The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-27
SOME VERY SHARP TALK
Unusual IDCidntS Marked the InYsSti-
satOn Yesterday.
Mr.. WINES SPOKE HIS MIND
The Evidence as to the Terrible Ex-
plosion Was of an Interesting
Characier-Toldb by Men Who
saw the Awful Sight.

BUTTE, Jar. 26.-The inquest on the
bodies of the victims of last weeks explo-
sions was enivened this forenoon by a
few unusual Incidents, and the investiga-
ton was not marked by the same har-
mony all around which had characterized
it thus far
When JOHNNY Caddy, an important wit
ness. entered tse council chamber a few
minutes after 1C o'clock, County Attorney
Wines called him off to have a private
consultation about the affair and ascer-
tam what he cane to testify to. One of
the jurors had an idea that this proceed
ing was perhaps not entirely proper. and
he requested the coroner to ask Mr.. Wines
whether or not he had the right to exam
inc witnesses in private before their testi-
mony was given to the jury.
Tell the inquisitive juror that it's none
of his business" replied the county attor-
ncy with some show of annoyance when
the coroner called on him for the desired
information. Mr.. Wines was engaged at
time in examining young Caddy and when
the conversation was concluded he turned
10 the jury and said:
FOR your information I will state that
II is not only my night but also my duty to
examine all witnesses summoned before
know about the affair which is under in
Vest:gation. Had not this precaution been
observed by my assistant as we'll as my
SELF. and had all persons who claimed to
he important witnesses been subpoenaed
without an examination TO ascertain ex-
actly what they did know, we would have
been taking testimony for a year and the
county would have been forced int bank
ruptcy. The examination of witnesses is
positive necessity and / shall continue
TO examine them IN the interests of the
county and the Taxpayers"
Later on some Of the jurors suggested
that Nj. c. Harris and A. c. Holmes, man.
ager of the futile Manufacturing and
Supply company, be subpoenaed to testify
relative to the removal of powder from
their stores on the night of Jan. 10, which
brought out information from Mr.. Wines
to the effect that the Jury had no possible
authority to attempt an investigation on
that point. He said that the inquest was
for the purpose of determining the re-
sponsibility for the explosions which
caused the deaths of George Fifer and
others, and that the only parties involved
were the Kenyon-Connell Commercial
company and the Butte Hardware COM
pany. 1t was then suggested that Mr..
Harris and Mr.. Holmes be called to testify
as to their knowledge, If any, as to the
amount of explosives stored in the two
warehouses on the night of the explosion
Mr.. Wines stated that it would be per-
fectly proper to examine them on that
point, and subpoenas were issued for
them.
While a witness was testifying to have
seen Mr.. Rennish placing box of powder
from the Kenyon-Connell store on
wagon for removal from the city after the
explosions, Mr.. Forbis, who represents
the henyon-Connell company, remarked
to the county attorney that he did not
consider the testimony of any Importance,
as Mr.. Kenyon had already admitted on
the stand that there we're two and a half
boxes of powder in the store on the night
of Jan. 10.
Juror Gehrman thereupon said
II believe that witnesses can be ex-
amined sufficiently by the coroner and
Mr.. Wines and Mr.. Cotter and by the
members of this jury. We don't need any
assistance or advice from outsiders"
"Well, am no outsider" replied Mr..
Forbis.
well, we don't want any outsiders in
it," responded Mr.. Gehrman. The
coroner admonished the attorneys for the
corporations interested to present any
questions which they wished asked to
either Mr.. Wines or Mr.. Cotter and the |
matter was dropped.
In reply to a question from Juror Adams !
the county attorney stated that the fol- |
lowing witnesses had been subpoenaed at
the request of the companies interested:
Butte Hardware company-Alex Ander- |
son, Howell Thomas, John c. Heilig and |
A II Il
james Donovan, Peter Martin, Charles |
Allen, ". II. Palmer, - Pennicard, John |
Wurt, W. f. Davis and - Elliott, some of |
whom have already testified.
W. H. PALMER.
W. H. Palmer, the first witness called |
this morning, testified as follows: II am |
n hack driver. After the first explosion l |
rode down to the scene with Ed Buzzard |
in his hack and was on the ground when |
the second explosion occurred. When |
we arrived the Butte Hardware building |
was almost entirely demolished only a |
few posts being left standing, and the |
leading from Arizona street to |
the Butte Hardware company's ware |
house was strewn with pipe and pieces of |
iron. was looking towards the Butte
Hardware building when the second ex-
plosion occurred and am sure that il did /
not take place there. The second ex-
plosion seemed to me to come from the |
kenyon-Connell warehouse"
CHARLES ALLEN.
Charles Allen, a miner in the employ of |
the Butte d Boston company, testified as /
follows: II was standing near the Parrot |
school house, about 500 yards away. when
the fire broke out. and 1t looked to me TO
be between the two large warehouses
The first heavy explosion was in the Butte
Hardware building. The second explo-
sion took place about three or four min
ltes after the first
Are you sure about the time that in
tervcned between them?'
''Yes. it was about l. minutes"
ibid you time il ?"
''No: the second one went off lust after