Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-04-17
Grant Graves, Foreman on ConeIls
sheep Ranch, Near Choteau.
Tries TO End His Lite.
While Insane He B0rrOws "A Peck ct
Knife to Cut Tobacco and
Gashes His Throat.
After Desperate figh. He Is Dis
armed-l!is Wife Returned From
the East Yesterday.

A sad tragedy was enacted Wednes-
day evening at the little box-car depot
at the station Of Collins, on the line of
the Great Falls & Canada railway,
where the Choteau stage connects. M.
ID. Cooper, the well known shecpman,
came in yesterday and brought the
story, which is about as follows:
Grant Graves, his wife and child have
lived between Chotcau and Collins FOR
several years. Mr.. Graves has for some
time past worked for Frank Cowell,
about l. miles southwest of Chotcau, as
foreman of his sheep ranch. He is
known as as quiet, steady man of good
habits and bears good reputation
among those who know him best. Last
fall his wife and littlc boy, the latter
about > years old, left for IL visit to Mrs
Graves relatives iii Missouri, where,
about two months ago, another child
was born to Mrs. Graves, which he has
never seen.
Wednesday night Mr. Graves went to
Collins, where he met several friends in
the little depot. lie appeared in his
usual health and spirits AMI spoke OF
the fact that he expected his wife and
children back the next day and seemed to
be quite pleased over the prospect. A
little later ho asked a neighbor who had
recently been in Great Falls if he had
seen his wife there, which was consid
cred little strange, as she was not ex-
pected till yesterday, Ia the evening he
was standing in the depot with several
friends around him when he turned
quietly to one OF them and asked for a
loan Of his pocket knife to cut chew of
tobacco with. The knife, an ordinary
pocket knife, was handed to him and he
proceeded deliberately to cut piece
from the plug, put it in his mouth re-
turned the plug to his pocket, and then,
without the slightest warning, 9 sud
denly drew the blade across his throat
and commenced elashing and saving at it
with desperate energy. Those who stood
near him tried to seize him and to get the
knife away, but Graves is a powerful
man and fought with the terrible
strength strength of maniac He shook
off the hold Of his friends, and eoizing a
chair backed into corner Of the depot.
Here he shouted out II am innocent OF
| wv SiAuIo VI WIN WblCll l. uiJ tIhlH HCh,
and then again commenced slaebing ut
bis throat 1t WAS not until he had lost
a good deal Of blood and some time had
elapsed that he was finally overpoHered
end tied up with ropes BY this time the
little depot prerented the appearance Of
q slaughter house, blood beng scattered
everywhere. A doctor was hurriedly
sent for, and meantime everything pos
lsjI, | r,4, al a
from the horrible cash in the man e
pocket knife. When br. Drake arrived
he found that the wihdpipo had been
severed bur the arteries mad not been IN
, jurad, and he hopes hie patient will re-
cover.
Shortly before the d ctor's arrival
| Graves appeared, in measure. to have
recovered his reason, and managed TO
make himself understood, in aplte of the
gurgIing of slit windmpe, as requesting
a pencil and paper. One OF his arms
was released and he was given a pencil
with which he wrote on piece Of paper
these words, 81 am not guilty of the
crime lie is supposed to refer to the
burning Of some sheep sheds in that
vicinity a short time ago. There haG
been little gossip IN the nelghborhooC
to the effect that ho might have set the
sheds on fire, but no one seriously be
leved the insinuation. 1t is supposed
he had been troubled over the rumor
and this; combined with the exctemen,
OF his wife and family's expected return
unhinged his mind. Mrs. Graves ar
rived here from the east yeategday morn
ing, with her two ch;!;.rcn, and Wen
to the Nlm house, She WAS some
what disappointed and LITTLE
worried at not meeting her HUSBAND
at the depot as she expected. Nh
Cooper, who came in to meet her, tol'
her that her husband had met with
slight accident, which prevented hir
from coming to meet her and had sen
him to bring her home This very muc
increaeed her anxiety, and she was in
very nervous c6nuition when she too
the train TOR Collins yesterday after
noon, accompanied by NJ, d. Cooper an
Sheriff Zimmerman of Teton county,
was the intention OF these gentlemen
gradually break the whole truth to Mr.
Graves during the course Of the trip
Collins.