The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-22
THEY IDENTIFY PURSELL
All the Witnesses to the Murder
Tell the Same Story.
is NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
The Coroners Jury After Listening to
the Evidence Returns Verdict in
Accordance With the Facts
as Already Told.

MissouIa, Feb. 21.--Coroner Hayes
this morning held an inquest upon the
remains of John Walters. who was
murdered Saturday night by James 5.
Pursell at the Capitol beer hall. Pur-
sell was present at the inquest, but
was not examined. He manifested an
interest in the proceedings and fol-
lowed closely the testimony of the wit
nesses as ii was given, but did not
make any demonstration. He was posi-
lively identified by three witnesses of
the shooting, who were examined at
the inquest, and the story that was told
of the sad affair was as printed in the
Standard Sunday morning
Andy Schillng was the first witness
He said that the first that he saw of
Purseli on Saturday night was when
the man came UP to him at the bar
and asked him for a drink. He under
stood that Pursell had been given sew
eral drinks in the afternoon by the day
bartender, and he thought that he had
had enough. Schiling, therefore, told
him that he could have no more. and
then Pursell threatened to get even
with him. Sehlling said that he paid
no attention to what was said, as he
heard the same threat very often. He
did not see Pursell when he came back
that he had of the presence of the man
was when the gun was discharged. He
was hit by the flying fragments of a
bowl that was on the bar and was
stunned for moment. He was taken
To a lounge. where he lay till he recov-
cred his senses, and then he went back
to the bar. Walters fell backward after
he was shot, Schlling said, and when
Schilling went to where he lay, Walters
still had his pipe between his teeth As
soon as the doctor came Walters was
sent to the hospital and Schiling did
not see him again till after he was
dead.
Edwin Hammer the boy who stood
talking to Walters and SchilIing when
the shooting occurred. testified that he
stood beside Schil1ing, The man (Pur-
selD came in and walked a few steps
inside the screen. He had his rifle
pointed toward the floor. He stopped
and raised his gun. telling Schilling to
hold up his hands. The witness did not
know whether or not Schilling heard
the command. The witness heard ii
and dropped behind the bar, telling
Schilling to lock out or he would get
hurt. He did not know whether or not
Schilling heard this remark. AS soon
as he had lodged down behind the bar.
the Shot was fired and Walters reeled
backwards.
David Baker another witness, said
that he was sitting in the beer hall at
the time of the shooting lie was not
engaged In any game or in anything
that prevented him from seeing clearly
all that happened. He told the same
story of the shooting that has already
been published. All of these witnesses
testified that. after he had done the
shooting. Pursell made sort of bow
and then left the room quietly and did
not appear To be excited. All of them
except Schillng. positively identified
Pursell as the man who fired the shot |
Schilling himself did not see the shot
fired.
> DR.. Hanbidge testified that he re-
sponded To call 10 the beer hall and !
found Walters lying on the floor. lie
examined the wound and found that /
the bullet had entered behind the lett /
shoulder and had penetrated the lung,
coming out near the middle of the I
chest There was not a possible chance
Tor Walters recovery. The wound was +
necessarily fatal.
The jury returned a verdict to the
effect that John Walters came To his +
death as a result of a gunshot wound +
inflicted by James pursell
county Attorney Duncan will not file +
an information in the district court +
against Pursell. but will give him a
preliminary examination before a JUS
tice Of the peace.
Phrsell is beginning to worry some +
about the predicament i'm which he finds
himself and Is getting sullen. After he,
went back to the county Jail this morn
ing after the inquest he talked more
seriously of his situation than he has
at any time before. He made no at
tempt TO deny the killing, but he seemed
more worried than he had before over
his present position.