The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-09
CARRYING 1T TOO FAR
JOshsrS Resolve Themselves Into Verit-
able High Handed NuisanCeS.
A WIDE FIELD FOR REFORM
Prominent Citizens Express Their
Views on the subject and Every
body Seems to stand on the
Platform AS Outlined.

MIssoULA, April s.-One of the most
dastardly outrages that has ever been
perpetrated in MIssoula under the alleged
| excuse of practical joke was carried out
last night by some one who is either q
lunatic or subject for the penitentiary.
For years the joshers who dishonor this
town by their residence here assailed the
private character of respectable people,
until the expressions of public sentiment
against them became SO strong that they
were compelled to desist from their refari-
Gus practice. Now 1t seems that they,
or somebody who. is aping their
despicable work, have started on
n new line of action and
are starting on-a campaign which erdan-
gers life and damages property. Sach
amusement may afford entertainment,
for the diseased minds of those who ipv
dulge in it. but II IL does, they ought to be
put behind bars. where they can enjoy
themselves without injuring others. 49,
The latest phase OF Missoula's joshers is
n dangerous one, as is demonstrated by
their operations last night. About midi
night, heavy glass bottle crashed
through the window of the sleeping room
of w. c. Murphy, in the third story Of the
Daily block. In the room at the time were
MIR. Murphy, his wife and two small child
rem, all asleep. They were awakened by
the crash of tho breaking glass and Inves-
tigation showed that the heavy bottle had
been hurled through the window by some
malicious hand. Nothing but the heavy,
window curtain saved the life of one of
the children, as the missile fell just short
of the little ones head. This was a Mis-
soula joke-but surely no community will
tolerate such joking. ~
This is not the first time that the DAILY
block has been assailed at night by mis-
creants. Last fall revolver ball was
fired from the corner of the Higgins bank,
through one of the windows of Crutchfield
d MATHS Office, the bullet lodging in the
ceiling against an iron girder, which pre-
vented it from going through the floor of
the room above into the room of Mr.. Muir
ply which was attacked last night. On
another occasion, bullet was fired
through the window of County Attorney
Dixon's office. All these acts have been
performed during the night, when the
rooms were not occupied but last nights
performance placed in danger the lives of
children and it is surely time to call halt
in the dirty business. - "a
Examination this morning showed that
other bottles had been thrown before the
WluuoW was nlts as tue SIDEWALK peloW Is n
covered with broken glass of ano her
color than the bottle that went. through
the window. The matter has been placed
in the hands of the county attorney and
the sheriff and is being thoroughly invests
gated. At least one man saw the bottle
thrown and he has told where itcames
from. The bottle contained special.
brand of liquor and it has been ascer-
tanned who purchased it. Other links in
the chain of evidence have been discov-
cred and it Is to be hoped that, for once,
it will be demonstrated that such action -
will not be tolerated in Missoula and tn ~
they cannot be perpetrated with imppnsr
ity. .vaer, -, =
Either the same gang that threw the /
bottle or some other of kindred spr
stote the old two-wheeled hose cart from
the city hall last night and ran it out of
sight. "just for a JOSH" If Missoula is to
be reformed, here is the best chance In \
the world for the reformers to start in. 4