almost instantane-
but could not say how close the
shooter was to the victim. DR.. New
purn testified to having examined the
prisoner and found a couple of wounds
on the head which might have been
caused by being struck with a stick
similar to whip produced; found no
marks on his shoulders. Evidence was
also adduced to show that Akers, on his
way to Purcell's ranch, in conversation
with parties, had no intention of quar-
rellIng with Purcell and that as far as
tbey could see was unarmed. On the
evidence being concluded the case was
gwen to the jury at $50, they retired
ana after being absent for three hours,
the following verdict was rendered:
That Lee Purcell alias Thomas Pur-
cell on the third day of December. 1891,
did feloniously and unlawfully kill and
siay David d. Akers, and we find that
the deceased came to his death from the
ELECTS OF a shot from a rifle discharged
by Lee Purcell and that we return a
verdict of manslaughter against the said
Lee Purcell.
The body was brought into town by
police and was buried from the
barracks.
Dave Akers was the oldest timer in
this district, being here about % years
and was always looked upon as a quiet,
peaceable citizen. In the early mining
days Of Montana he accumulated a
of about $4,000 and started for
the states in Company with two Others.
On coming from Helena to the falls of
Missouri, tnow Great Falls in a
small boat they being unable to proceed
any farther by boat, camped for the
night and rolling his gold dust in his
blankets left it at camp while he went
to view the falls, not suspecting that
either OF his companions would be guilty
OF taking it. On his return his dust was
and he proceeded to Benton
next day. Here he had his comrades
and searched but his dust
was not found in their possession.
His companions proceeded east and
he being broke started north in
company with John Healy and
traded for robes and furs at
Whoop Up for several years. After
this industry disappeared he continued
at the same place and carried on a sue
cessful business as rancher until a few
years ago when his health broke down.
his residence there his place was
a home for all travellers in this neigh
.Orhood, and many old timers are loud
their praises Of his hospitality and
generosity. In later years owing to ill
health he was in poor circumstances and
having to part with his homestead at
Whoop Up was building a new home for
at Pot Hole cOulee, near where
he met his death. Like most old-timers
he had an Indian woman for a wife and
by her leaves one child, which is the
only kin known of. His death will be
regretted by whole families in Montana
where he used to go for suppliesin trading
and where his credit used to be
good for any amount he wished to pur-
Purcell, the prisoner, has been 10 this
DeigbborhOod about ten years and
never bore a very enviable reputation. >
The Tarin.