The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-05
MADE A CHASTITY FIND
Evidence of a Brutal Murder Dis
covered in Teton County.
WAS STRUCK ON THE HEAD
Tho Victims Skull Crushed by q Heavy
Blow-The Man Had Been Dead
Several Months-A Clue Z
His Identity.

Great Falls. July A CHASTITY find
and the evidence Of a brutal murder are
reported from Teton county. On
Wednesday afternoon about 3 o'clock
word was conveyed by "Buddie" Eng
land to Coroner Jake Schmidt that a
dead man had been found In a cabin on
Frank Truchors land, leased by Robert
Davis. located about Is miles northeast
Of Choteau n IL miles east of Bynum,
on the Muddy. The coroner, accompa-
MED by Ewing Steele, drove out to the
above designated place in the evening
and convinced himself hat the report
was correct. They found the body in
a bad state of decomposition, probably
having aid there for two or three
months. They returned to town late in
the evening and on Thursday morning
early the coroner summoned a jury, con
sisting of o. @. Cooper, Thomas Smith,
William Jones, Julian Burd, Ewing
Steele and Michael H.. Ormsby and re-
paired to the place to hold an inquest.
The jury. on arrival at the place and
on entering the cabin. found the corpse
lying on a bunk on its left side, with
its bedding. consisting of three blankets
and one quilt, covering the entire body,
including the head. The covering being
removed from the head. the jury soon
discovered that the man had been struck
over the right eye, on top of the head,
with a heavy instrument of some kind
which crushed In the skull bone, while
back Of the right ear he had received a
heavy blow. Upon further examination
II was found that the blood from the
wounds had run dow on the pillow
and had saturated his slicker suit I'M
derneath the pillow and on to his shoes,
which sat Immediately under the bunk
on the floor. The flesh had entirely
dropped Off the skull bone. He had APP
parently been a medium-sized man,
o 5 feet s inches in height. He was
we'll dressed, apparently English-made
clothes In up-to-date style; a fine over
coat, bearing an English trademark, lay
over the top of the bed cover of the
corpse.
Upon a careful search of the pockets
of his clothes the following articles were
found: A. memorandum book. one
towel, a pipe and tobacco, a small pen
knife, lead pencil and some matches. A
small horseshoe watch charm, with sew
eral links of chain attached, lay on the
floor by the side OF the bunk. The
memorandum book contained the follow
ing account, most notable: Started
work for G.. A. Miller at Mcleod on
June, 1896; October 10, 1897. was work.
ing for Jim and John Ramsay; left
James Miller on Feb. 3, 1896, and went
to Pincher creek; got lost, and asked one
p. McEwen to give me my money: did
not get II. Went to a man by name OF
johnson on Monday, Feb. 10, 1896, and
cut poles and logs until Saturday, Feb.
%, 1896.
Numerous writings were in the book,
comprising scraps of poetry and ac-
counts of goods bought and sold. He
was also a shorthand writer, as part
of the book fully showed. The cabin
was moved on the land just before hay
ing time last year, but not being large
enough 1t was not made any further use
OF than a store house for the cycles
OF the mower. On Wednesday. June
20, Davis went to the cabin To get a
cycle, and IL was then that he 1irst dis
covered the corps There is no doubt
that a dark and dastardly crime has
been committed by some unknown
party or parties for the purpose of rob-
berry. Steps are being taken by Sher-
If Hagan to, IL possible, unravel the
mystery. He will open correspond
ence with the individuals above quoted
from the memorandum book, and IL
may be that with this clue the sheriff
may be able to obtain the name of the
dead man, and also learn the name OF
h parties or party with whom he was
travelling. The following is the verdict
of the c%oroner's jury:
I'VE. the jury summoned for the pur-
pose of holding an inquest to inquire
into the death of the unknown man
found dead In a cabin on the Muddy on
Wednesday. June 10Th. 1898, have reach.
ed the following CONCLUSIONS That de-
ceased came to his death by blows in
f1icted upon the head by a heavy weap-
IN in the hands of some person or per-
SON unknown to the jury"
After the inquest was finished Joseph
Arnold, who has the contract for the
burial of the county's pauper dead, was
instructed by the coroner. as the body
was in such a horribly decomposed con-
dition as to make the stencil unbear
able. to bury the remains near the cab.
in in the field where it was found, and
wrapping the bedclothes around II. al
were placed in the coffin prepared foi
the occupation and put into the newly
as yet, any clue as to who the remains
as yet. any clue a sto who the remain:
represented in life.