The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-11-09
SHOT BY HIS COMPANION
ACCIDENTAL KILLING OF GEORGE
DIETRICH WHILE HUNTING.
A Ballet From kessier's kine Flows n
Hole Through Deitrirh's Head.
They Were After Deer
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Special Dispatch TO the STANDARD.
Helena, Nov. S-Last Thursday two
young men left Helena for a hunt In
Deer Lodge county. near Avon. To-
night the dead body of one was brought
to Helena on the eastbound Northern
Pacific passenger train and now lies
upon "A slab In Hormanns undertaking
establishment. His companion IN at
Avon. nearly distracted for IL II an
other ease of accidental shooting. The
dead ones name Is George Dietrich. a
native Montanan. who was born %
years ago within "A few miles Of Helena.
In the Prickly Pear valley, where his
father still r, sides.
George kessler IL the name Of the un-
fortunate who did the shooting. He,
too. is boy of but IL, the son of re-
spected parents living here. and u
nephew of Nick Kessler. They were
warm friends and the story told by
young kessler To "a coroner's jury to-
day removed all suspicion. II there was
any, that the death Was other than one
Of those terrible tragedies that the press
daily attribute to carolessness In ham
ding firearms.
Friday. Kessler and Dietrich aud Ed
Whittle left George Messengers. where
the dead one occasionally worked. for a
deer hunt. Yesterday afternoon. when
the tragedy occurred. kessler and Diet
rich were hunting together. whittle pre-.
f,rring to hunt alone. The two were
near the head of Huckleberry gulch. a
tributary to Nevada creek. when they
wounded deer. and Knssler started
ahead towards the animal. Dietrich fol.
lowing him kessler carried his rifle. a
1910. on his left arm with the muzzle
pointing backwards. Under the excite
ment of tn" moment he either pressed
the trigger or fell and discharged the
weapon. How IL happened ~ could not
exactly remember--it was all over go
quickly. There was a shot and a groan
and his companion lay dead a few feet
behind. with a bullet through his brain
The ball entered just below the left eye
and came out above the back of the
right ear. cutting OF a piece of his hat
As soon as kcssler could collect him.
self he buried tn kcssingers ranch and
told what had happened A courier was
dispatched to Avon To notify the coroner
and 10 send word Ia the dead mans
H'lena's relatives. This morning James
Barnard, justice of the peace AT Avon
went out to the kessineer ranch. i'm
ranneled jury and heard the testi.
mony upon the unfortunate affair. Ths
principal witness was Of course, young
Kcssier. The young man was In d
state of mind that was pitiful, but n.
managed to tell "A pretty straightfor.
ward story. and the jury returned yer.
dict that George Dietrich came to hi,
by accidental shooting at the hands ui
Henry kesslcr
AZ the conclusion ~ the inquest III,
body was placed In a rough wooden bos
: and hurried to Avon Just Ia time 1,
catch the passenger train which ar,
rived here q few minutes past 10 o'clnai
Tonight A brother of the dead mar
and kind neighbor accompanied th'
body To Helena. The funeral arrange.
mcnts have not been perfected. but II /,
probable that they will be- held to-mor'
row afternoon.