The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-29
WASLUCKY FOR BOTH
The Victim Receivers and Westberg
Gets Seven Years.
HAS REMARKABLE TENACITY
FrIeberg's Skull Was Trepanned
and for a While Was Unable to
Utter But Three Words and
They Were Daisies.


Special Dispatch TO the standard.
HELENA, April 2s.-In company with
Sheriff Jurgens, Charles Westberg left
this city to-day for Deer Lodge. where he
will enter upon q seven-year term In the
penitentiary. He was sentenced yester-
day by Judge Blake in the district court
for assault with intent to commit MUIR
der. to which charge he pleaded guilty.
Westberg is the man who, early last JAN
uary, shot and nearly killed Nels FrieberE
In front of the Colorado saloon on Main
street. this city. The shooting was the
result of a drunken quarrel, and, while
the man was doubtless intoxicated when
he committed the rash act, the deed was,
nevertheless, ,premeditated and malicious.
The two men had, up to the day be
fore the shooting, been partners in GER
tain mining contracts and were fast
friends. They came to town one Satur-
day. got drunk together and quarreled,
with the result stated.
Frieberg was shot in the head, but Just
where the bullet, which was of large cali
Der, went the doctors are unable to say,
as they were never able to recover 1t.
When shot, Frieberg was removed to St.
Peters hospital in an unconscious condi-
tion, and 1t was believed then that he
would not live an hour. The doctors pro-
nounced the wound fatal and 1t was so
announced In the newspapers. Well.
Frieberg did not die. He remained un-
consciaus nearly threc weeks and when
he came to IL was found his right side was
paralyzed and he could not syeak.
After more weeks OF suffering the doc
tors who had made other attempts to se-
cure the ball tried again. They trepanned
his skull and took out quite piece OF
bone, and they bored around and probed.
scientifically of course. but all to no
avail. Strange to say, FrieberR still in
sisted ON living. In fact, he got better,
and has been gradually improving until
now he can walk q little and speak very
we'll.
A few weeks ago Frieberg's vocabulary
was limited to two expressions. These
were "Yes,, and "G- it" One
the hospital and the nurses, all of whom
liked Frieberg, took the little one to him,
thinking il would please him. And 1t did.
He received the badly with evident de-
light, but kept murmuring to IL sG--
d. itr over, and over again. The tone
of his voice showed that he thought he
was speaking to the infant in most en-
dearing words, and in his heart he was,
poor fellow. -
westberg had entered plea Of not
guilty to the charge of assault with Intent
to commit murder. His trial was to have
-commenced in q few days when he wisely
concluded to change his plea His attor-
ney asked the court to temper his sem
tence with mercy and the county attorney
with equal force urged the limit. Judge
Blake gave him seven years aud consid-
ering that the maximum sentence that
might have been imposed Is IA years.
westberg got off luckily. Indeed he Is
very fortunate in not being compelled to
answer o charge of murder In the first
degree, for Frieberg's marvellous tenacity
to life is all that saved him from the
moose.