The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-12-22
trouble. Every slfort was made 70 secure
. confession, but bis lips were sealed.
The body was taken down and placed IA

1oo rope used was the ono that ohut out
the light Of day for Osnes. the murderer
recently hanged at Benton. Sheriff
G.naner did bis duty bravely end will re-
tire from once having legally sxecutsd
the first man sentenced to death In Fiat.
head county.
Tho crowd made no demonstra alton
whatever. The solemnity usually sur.
rounding IN occasion OF this kind was dis
pslled 70 certain extent by tho happy
manner In which tho principal character
acted. But little sympathy was displayed.
40 each one present could wildly recall
the awful sceno in tho woods whore
Christie, without mercy. beat to death
pure, innocent woman because she would
not yield to his brutal desires.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
Tho execution OF Calvin J.. Christie.
alias Charles ]. Black. removes from thts
community 1end who deserved the fate
that bcfell him. No community 10 safe
whom such men arc at large. He sought
out for . victim good woman who ives
loving vito and mother. Black must
have forsoen the gloom to would cast over
the homo Of the woman whose life he took.
He surely contemplated murder. for the
reason that be provided himself with such
murderous weapon.
On tho evening Of April g Mrs. Lsna
Cunningham, wife OF John Cunningham,
left tho town of Columbia Falls. In the
north end Of this county, and started for
her home. about three miles north OF that
town. She was last seen about Bsa0
o'clock. Black was seen to 70 in the
direction Of tho scene Of tho murder by
another trail just ahead Of tho woman.
At about 9 o'clock neiRhbor, while
driving homo his cows, discovered tho
prostrate form Of woman lying In pool
OF blood by the roadside. She vas yet
alive, but unconscious, notwithsta ndina
number Of ugly wounds upon the head.
He recognized the woman and FASTENED
10 inform her husband and ut the Same
time to alarm the neighbors. In very
short time the whole community. was up
In arms looking for the perpetrator OF tho
foul and cruel decd. BY this time Black
had reached town and was one OF tho flrst
TO Join rarty to 60 to tho scene.
HIS actions, and the fact OF bis having
been seen gong Ia the direction Of the
scene Of the murder. caused suspicion to
fall upon Black. Tho footprints leading
from the spot where the woman was lying
corresponded to the shoes worn by Slack,
which were peculiarly marked. Blood
was also found upon his clothes, which
DR.. William Bullard Of Helena pro.
nounced human blood, after q chemical
and microscopical examination. A horde
OF witnesses each furnished . link that
made chain of evideuee that could not
be broken by the defence.
Superintendent Schumacher OF the st.
Paul agency OF tho Pinkertons was EN-.
p.oyed upon the case. He went 10 work
openly, ~ Black had been arrested and
placed in the county Jail here at the bs.
ginning Of the coroner's inquest.
A little feeling was aroused in the com.
munity In which the poor woman had
lived, but the cooler heads prevented vio-
lence.
The trial of Black in the district court
occupied q number OF days owing to the
horde Of witnesses. Superintendent Schu.
makor did excellent work in getting tho
testimony together. II took the jury but
. short time to arrive at verdict of
guilty, for Black failed to explain any of
his actions In satisfactory manner.
HISTORY or THE MURDERER.
Charles J. Black, or rather Calvin j.
Christie, for that is his true name, was
born In Aurora, ILL.,, moving to st. Paul in
1876 with his parents. His father soon
after died and his mother married Albert
Brimley. From this time on young Chris.
tie became wayward aud started upon tho
life that led him to the gallows. He would
run away from home and be gone for days
At lime. and upon his return would give
no account OF himself. 1t was upon these
excursions that he found tho companions
best suited to his nature.
AT the age OF II he entered upon o ca.
reer Of crime and soon gained tho admira-
tion Of tho lawless element for the daring
and cunning he exhibited. He started in
the pickpockct business first, joining a
gang that became notorious In ST. Paul.
They worked In crowded street cars and
upon railroad trains, and occasionally
would find drunken sleeper around the
saloons, whose pockets they would soon
relieve Of their contents. The carnivals
Afforded good field for their operations.
Owing to their agility and cunning they
were quito successful in cluding the po-
Iice..
In dividing tho spoils at their rendcz.
vous over store on Wabasha street they
frequently quarreled, and these quarrcls
would lead to their arrest. They were al.
ways well provided with money, and EN-
ployed able counsel to get them out of the
tolls. Then. too, their ago was in thor
favor. Black, or Christie. was often ar.
rested and sentenced to Jail and to tho re.
form school. The sentences were usually
light because the courts did not recognize
in this nero boy thorough criminal:
One Of Christic's boyhood companions
was young man who now occupies a re-.
sponsible position with large merca lie
concern in st. Paul. He has completely
reformed. His employers know of his
former life but have implicit confidence in
him now.
Meeting with gilded success as an anna.
teur. Christie aimed higher. Safe blowing
presented the greatest charms and he
| found q teacher IN tho person OF Bill Don
aldson, n noted Boston cracksman. The
| last exploit of these two men was the sue.
| cessiul robbery Of q safe at Hincklcy
Minn.
Returning to St. Paul Christie Joined q
gang composed of X d Adams, the Greer
brothers and half breed named Bourkc
The police court records of ST. Paul tell o
many deeds accomplished by this gang
| Christie and pal robbed cigar store IL
| ST. Paul upon tour successive Sunda,
afternoons. On the fourth occasion tn,
proprietor caught them but was knocked
down. Christie wanted to Int HIM wiki :
| .b,, 10 lut hta ,,.l .,,I -.