The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-08
A PROFOUND SENSATION
The Tragic Death of Associate
Justice Horace r. Buck.
THE VERDICT OF THE JURY
Ihey Could Not Decide Whether His
Death Was Intentional or Acct
dental Arrangements Com
pleted for the Funeral
Special Dispatch to the STANDARD.

Special Dispatch to the STANDARD
Helena, Dec. THE tragic death OF
Justice Horace r. Buck of the supreme
court of Montana at his residence in
Lenox late last night created pro-
found sensation in every walk of life
this morning when the unfortunate af-
falr became known. While all deaths
| OF that character are naturally shock
/ ing to the friends of the dead, his sud
den taking off was considered most
distressing. Nothing else has been
TAXED about here to-day and judging
from the number of telegrams of in
/ qu1ry and coincidence that have poured
| IN TO Helena from all parts of the state
the SAD visitation has been felt in every
community throughout Montana To
tHoSe acquainted with the deceased the
| theory OF suicide has not been readily
accepted, although all of the elements
of such a death were apparent to those
who hurried to the house when the
flrst announcement of the affair was
made.
The coroner's jury, which went out TO
the house this afternoon. heard testi.
mony and reported a verdict but could
not decide whether the death was acct
dental or intentional. The verdict de-
clared that He came to his death by
MS own hand, namely By shooting him
sell in the head with a 3S-calibre re-
Nolver. but whether the same was ac-
cIdental or intentional we have no
means of knowing" Among the wit
hesses who testified was Justice Hunt,
a life long friend of the deceased. who
mad been acquainted with him for 25
years. and for at least 20 years had
been intimately associated with him
His testimony was to the effect that the
amount of work the deceased had per-
formed since his elevation to the su-
preme bench, combined with his ner-
Vous temperament. and complaints Of
late OF being unwell would tend to the
belief that the man was perhaps so
nerVously Frustrated that he lost con
troll of himself under stress of fears of
long, lingering illness.
}. ). Tooker, neighbor, who was
one OF the first to reach the scene, and
enc or two others, testified, and the
inquest concluded. The widow was un-
able to appear before the Jury. being
IN very weak state, bordering almost
oD nervous collapse, as the result OF
the terrible shock. Unless she rallies
IL is feared she will not be able to at
tend the funeral tomorrow afternoon.
the arrangements for the last sad
rites have been performed. They win
be in keeping with the life of the de
ceased. All of the arrangements are in
the hands of the local bar association.
The services will be held al ST Peters
Episcopal church at O'Clock. Rev. w.
w. Love. the rector. officiating. The
pail bearers will he long time friends
OF the deceased. Ex-Governor Carpen-
ter ex-Judge r. c. Back. ex-Justice w.
r. Dewitt, eX-Judge H. NJ. Blake. Judge
Mcintyre and Attorney It. H. Strana- |
nan lnterment will be at Forrestvale. |
The bar association has made arrange
ments for some handsome floral offer |
lngs. Word has been received from |
Great Falls. Butte and other cities that |
quite number of attorneys of those |
cities will be in attendance.
1hls morning at 10 o'clock there was |
a SAD and very impressive meeting in |
me supreme court chambers. All of the
l9eal ana number of visiting attor-
neys were present Every head bowed
ana many an eye glistened as Chief
Justice Pemberton and Associate JUS
ice Bunt entereed the chamber and
lscended the bench. Justice Hunt had
sls ola seat at the right of the chief
Iustlcee ON the left was the vacant
ihalr that in life the dead jurist has
occupied since last January. when he
.ook the oath of Office as ene of Mon
ana supreme court judges The chief
Justice said it was his painful duty
o announce the death of a justice of
he supreme court of Montana. the
greatest calamity that had ever he
allen the judiciary of the state At
mother time suitable action would be
AIKEN upon the death. The court would
lppoint two committees and then as a
mark OF respect adjourn until next
Monday.
He appointed a committee upon reso-
utlonS ana one upon funeral arrange
nents. For the former the chief ius-
Ice named eX-GoVernor Carpenter ex-
foN. j. X. Toole. eX-Assocfate Justice
oeWitt. Attorney General Nolan. n.
J. Mcintire and w. T. Piggott Mr.
carpenter is chairman and the COM
ayt ]
nS. As members of the committee
hat has charge of the funeral. the chief
ustlce named Henry e. Smith and
udge Sidney McIntire. the present dis
rict judges. eX-Judge Bach j. Walsh,
. II. Hepner and o. ID. Mcconnell
'ourt then adjourned until the time
tated. The court has been in receipt of
1any telegramS of coincidence from at ;
ofneys all over the state and not a few
rom points outside of the district.
ms afternoon the state officers met ,
\ the office of the secretary of state
nd passed the following resolutions:
Whereas, In the uncertainty and
icissitudes Of human life. which an all
Use Providence alone foresees. there
as been removed from our midst our
Hiclal associate and friend. Hon Hor-
ce r. Buck, associate Justice of the /
upreme court of Montana. Be it
Resolved. That in the untimely death
I Horace X. Buck. the people Of the ,
tate of Montana lose an officer i'm ;
'hom they have expressed and re-ex-
ressed their confidence and one who
! his long service as a public official ,
that confidence by his strict !
liegrity and uncompromising honesty
lis long service on The bench has been
laracterized by his conscientious adj
eience to duty, by judicial fairness
nd Tithal a wealth OF human sym ,
at1y which endeared hin 10 all who !
al the honor raf4 #sr ,
ssaciated with him
Resolved, That We depiore his death ,
5 public misfortune and a loss that !
III De felt by every citizen Of the COM !
lunWealth. !
Resolved, That We tender ID his be- I
saNed family our heartfelt sympathy
their great atiiieti5u. ,
Resolved That as "a mark af respect ( !
cd SORROW for the hense-d dead. an )
ate Offices be closed un fae afternoon . !