The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-30
SHOT HIM Stone DEAD
q
Peter Kooutz Instantly Killed
by A. T. Corrigan.
SLAYER BEHIND THE BARS
He Refuses to Make Any Staten emit
Further Than to Assert That
the KILLING Was Done
in Sci DE ense

Great Falls, Dec. 29.--To trade for
mans revolver at noon and kill him
with his own gun before supper is not
usual proceeding, but it is what A.
7. Corrigan did with Peter Kooutz,
"a miles north Of this city, yesterday
morning
The man who did the killing is in
Jail in this city, the man killed lies
alone as he fell in a little shack on
the ranch Of Robinson & Cameron,
awaiting the arrival of the Choteau
county coroner.
Corrigan and Kooutz were employed
on the sheep ranch Of Robinson &
Cameron, one and half miles from
Cart Wheel Springs, on Timber Cou-
lee, and sabout five miles inside the
Choteau county lines. Kooutz was as
sisting in looking after the sheep and
corrigan tended camp. After dinner
yesterday the men traded revolvers,
Corrigan giving SO to boot The re-
volver he got from Kooutz, and with
which the latter was killed a few
hours later, was a 3s caiiber five shot
Harrington q Richardson. To fit the
gun traded ,Kooutz there were no cart
ridges on the place.
II
place previous to the killing. At about
$50 yesterday evening Robinson left
both men at the shack Corrigan cook
Ing supper. About Is minutes later he
returned and was met at the door by
Corrigan, who said:
II guess you better take me to the
Falls. + have Just killed Pete"
Entering. Robinson found Kooutz
lying alongside the bed. shot in the
base of the neck. In falling he had
fallen against the stove. and Corrigan
had moved him to where he lay. The
story Corrigan told Robinson was that
Kooutz had commenced to abuse him
calling him names. and threw bottle
at him. He then took up a shovel and
struck Corrigan twice: the first time
on the head, the second time on the
hand, as Ccfrgan raised it to protect
his head. Corrigan then fred one shot,
killing Kooutz stone dead.
Robinson arrived in Great Falls
about noon to-day and turned his pris-
oner over to Deputy Sheriff AlSires at
the county jsil. and left at once for tho
ranch, where the body of Kooutz still
lies as it fell
Sheriff Clary of Chnteau county was
telegraphed to come for the prisoner,
and the coroner of that county was no.
tilted to proceed to the scene of the
murder and take charge Of the dead
body
Corrigan was seen by Standard re-
porter at the county jail soon after
his arrival. but Rad been "wised up
by tie numerous jail birds who rccu-
Ply the corridor with him, and refused
to make statement Of the trouble.
Il have only one thing to say: 1t
was done In self defense
That was all he would say, except
that he was % years of age and was
born in Illinois. He has only been in
Montana short time.
In appearance Corrigan is a long
haired, thin faced, gawky boy and docs
not look as though he had stamina
enough to kill field mouse His head
is slightly cut on the toy, and his hand
romewhat swollen, where he alleges
Konutz hit him with the shovel.
Peter Kooutz. the murdered man, has
been in this section for some time. He
is an Austrlan-Pollocka and is about 30
years of age. He was of a quarrel
some DISPOSITION and inclined to kick
and snarl on all occasions. so say his
acquaintances.
Corrisan does not appear to be at all
worried about the killing. His revolv-
er. with one chamber discharged. and
his Knife were brought in by Robin
son and are in the possession of Jail
er Proctor