The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-11-16
ATTACKED BY A CRAZY MAN
Artie Ward and Frank Bell Had a
Narrow Escape From a MUIR
derOus Maniac.
He Shoots at Them Twice at Close
Range, But Is Knocked Down
and Disarmed.

Two Belt workingmen had a narrow
escape from being murdered Tuesday
evening by a crazy man, while walking
down the railroad track just above Belt.
Their are Artie Ward and Frank
Bell, and they have been employed on
some grading work at Belt. They were
walking down to the village of Belt last
night about nine o'clock on the railroad
track, thinking Of no danger. when q
mar suddenly sprapg out Of some bushes
within seven or eight feet Of them, and
exclaiming in a loud and excited voice,
Now, ! have got you; you have been
DIGGING me long enough, you s-of-b's,"
presented a pistol at Ward. The young
man had a cane in his hand and instinct
lively threw it at the man, striking him
in the face, and his action was not a
moment too soon, for almost at the same
moment the man fired, and the bullet
vent just above Wards head so close
that the flame blinded him for a moment.
Ward thereupon started to run and the
mar took another shot at him. By
this time his companion, Bell,
realizing that the man was bent
on murder, had picked up a big rock,
and getting close to the murderous
stranger threw it at him. BY good luck
it struck him on the back of his head
and knocked him down, and Ward re-
turning to the assistance Of his friend
the two succeeded in disarming him.
They then seized him and brought him
into Belt, where they turned him over
to Deputy Sheriff Mcleod. That officer
soon made up his mind that the man
was crazy, and yesterday afternoon
brought him into Great Falls, where he
was examined before the district court
and a jury consisting of DIR. Long, DR..
Longeway and f. G. Heidi as to his san
ity. The story which he told the sheriff
and the court was to the effect that he
had long been pursued by these two
men, who were trying to throw him out
Of work and ruin him, and that he
would never have any rest or success till
he killed them. He was evidently very
dangerously insane, and the jury did
not hesitate about finding a verdict to
that effect. The court made out a com-
mitment and he will be sent to the in
sane asylum.
The prisoner is an elderly man about
40 years Of age, and his name is George
Enders. He has a ranch near Choteau
on which he has proved up, and owns
several good mining claims neal Barker.
He told the judge that he was on his
way to Barker to do some work on his
claims when he met these two men who
had so long prosecuted him. On many
subjects he talks quite nationally, but it
is stated by parties who know him that
he has been regarded as crazy by bis
neighbors for some time. although no
one supposed that he was dangerous.
The revolver he carried had still three
shots left in it when it was taken from
him, and il it had not been for the
prompt action of the two men he met it
is probable that one or both Of them
would have been hurt, as he was within
a few feet of them when he commenced
to shoot. All that saved Ward from
being hit by the first shot was his throw
ing the stick which caused the maniac
to throw up his gun and so miss his
mark,