The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-13
THE DOCTORS TESTIFY
Gilmors's Broken Skull Exhibited in
Court Yesterday.
HIS HEAD BADLY SMASHED
Beaten With a Gun BarreI-Looks
Like rsmsdltated Murder
The Case Continued IN
I'll Monday Nexs.

was on the witness stand again this MORN
ing in the trial of Andrew Ehrick for the
murder of Michael Gilmore, and testified
that according to the direction of the shot
wounds in the body one shot was fired
from directly in front of Gilmore and the
other from his left side. The doctor said
that the immediate cause of death was
the blows on the head and the fractured
skull. The witness testimony was very
damaging to the claims of the defense
that the murder was committed in self
defense. ~
Coroner Richards testified that he re-
ceived the upper portion OF Gilmore's
skull from Drs. Norcross and McGarvin
and that he cleaned 1t. The skull was SO
badly fractured that 1t fell to pieces while
he was cleaning it.
DIR. McGarvin was the next witness and
testified that he assisted in the autopsy
and the removal of the broken skull. DIR.
Norcross was then recalled and the skull
newed his objections made yesterday to
the exhibition of the gruesome evidence,
or s'grotesque object lesson" as he termed
it. The court overruled the objection and
old Mike Gilmore was exhibited to the
jury. The doctor explained the fractures
and showed. by the indenturc, where the
fatal blow was received. There were two
big fractures, separating the skull, and
one piece, of triangular shape. about two
inches long. was broken clear out. The
doctor said that two blows had been
struck, but that only one caused the frac--
ture. On cross-examination the doctor
expressed the opinion that If Gilmore had
been young man one blow could hardly
have produced the fractures shown by the
skull. The skull of an aged person is
much more brittle than that of young
person. To produce a fracture of the
character shown q hard blow or great fall
"Would it have been possible to. pro-
duce the fracture by the person falling
from standing or half-rising posture 2"
asked Mr.. Booth.
II do not think it would be possible to
produce such q fracture byfailing that
distance; besides, he would have had. TO
fall head downward"
In answer to other questions the doctor
gave II as his opinion that the fracture
could not have been produced by blow
with the wooden stock of gun, and that
the fatal blow must have been struck
with the steel portion of the gun.
William Beebe, young man who as
sisted in removing Gilmore to Butte after
the shooting, was the next witness, but
knew little of anything that had much
bearing on the crime.
Mr.. Campbell recalled DR.. Norcross for
further cross-examination and had him
produce number of shot taken from Gil
more's body. ~
William Banks was recalled and asked,
for the purpose of impeachment, If hetlid
not say TO S. NJ. Nixon. in the county jail
on July 8. 1894, that if Ehrick had not
killed Gilmore that Gilmore would have
killed Ehrick, and that Gilmore said he
would kill Ehrick If the latter came upon
the ground. Banks denied that he ever
said il.
William McGrath, police officer who
assisted in arrestiDg Ehrick, was the next
mi iad M w n
Jail Ehrick said the trouble started over a
stove and that he fired two shots at Gill
more. He said he was about % feet from
Gilmore and saw gun in the iatter's
pocket. He then stopped to pick up his
own gun and while in that position he
heard a shot and he then fired his own
gun twice, aiming at Gilmore's breast.
Ehrick showed his hat to the officer. 1t
had a hole in the brim.
Julius Herman was recalled by Mr..
Campbell and asked If he did not say to
L. Il. Beaver on the day of the murder
that Gilmore had run him off the placer
grounds with a gun.
II said nothing of the kind" replied
Herman.
..Did you say to Ehrick that he should
bring you a pistol, too, and that you would
go up and Kill the old --W
~ did not"
the scene of the murder the morning after
its occurrence and picked up the broken
gun with which Gilmore had been beaten
over the head. There was blood ON the
barrel of the gun. Mr.. Harris also iden-
titled the pistol of Mike Gilmore and both
weapons were introduced in evidence.
j. A. Prickett was recalled, and as an
experienced hunter, and being familiar
with firearms, testified that the shots
taken from Gilmore were Nos. and 4.
No. 3 in a shell and of No. about 170. A
load of shot scatters. when fired, from 80 to
36 inches when fired from distance of
about 20 feet.
City Detective Murphy was the states
last witness. He was with Officer Nc
Grath when Ehrick was arrested and his
testimony was substantially the same as
the testimony of McGrath including the
statements made by Eh.ick.
At the close of Murphy's testimony Mr..
Booth announced that the states testi-
mony in chief was all in. The attorneys
for the defense claimed to be taken by
surprise at the states sudden close and
they were not ready to proceed. Mr..
Booth stated that be had TO go to Boulder
tomorrow TO testify in the Pugh case.
and the court continued the trial until
Monday.
In both departments Of the district
court tomorrow the usual motions and
demurrers will be heard, the Ehrick trial
having been continued until Monday.
The following matters are on the Satur-
day calsndaks:
Department I.-Estate of Michael Nc
Andrews, petition Cor probate of will (;
Joseph Ramsdell eft -. VS.. w. A. Clark
settlement of statement on motion for
new trial; State of Montana ex rel. L. j.
Bordeaux vs.. j. E. Dowd, Justice of the
peace. return of writ of certiorari; Mary
Evans VS.. the city Of Butte, demurrer: A.
Benham VS.. Lemhi Mining, Milling & Re-
duction company. settlement of bills of
exceptions and proposed amendments |;
John Lindsay VS.. James lutte. motion 10
dismiss appeal Department H.-State VS..
johnson, to appear; Jacobs VS.. Jacobs.
order TO show cause; Nixon vs.. Nixon, or
der to show cause John Forester VS.. CITY
of Butte. demurrer; Montana Lumber &
Manufacturing company vs.. William l..
Hill, county treasurer. injunction; Mon
fnna Loan e Realty company vs.. William