The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-26
AN ACT OF A COW ARD
Burley, a ColOred Man, Makes a Vic
iOuS Assault and Runs Away.
NABBED BY THE OFFICERS
Re Whips Out a Gun and Strikes
Richard Gurka a Terrible Blow.
Discharging the Weapon
Feared Lynching.

1t was thought for about an hour yes
terday that William Burley. a colored
individual, who apparently aspires to
possess the reputation of being a bad
man, had committed a murder, and the
excitement that ensued was of the in
tense order though comparatively brief.
Burley himself supposed that he had
killed a man and he gave the officers,
who gave him prompt pursuit, a run OF
about two miles before he was over
hauled. The chase was an exciting
one. and the return of the officers to
the city was even more exciting than
the pursuit. on account of the threats
of lynching that were made. and Buck
leys fear that he would decorate the
end of a rope before he reached the
Jail.
About IL o'clock yesterday forenoon,
Richard Gurka, who drives an Ice
wagon for Sloan & McGovern, drove in
to the alley east of Main between Park
and Galena to deliver some of Jack
Frost's product. The alley was very
muddy and a few small particles of mud
were splashed on Buckley, who was
standing close beside the roadway. He
Immediately became exceedingly angry
and violently abused Gurka and called
him by the most offensive names.
Gurka paid no attention to the abuse
further than to remark that some peo-
pie would go after him with an AK for
what he had said He drove on up to
the rear of Bakers restaurant. where
he stopped to deliver some ice. After
Gurka had passed Burley went into an
adjoining house and secured a revolver.
He slipped the gun in his hip pocket,
and went directly to where Gurka was
unloading ice and asked him If he was
looking for him. The ice man saw the
negro was looking for trouble and he
quietly replied that he was not looking
for him and that he did not want any
trouble.
. Burley started to go away and then.
wheeling suddenly around, he whipped
out his gun and struck Gurka a terri
BILE blow on top of the head with ii.
AS the blow was struck the gun was
discharged and Gurka dropped to the
ground like a log with the blood stream
ing from wound just above his fore
head. 1t was the superstition of all the
: bystanders that he had been shot ip
the head. Burley took the same view
of il and, without stopping to examine
the injured man. he ran down the alley
As he ran into Arizona street he handed
the smoking revolver to another coloreo
man . Officers Crawford, Russell. Ga
bert and Grifiiths located the shot &C
curately and. gave immediate pursuit
The colored man ran like deer anc
led the officers a merry chase through
the cabins on the Hesperus lode anC
, those farther east, but without shak
ing them off. He then took a round
about route to the Parrot smelter, RAJ
across the failing pond to the old ath
letic grounds and concealed himself un
der the grand stand. officer Crawford
arrived a minute later i'm buggy an,
dragged the negro out from his hidinl
place just as officer Russell reached
the grounds.
hurley was in a state of fear border
ing upon frenzy, and several shouts O
Lynch the black -" and "Ge
a rope" that were heard from eXcite
bystanders as the officers escorted hin
! through South Butte nearly drove hin
crazy. He firmly believed that he ha
. killed Gurka and that he would b
lynched before reaching the Jail. O
the way up town he met friend VIII
inquired what the trouble was, an
Burley replied: I've killed a man an
, they are going to lynch me. Get a
, the boys together and don't let theI
, hang me-"
Burley seemed better pleased a
, reaching the Jail I'm safety than o
hearing that Gurka's only injury wa
. a bad scalp wound. which was probs
: bly, caused by the hammer of the n
! volver. Gurka soon regained conscious
ness and the wound was dressed.
: charge of assault i'm the first degrt
was entered against Burnley. He wa
arraigned before Judge Turner yeste
day afternoon and his examination wa
. set for 10 o'clock to-day. In default
81 M