The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-18
GUN PLAYS DON'T co
The People Of Montana Are in Favor
Of Hanging kurderers.
SUICIDE OF CORA KIRKE
Well Known Phiiipsbure Mechanic
Drowned at SeattIe-several
Fatal Accldents-Widow
Wants a Husband.

Miles City Journel: The verdict In
the Gay murder trial at Helena was
somewhat unexpected but none the less
a correct finding. For some months
deavor ON the part of some one to
work up sympathy and good feeling
for Gay. and all during the trial 1t
has seemed that this was having It's
desired effect. There seemed to be a
general opinion that Gay was a pretty
good sort of fellow who had gotten In
to bad company and 50 became mixed
up in this muredr that he was In no
wise q principal. The sangfroid with
which he himself swore all OF the kill
ing on TO his absent partner. Gross.
was In keeping with this idea; but
ke-nAortem statement OF the victim,
Macke, that Gay was the man that
killed him, and this the jury took TO be
true and found a verdict accordingly.
The moral support that SUCH a verdict
gives to the officers of the law, who
take their lives into their hands at the
call of duty, Is great, and the declara-
tion that officers of the law cannot be
shot down like dogs when In the dis
charge of their duty without swift and
condign punishment being VISITED on
the slayer. will, perhaps. deter some
future bad man from such resistance.
Gay had evidently made arrangements
to cheat the gallows IN case the YER
diet went against him. as a search OF
his cell unearthed a. quantity of NOR
phine sufficient to kill a dozen men.
Dillon Tribune: Bml Gay was found
guilty by the jury and thereby many
people were somewhat surprised. Gay
has a good many friends who thought
ne would get clear, but the evidence
was too clear and convincing. Not
even the great send-off that Capt. Jack
A. -
the jury, III they heard It, and II Is pre-
sumed they did. 1t does not seem TO
be a healthy year for murderers; they
are being convicted right and left.
Neahart Miner: We will not question
the motive that prompts the Helena
papers to be 50 persistent in their eff
forts to chear Bill Gay of the crime for
which ne Is now being tried IN that
city. but IL certainly seems a little pecu-
liar that they should be 80 eager 10
publish any little story that reflects
favorably on the desperado. while his
long career OF crime Is never MENTION
ed His victims are forgotten in the
touching stories that are told OF Gay
and his children. Stories of his noble
character and his whole-souled gener-
osity crowd out any mention OF his
degradation and fiendishness. Gay may
have some redeeming features but they
are very much overshadowed and the
Helena papers are not covering them
selves with glory i'm their efforts to
make a hero OF him.
The Madison Monitor says: Durrant
Is doomed; Holmes will hang. There Is
a lesson in the sentencing Of these two
men, even for Montana, and we advise
every county in the state Except. per-
haps, Jefferson) to lay 1t to heart
the man now on trial in the United
States court on the charge OF having
killed Crow squaw is quite am inter-
estlng character. He Is an old-tImer
in Montana. having come here nearly
20 years ago. He was the owner OF
one Of the largest freight outfits that
ever came to Helena and unloaded his
last load of fereight In Helena Just
about Is years ago, when business be-
gan. to slacken on account OF the ap-
proach OF the Northern Pacific.
Mr.. Pritchett now resides in North
ern Wyoming and up to the time OF mis-
| arrest was working on a large ditch
| that Is being constructed in the Big
Horn country. He was keeper OF a
mess house at the ditch camp when
| the unfortunate occurrence happened
that led to his arrest. His family r.
with him. and all are deeply interested
| in the outcome OF the trial, although
| victed
Helena News: Heleua Is doing well
| IN the matter of punsshing murderers
Biggerstaff has been found guilty. and
/ properly so. and Will die on the gal
| lows, as he should. Stanley was sent
| TO the state prison for life. which sen
| tence ne evaded by self-slaughter Now
| BIN Gay, the worst OF the trio. has been
found guilty of murder in the first de-
gree. and will no doubt be hanged. as
| he deserves. He should have been
hanged long ago. II half that Is told OF
/ him Is true. There Is AN agreement in
existence. signed by himself and his
| daughter. and witnessed by his wife.
/ that the inecestu0us relationship ex-
| istfng between himself and daughter
/ should be continued for a certain length
of time. He Is a monster which the
| world Is too small TO contain. We
have said nothing about this trial. but
/ we have felt that II Gay could be ac-
/ quilted then honest men would have 20
| take the law In their own hands. as the
vigilantes did in the early days. or
they and their families would have 70
leave the country. Well done. jurors OF
Lewis and Clarke county. you have
proven yourselves worthy of The honor
and gratitude Of your feiiow~men.
Helena News: The daily papers
have told how Eugene Stanley. whose
right name was T. w. Daily. died by
his own hand Thursday of last week
the day ne was 10 be sent TO Deer
! Lodge. In a letter 70 DIR. Salvail he
said. ''Whisixey has been my ruina-
ton" From the black depth OF the
polluted stream which had overwhelm-
ed aim. ne cried out TO those VINO were
following N his way. -hat they. trav-
cling along the brink. night take warn
ing in time. How many more mus
the black waves OF drunkenness drown
body and soul forever?
SUICIDE OF CORA kIRkE.