The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-26

met my brother Lloyd. who said he
had not heard any shots, and also
stated he was going to the field. where
another brother was playing. He,
however, returned home just behind
me, in company with my cousin, Clyde
Templeton. I was the first TO reach
the house. saw a dead man, and
turned and ran TO the gate. where I
met Lloyd and Clyde. / told them OF
the dead man in the house. when Lloyd
began crying and jumped onto Mr..
McKercher's horse and started for
Uncle Robert. Clyde and followed"
MoNTGoMERY-s STORY.
The testimony Of Lloyd Montgomery
was taken at considerable length. in
view OF the suspicious circumstances
pointing to him as the person who
committed the murders. He said In
part:
~ have been living with my parents.
I went hunting Monday and returned
Tuesday at o'clock When I arrived
at home Aunt Ollie and my grand
mother were with my mother. They
left at about $50 o'clock. and about
the same time Mr.. McKercher rode up
and asked IL papa was at home. I re-
piled IN the Affirmative, and went out
to the road. where Mr.. Gilkey was.
In a few minutes Dan McKercher ar
rived. He went In the house awhile
and then returned to where father and
Mr.. Gilkey were. Mr.. Gilkey did not
tarry long. and I started out at the
gate. Father asked me where was
going. / replied that / was going TO
the field where my brother Orvy was
blowing.
Just then mother came to the door
and said she wanted me to cut some
wood for her. / did as she requested.
"a Co. 10. AL 4rrNw
my brother. On my way got a sqrrfr-
rel up tree and threw some stones at
II. Then I heard three shots. but did
not pay any attention to them, sup
posing father was shooting at a hawk
or something else. Pretty soon the
children came along from school and
asked me II I had been shooting. 1
told them that i had not, and that
I supposed the shots were fired at the
house. / went back to the house. Rob-
ert beat Clyde and me there. Robert
came screaming out OF the house. say
ing there was a man killed. / broke
and ran into the house and saw Mr..
McKercher and my mother on the
floor. Running out into the yard. I
saw my father. / Immediately jumped
onto Mr.. McKercher's horse and went
down TO Uncle Roberts and told them
about the affair. Aunt ollie sent me
to grandma's as soon as 1 could go.
Coming back. told Mr.. Tiger. He
came back a portion OF the way with
me.
II was about a quarter or a mile
from the house when I heard the shoot
ing. and had been away from the
house Is or 80 minutes. II was about
o'clock. My conversation with Mr..
McKercher was. about his dog. / was
trying to trade for II. When / left the
house father. mother and Mr.. McKer-
cher were thes only persons there. 1
recognized the dead body OF Mr.. Nc
Kercher only by his horse. did not
notice the gun. although II is possible
that picked II UP. but do not now re-
member OF doing 50; I was so badly
excited. / cannot account for the
deaths. Father and Mr.. McKercher
were IN a good humor when I left
them. / came very near taking the
gun with me. I don't know how many
cartridges We're In the gun. left thu
gun In the bedroom 1 had no trouble
with my parents"
A FORMER MURDER.
The arrest OF young Montgomery for
The murder of hts parents recalls the
murder OF Mrs F1nlayson. on the fine
Finlayson farm near Albany. about
nine years ago. Young Finlayson,
who was only IA years OF age. MUIR
and was convicted OF the crime In the
district court at Albany. Soon after
ward. however. he committed suicide
In the county Jail, where young Mont
gomery is now confined.
Young F1nlayson murdered his grand
mother. an aged woman. who had
raised him from infancy, while his
grandfather was absent from home
The young fellow. although he had
been given every advantage OF a splen-
did home on one OF the finest farms on
Albany prairie, was dissatisfied. and
made up his mind to run away. He
was detected by his grandmother I'm
the act OF prying open a bureau draw
er with an axe. for the purpose OF Sc
curing money he thought was secreted
inside. Turning on his grandmother.
he crushed her skull with the axe, in
stantly killing her. and In other ways
mutllated her body. He then locked
for Albany. After taking supper with
relatives there that evening, who OBJ
served nothing strange In his conduct.
he started for Portland. Several days
afterward Mr. Ffnlayson. the boys
grandfather. returned home. and break
ing into the house. found the dead
body OF his wife. He gave the alarm.
and I'm a few days the boy murderer
was arrested at The Dalles and taken
TO Albany. He confessed the murder,
but afterward denied II. This. how
ever. did not prevent a verdict OF gull
~ being returned against him.
Young Finiayson. like young Mont
gomery, was large and overgrown for
his age. He was nearly six feet high
when only IA years Old