The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-01-14
HIS SKULL CRUSHED IN
And His Cabin Burned Down TO Conceal
Evidences Of The Crime.
PAT CONLEY'S FOUL. MURDER
He Was an Inoffensive Old Man.
and 1t Is Supposed That He Had
$4,000 or SIS 900 In His
Room.
Special Dispatch to the STANDARD.

LIVINGSTON, Jan. l3.-A fearful crime
was committed in the outskirts Of Living
ston at an early hour this morning, the
victim being an industrious and inoffen-
sive old man, about 90 years Of age. For
the past 10 years Patrick Conley has held
tho position of Northern Pacific
watchman at the railroad bridge
spanning the Yellowstone about one
mile east OF the city. He occupied
a small cabin, which the company erected
for his accommodation at the west end Of
the bridge. In this cabin he slept and
cooked bis meals. Being bachelor he
had no one to look after but himself.
Each month for the past 10 years he has
drawn $3.50. He lived modestly, almost
penuriously, and saved the greater part of
his wages. As he never deposited a cent
in the bank or invested any of his earn
ings in this city, il is presumed that he
slowed it away somewhere in his cabin,
and il Is estimated that he must have had
$4,000 or 5000 saved up.
At $50 this morning his cabin was dis.
covered TO be on fire and in very few
minutes was mass of smouldering ruins.
The occupant, however, could not be
found by those who had gathered at the
scene, and the smell of burning flesh
which arose from the ruins told the story
of his disappearance. A search of the
ruins revealed the charred and unrecog-
nizable body lying with upturned face
close to the door. The skull was badly
crushed, the whole top of the head having
been caved in.
Although the affair is as yet shrouded
in mystery, all indications point TO the
conclusion that the watchman was muir
dered and the cabin fired to hide the evi.
dences OF the crime. Nothing was found
in the ruins except two watches, two
clocks and two razors, although it is
volvers in his cabin.
Coroner Shawk held an inquest on the
remains this afternoon, but no evidence
was adduced furnishing any clue upon
which the officers can work with any
probability of success. The fact was de-
veloped that several heavy trains passed
over the bridge about an hour
before the fire was discovered,
and one or two Of the trainmen testified
that the watchman was standing in the
door of the cabin and that his lighted Ian.
tern was in the window. The jury re-
turned verdict to the effect that the
watchman came to his death at the hands
of persons unknown. As far as known,
Conley had no relatives in this country.
although it is said that be has brother
residing somewhere in Indiana. II
is also reported that he owned
some properly at Fargo. Conley had
worked for the Northern Pacific in differ.
ent capacities for the last 20 years. The
only person who knows anything about
his affairs is p. j. Gogerty of Anaconda,
who is roadmaster for the Butte, Anaconda
& Pacific Railroad company. Goaerty left
New York state in company with Conley
in the early '7os and the two followed the
line of tie Northern Pacific at the time oi
its construction through Montana. Con
ley's remains will be inferred in the Fair
view cemetery tomorrow by the Northern
| Pacific Beneficiary association.