The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-30
SURELY This IS MURDER
A Bundle of Clothing Saturated
With Blood, at Deer Lodge.
TALE OF A BLOODY TRAIL
Section Foreman Makes q Discovery
hat May Lead to the Unearthing .
OF an Atrocious Murder-No
Clue to the Assassin.

A horrible discovery has been made
at Deer Lodge. The discovery is that
Of a bundle OF clothing saturated with
blood and a blo~od-covered trail.
The first intelligence concerning the
find that has been received in Anaconda
came yesterday, when a gentleman
coming up from Deer Lodge reported
the particulars OF the find so tar as
known.
From the story told yesterday 1t
seems that some days ago the foreman
OF the railroad section crew at Deer
Lodge discovered in n clump of willows
on the bank of Cottonwood creek a
bundle OF clothing thoroughly saturated
with blood. The alarming find was
made at a point about 30 yards east OF
the railroad crossing OF Cottonwood
creek. The section foreman. In his
alarm at finding the bloody parcel. be-
gan at once a search of the immediate
~neighboring ground In the hope of find
ing some clew to the cause of its being
left where IL was. He did not have TO
search long. In a short time he dis
covered a well defined trail or track
which seemed to lead in the direction OF
the Deer Lodge river. The trail was
broad and covered with blood. He fol-
lowed II and came to "A fence. on the
fence was more blood. Still the trail
lVe8te
fields. After leaving the first fence. at
a distance OF a few hundred yards a
second fence was encountered. The
bloody trail did not waver for an in
slant. IL led up to the fence. and upon
its rails was found more blood. Across
another field and another fence. there
were blood spots. Leaving the third
fence the trail. as well defined. as red.
as CHASTITY as when IL was first discov-
cred went on. The trail finally ended
at the waters edge on the bank of the
Deer Lodge river.
At the point where the trail ended the
river Is deep and swift. Its current
could easily carry a body dow with II.
The trail over which the section fore
man followed the red spots gave the APP
p%earance Of having been made by n
heavy body being dragged over II. II
might easily W. been the body of a
man.
The section foreman at once notified
the authorities, and a search of the
bundle OF clothing was made. No pa
pers-no scrap-was discovered that
would lead to the identity of the man
to whom the apparel belonged.
The officers set to work to find a clew
to the mysterious find m the willows.
Inquiry developed the tact that a man
named Michael Collins. n section nan.
had been missing from Deer Lodge FOR
a period of six weeks or Whereabouts. All
efforts to find trace of him had failed.
IL was believed that ne had come TO-
Anaconda and letters were sent 10 this
city inquiring about him. A letter was
received in Deer Lodge bearing the An
aconda p~ostofice stamp. The
letter ~purported To be from
Collins. asking that his mail
be sent to the general delivery in
this city. a comparison between the
handwriting In the letter and some that
Collins had left in the section house
developed the fact that there vas a
most marked difference between The
two.
An examination Of the mys-ar.ous
clothing showed that h e garments
were not those of Collins. but IL may I've
that the murderer changed clothes with
his victim.
Another fact that Is a peculiar cir
cumstance i'm his case Is this: Collins
had. some time PRIOR to his disappear
appearance. brought suit against an
other man in Deer Lodge for Sl9, and
he received Judgment for the amount.
Previous TO his leaving Deer Lodge. lie
had called almost daily 1T the justice 3
court inquiring about the money fle
was always informed that the money
had not yet been received.
The money has been N the hands 80
the court some time now, however. and
Is still awaiting tOlllns tf'itES lbI 10
disposition. IL Is the belief that IL Col
Inns has not been forcibly restrained
from calling for his money. he would
have demanded II of the court long te-
fore his. In short. II seems TO be the
general opinion IN Anaconda that Col
Inns body Is the one that made the trail
and that Collins blood Is that which
left the CHASTITY record behind. II Cul-
Inns Is still alive. he may have mis- mon
ey by calling at the Deer Lodge JUS
tees office.
There il also another man missing from
Deer Lodge. so IL is said. This mans
name was not known here yesterday. but
he is said to have worked for Bielenberg
a. Kohrs.
The authorities have made a diligent
search for a clew that would lead to
the identity of the murderer and his VIC
tim. n. indeed. IL Is a murder. but up to
the present time nc Information has been
secured that promises to lead to N de-
velopments.
There II a possibility, OF course. that
Collins may he In Anaconda at this mo-
ment. and that the discrepancy between
the handwritings Is n mistake. IL such II
the case he will certainly aliay anxiety
BY making his presence known.
Owing to the late hour at which the
story became current In Anaconda. 10
was impossible to obtain further details
from Deer Lodge. II. indeed. there are
any further details to be had there.
AFFAIRS IN CUBA.