The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-30
1T LOOKS LIKE MURDER.
Noxon Furnishes the sensation of West
ern Montana.

| Noxon Furnishes the sensation OF West
srn Montana.
THOMPSON FALLS, March Ono other
crime that was ever committed in this
section has stirred up the excitement and
| awakened the deep interest that has been
aroused by the murder of John Stewart at
Noxon last Sunday. The coroner's in-
quest and the subsequent examination OF
Mrs. Stewart and her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Ed Clark. All the parties are we'll
known here and Stewart was interested
in mercantile business at Noxon, Hope
and other places. He was a warm favor
lite among his business and social
acquaintance and was n member of tho
Odd Fellows lodge of Hope. His business
associates and fellow members of tho
lodge arc active In fcrreting out the mys-
terry of his death, and have succeeded in
disclosing what seems to have been n de-
liberate plot to murder Stewart, the
motive being his money, which is sup
posed TO amount to about $50, 00o.
As published in the STANDARDS dis
patches Wednesday morning, tho coro-
ner's inquest developed the fact that the
strychninc which caused Stewards death
was administered by his mothcr-in-law
and the circumstances pointed to collu-
sion between her and her husband and
Stewards wife, their daughter. In pur-
suance with the finding of the coroner's
jury, County Attorney Dixon at once be-
gan an investigation before Justice of the
Peacc Leigh here at Thompson, and the
whole case has been gone into most care
fully and thoroughly. This examination
has shown that the daughter had no part
in the crimo and throws tho whole re-
Ia G.
They had evidently sought to use her as q
tool but their plans failed. 1t was thought
that she had procured q bottle of strych-
nino ut Hope, but she claims that while
she did telegraph for it, she did not re-
ceivc 1t for some reason. Whether she
did or not, she was probably ignorant of
the attempt which was to be made upon
her husbands life.
Mrs. Stewart, nee Mary Clark, is but 10
years old and is as guileless and unsophis-
ticated as young girls usually are VINO are
reared in the lonely country. She is the
mother of one young child and is much
attached to it. There is no doubt in the
minds of all who heard the testimony that
tho girl is innocent of the murder of her
husband and she was much affected dur
ing the trial.
IL will be remembered that the first sup
position was that Stewart had committed
suicide, and when Coroner Grain was
summoned it was to investigate the case
as one of suicide. This opinion was
quickly changed, however. as tho circum-
stances attending the death of Stewart
became known. The evidence all tended
to show that Mrs. Clark, the mother
in-law, had actually admins
tered the poison in Stewards
food. This opinion was strength
ened by the examination which closed
to-day and Judge Leigh held Mrs. Clark
in bonds of 5000 to await the action of
the district court. Mr.. Clark is held as
an accessory in bonds of 81 900 and the
daughter, Mrs. Stewart is retained as
witness.
Stewards money seems to have been
the cause of the murder. Clark and his
wife wanted to get il and it was supposed
that this could be done If Stewart were
killed and Clark made administrator of
the estate. No other motive can be as
signed and this theory is strengthened by
the fact that Clark had already made ar
rangements looking to his own appoint
ment as administrator when the trial was
begun.
L. c. Marshall has been retained to de-
fend the Clarks. The trial will attract
general int crest.