The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-20
'TWASA DEATH BLOW
Again Human Blood Is Spilled in
Park County.
FRENZlED BY RED LIQUOR
John Burns Grabs an AK and
Crushes the Skull OF Daniel
O'Lonneli. a Fellow Workman,
Evidence of Witnesses.


Special Dispatch TO the Standard.
Livingston, Mont, Feb. 19.-The blood
of a human being again stains Park
county's escutcheon. Daniel O'Connell,
who was struck over the head Monday
night with an ak by John Burns,
breathed his last about s o'clock this
morning. after lingering in an uncon-
scious condition for SO hours. Drs.
Shawk and Alton held an autopsy this
afternoon upon the body of the de-
ceased and ascertained that the direct
result of O'Connells death was the
blow which he received upon the head.
When the skull cap was removed there
was revealed a clot of blood. four
ounces or more. There was a fracture
of the skull six inches in length, and
pieces of bone had been driven into the
brain. The coroner's jury, impaneled
by Coroner Shawk. listened to the evil
dence of Burns and three eye witnesses
of the difficulty, and rendered a verdict
that the deceased came to his death
from a blow dealt him on the head
with an ak by John Burns with ma
licious and felonious intent. County At
against Burns for murder in the first
degree.
Burns reason Of the affair is that
O'Connell came towards him in me-
nacing manner and used threatening
language towards him. AS O'Connell
was the larger OF the two. Burns con-
sidered himself in danger of bodily
harm, and made an effort TO grab
board to defend himself with. but un-
willingly got hold of an ak and struck
O'Connell with IL. His statements,
however. were not firmly corroborated
by the other witnesses. although they
sought to shield him by being as nom
committal as possible. By their testi-
mony the affair may be summed up as
follows: A gang of eight men had in
stalled themselves in a cabin on Park
street and provisioned themselves for
two or three months.
Conformity they have performed some
work for c. S. Hefferlin and on Monday
were paid $50 for their services. Burns
was paid the money and gave each
man a dollar a piece, reserving the
balance for purchasing more grub.
This was about noon and the gang
spent the afternoon in the saloons.
pouring whisky down their throats. At
night a few TASKS of alcohol were
taken home to continue the spree
Burns did not home until later and
when he did, was under the influence
OF liquor. AS he came in he found
OConnell and the others in a very hi
larious condition and he took especial
pains to see that O'Connell should go TO
bed. O'Connell had prior to this dis
puted Burns right of authority at the
cabin, and Burns seems to have been
impressed with the idea that this was
an occasion which should be improved
to subdue the independent spirit Of
O'ConnelL At length Burns got OCon-
nell to bed, whether by force or not
does not appear. O'Connells rebellious
spirit. however, would not allow him TO
stay in bed and he rose again and as
he did so Burns grabbed the axe and In
a few seconds later dealt him his death
blow, though probably the intent TO
kill was lacking:
O'Connelrs body viii be embalmed
at the request of Hugh O'Connell, a
brother now in Utah. and the remains
sent to Marysville. Mo-, for interment.
The deceased was 80 years old. He
was a railroad man, having worked on
the Denver e. Rio Grande and also on
the II A e. p