Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-10-25
Mrs. Frances Sebastian Fatally Shot
Through the Chest BY John Sa-
bastian, Her Husband.
Quarrel Over the Possession of Two
Guns Leads to Murder-Mur-
derer Surrenders.
Arraignment in the District Court
Murder at Havre-Murder
at Maiden.

/ son of a Spanish mother and an English
| man, arrived in Great Falls Thursday
| from Bolton, Il station on the Great
/ Falls, Flathead county. At Bolton his
mother conducts boarding house for
the section hands and Sebastian, who is
stationary engineer, had been EN-
ployed till recently in the railroad pump
house. Recently he lost his position
and had been in financial straits for
some time. He determined to 90 to
Butte and, accompanied by his brother,
Keith Sebastian, a bright boy about Is
years of age, who is a typical Spaniard
in appearance, came to Great Falls on
horseback.
Thirteen years ago Sebastian and
Frances Kopp, then about 10 years of
age, were married in Winona, MINI.
Recently the woman has refused to live
with Sebastian and las been living ia
Great Falls in shack near the water
company's pump house, owned by Mrs
Anna hoffman, a German woman,
Mrs. Sebastian had in her possession
shotgun and Colts revolver, which her
husband claimed to own. When Sabas-
tian reached Great Falls he camped on
the West side of the river and Thursday
rowed across to Mrs. Hotfman's shack.
Mrs. Hoffman states that he then saw
his wife and demanded the guns, which
i she refused. Sebastian states that he
found his wife drunk and did not ask
her for the guns.
However, he went away. About s
o'clock Friday morning he returned
to the shack, accompanied by his
brother, who remained outside. Sabas-
tian went in and met his wife. He de-
manded the guns and his wife said that
he could have them when he gave her ii
saddle and buck skin dress, which he
had purchased for her. but had turned
q over to his mother. His wife was sitting
Il on box, about three feet away from
n him. Haven't been husband to you
for 13 years, working constantly for
you?," asked Sebastian. His wife made
4 some reply which no one can remember
and Sebastian said: "Well, we'll die to.
gether. I'll give you this gum" and
levelled 45 caliber Winchester life al
her and pulled the trigger. The car
h fridge exploded, and the bullet struc k
Il the woman under the left arm, passing
through the lungs, and came out be,
VI meath the right arm. 1t passed through
small partition and dropped to the
"A floor.
The woman rose and staggered to d
bed in an adjoining room. Sebastian
y threw out the exploded cartridge, jerked
another into the magazine and was
about to fire again, when Mrs Hoffman
struck the gun aside, it breaking d lamp
chimney. The wounded woman then
fell heavily from the bed to the floor.
N Sebastian rushed out to where he
IA brother was, told him he had shot the
woman, and would kill himself, which
he attempted to do, placing the muzzle
4 of the rifle against his body, but his
brother persuaded him to desist and
took the gun away from him.
Sebastian then went to the shack ni
" John Schubert, a friend, and picked up
4 ii revolver. Schubert asked him wha'
he was going to do. 81 have shot anc
N probably killed the wife up here, alc
guess III kill myself" was the reply
Schubert took the revolver away frou
4 him. Sebastian then sieZed knife
which also Schubert took away, and tOC
Sebastian that the best thing for hm t.
do was - give himself up. Sahastar
consented and Schubert accompanied
him to the county Jail, where he surren
dered.
Several officers and reporters hasteneo
TO the scene Of the shooting, where the,
found the liFeless body Of Mrs. 5abas
tiau. II lay by the bedside, face down
ward, in a pool OF blood which hat
flowed from the wound.
The body was taken to IcBTatney'
undertaking rooms, where pOst-morten
examination was made. 1t was founc
that The heart was torn ia shTeds ant
the lungs were badly lacoraled Thr
surgeons express surprise that the Wom
an was able 10 walk.
Coroner Wcitman impaneled q jury
CONSISTING Of J. A. Carrier, ID. ". Bate
man, Charles tahres, Paul iIg!oiI, Myc
Harris and j. w. Bei!is and an inques
wac held,
Mrs Anna Hoffman. Keith Sabastial
and John Schubert were sworn and ties
titled the fac te above related.
The Jury returned a verdict that 'th
deceased came to her death 10y a gut
shot, which was feed by her husband
John Sebastian, with intent to comm
murder"
4 gentleman who arrived ye5torda,
FROM Havre states that a gun play oc
cured there Wednesday evening be