The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-30
WAS HIT WITH AN AXE
And the Axe Was in the Hands
of Richard Baker.
LITTLE ELSE Is KNOWN
The Coroner's Inquest Develops Very
Few Facts in Relation to the Death
OF Thomas Cavanaueh Addi-
tionsl to Those Published.

The death Of Thomas Cavanaugh,
foreman of the Ramsdell-Parrot mine,
who died Wednesday night at st. James
hospital from the effects OF injuries re-
ceived at the hands of Richard Baker
on the morning of Sept. Il. was investi-
gated at a %coroner's inquest held at
Duggan's undertaking rooms before
Coroner Trembiay and a jury.
Very little that had not already been
published was brought out in the testi-
mony. and that little consisted of only a
Few unimportant matters of detail.
There was little in the evidence 10 sub
stantiate the theory that robbery was
the motive of ~Cavanaugh's assailant.
while there was much in support of
Bakers version Of the assault. The jury
rendered a verdict simply r~eciting the
known facts, that the deceased came to
his death from the effects of injuries
received by being hit on the head with
an axe in the hands of Richard Baker.
Police Sergeant James Leyden was the
first witness called. He was asked II
he knew anything about the accident
and said he did not, but he arrested a
man for striking the deceased with an
axe. The story Of Richard Baker. as
HItN lthElN DhbAA~AAth III AAAt ~
was related. Witness said Baker had "A
partner living with him in the cabin
where the assault occurred. The cabin
was searched by the witness and an X
supposed TO nave been the one used IN
the assault vas found. Witness identi-
fed the axe 1t showed no blood stains
and did not at the time ii was found.
Captain OF Police W. j. Dawson testi-
fled that on Saturday evening, the 18th,
a reporter for the Standard informed
him of the assault. On investigation II
was found that C~avanaugh was in the
hospital in a precarious condition. 1t
was learned that Baker was his assail-
ant and he was arrested. The witness
also related Bakers story of the ARRAY.
Nothing new was brought out except
that the name of Bakers partner was
Smith, and that he had not been in the
cabin at the time OF the assault.
William j. Queen testified that he
came home from work about I o'clock
the morning Of the 18th. \ lady came
to his house and said there was a man
outside covered with blood. Witness
went out n found the man was Cav
anaugh. He was taken into witness
house and washed off, and the witness
then started for DIR. McNevins' office,
but decided to so to the hospital. Cav
anaugh walked all the way. Cavanaugh
would or could not state how he received
his injury: at all events. when the wit
ness questioned him he would say moth
ing.
Witness did not know whether Cavan-
augh and Baker were acquainted. He
had no watch. hat or coat and no none
and witness said to him: Your head
is all stove in, Tommoy, and your watch
and money are gone. You had better
tell me whom you had trouble with and
have them arrested
Tommy replied: The less said about
his the better" and would say no
more. Cavanaugh was perfectly con
scious. Asked by a juror what expla-
nation was made at the hospital as 10
how C~avanaugh got injured, the wit
ness replied that one of the sisters
asked Cavanaugh the question, n he
said he had been hurt in the mine. The
witness made no statement Whatever.
Witness was satisfied, however. that he
had not been hurt in a mine Witness
had known C~avanaugh eight years and
understood he lived in East Park street.
a long distance from the scene Of the
assault. Witness could give no idea as
10 how ~CavanauCh came TO be in the
OF the Hesperus lode. Witness
said CayanauEh was inclined to be ugly
when drunk. Witness said he knew
Baker, but did not know his reputation.
He was a man of over 80 years of age
and Ca~vanaugh was about 80. Witness
with Baker the morning Of the
assault. Baker was badly frightened.
and when asked why he struck CaNa-
he said C~avanaugh a said he
was going 10 kill him. This all TOOK
near witness residence while
Cavanaugh was in the witness house.
When asked why he had not reported
the matter to the police, the witness
he had not thought TO do so at the
time. but did about 10 O'Clock that
day.
Mrs. Charlotte Queen. wife OF the
preceding witness. salt the first she
knew of the matter was when her hus-
brought Cavanaugh into the
house. She was unable to throw any
light on the inquiry.
John Colbert was next called. He
said he was in the Pin Tree saloon on
the morning of the 18th. when Queen
in and said he had just taken
Cavanaugh 10 the hospital. Witness
asked what was the matter and Queen
said h had been hit by Bake with an
and had a bad cut on his head.
Witness was asked 10 go to Caya- +
naugh's house and get some clothes and
take them to the hospital. Witness did
so and talked with the deceased.
said. when asked how he
hurt. that he was passing the
cabin. when a man came out and
him with some kin Of an
AArA AiAH'AAAs AAf 1h@ AA#A hAA'N " o. .
and said he did not know who the man
who struck him. Witness re-
marked that the man must have had
some motive and asked what he did 10
the man. ~Cavanaugh replied he did
nothing. Witness asked IL he should
have the man arrested and C~ayanauEh
said no. and asked witness TO find out
who the man was, as he would go down
and settle with him in a few days.
Witness asked Cayanaugh If ne had
any money on him and he said a little. /
had remarked IL looked like a
hold-up and Cavanaugh had replied IL
was something like that. Witness knew
was not in the habit Of Wis
Baker cabin.
The witness Queen was recalled and
asked II the woman who notified him
had aid she witnessed the assault.
said she did not. that she said she
Cavanaugh come out Of Bakers
cabin bleeding, but had not seen the