The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-01-27
WHEELS 4. rs HEAD.
Witnesses Who Say That Beiunsk Acted
Very Strangely.

HELENA, Jan. a6.-In the trial or Frank
Belunak for murder tho defense to-day
continued the testimony as 10 Belunak's
ecccnt riciiies. Charles Koauuch told Of
Belunak unhitching a team from the
wagon and leaving the wagon stand ng IN
the road. saying some men were hiding in
the bushes TO kill him. Belanak always
appeared TO bo crazy. W. \. Kuphal tes-
titled that while he kept grocery store
Belnnak came inlo his place often and
acted strange. lie would ask for some.
thing, look around and then 20 out with
out purclias NJ. Witness afterwards kept
n saloon. Belunak would como Into tie
place and sit down and growl about peD-
pie being after HIM. Basng his opinion
on wha, he had seen OF Bclunak witness
did not think the man quite sane. though
unwilling to pronounce him entirely iE-
sane. About election time Belunak APP
relrcd TO bo somewhat worried as To
whether 10 remain with the democratic
party or so to the peoples party. County
Attorney Nolan put himself in Beiunak's
place and asked witness il he were 10 act
as Belunak did would witness consider il
eyi encc OF insanity. Witness answered
that he would not.
V. c. Kinda knew Beluuak before and
after the frakncr mine accident. The
pr soner acted different after the accl-
dent. At one time he told the witness he
had notion to blow his brains ont. as he
had no MONEY and was out Of work. J. q.
Briscoe gave similar testimony. After
the accident Belunak acte IA man III.
sane. Witness though: B,luulk hal a
very poor mind; hs did not know whether
1t was natural or the result of the acci-
dent. The county attorney and this wit.
ness then had some discussion on men.
tali,y. Mr.. Nolan asked thu witness
| whether he thought all minds were like
that OF Daniel Webster.
II didn't know Daniel Webster" was
the answer.
Witness had undoubtedly heard of Web
s,cr. and the county attorney wanted to
know whether hc thought his (wiiacSs'l
mind like that OF Wehster's.
Hardly replied the witness. who then
wanted to know whether the county at
torncy wanted hlm TO deliver lecture on
mentality. lie was excused from doing so.
During this discussion tho prisoner smiled
continuously.
George Hancher testified TO taking Belu-
nak's gun at ono time aud keeping IL two
days. Daring that time Belunak went up
TO the hills aud staid, saying hc knew some
one was after him 10 kill him. At another
time tho witness found Belunak hiding IN
n hay stack with his gun. explaining that
the peoples party and the salvation arm,
were after him. From tho way Belunil
acted. witness thought him crazy. Several
other witnesses testified TO the prisoner
peculinrties.
The most important witness this after
noon was DIR. James ]. Macdonald, who
saw Belunak while the men were binding
him at Daniels house after the shooting
There were threats of lynching. Yet Be-
unak laughed and joked and seemed tc
consider tho whole matter as n Joke. A
suppositious question was put to tue wit,
ness. II was assuming that all the qucei
actions told OF by tho other witnesses wer,
true. and taking them in connection Will
the way he acted while being bound. whal
would the doctor say OF the mans sanity
1T would lead to the conviction that nj
certain times, at any rate, he was
insane. HIS conduct that morning
would justify the assumption that h.
was not in his right mind al that time.
On cross-examination the doctor desig
mated Beunak's mistaken IDEAS about III,
Salvation army and the peoples part,
being after him as a dclusion. He was
asked IL man might might have such q
lelusion aud be rational as to all othei
things.
"Yes, as 70 everything else" was th,
answer. The witness would not say tina
Belunak was insane that morning, bui
thought hs conduct could be explained
on lhe ground OF insanity.
All tho evidence was in tonight, anC
the case will be given to the jury to
morrow.