Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-24
A CRAVE CHARGE
HeSley ReSpOnSi ble For the
Death of Currie
EVIDENCE AC AINST HIM
Struck Him With the Club, When He
Had Fallen Inquest Not
Concluded.

The coroner's investigation of the death
of John Currie. the responsibility of
which public opinion liked on John Hes
ley, began last night at Duggan's under
taking rooms. but was not concluded, and
the taking OF testimony will be resumed
this evening. The testimony adduced
materially substantiates the Inter Noun
tain's story Of the tragedy. Hesley,
against whom the grave charge of taking
the life of a fellow-man is made, was
present, as was also his attorney, John
N. Kirk, and watched the proceedings
with interest. The son and daughter of
the accused man Were also present, but
Mrs. Hesley, concerning whom young
Currie lost his life, remained at home.
Coroner Julien was assisted in the eX-
animation Of witnesses by Deputy County
Attorney Kelley.
Mrs. Decker testified that she resided
on Mahoney street, mex door to the Hes
ley home; had known Currie five years,
but until Monday night preceding the
tragedy had not seen him in two years.
Wednesday evening Currie, Mike Connors
and a man named Counihan called at her
house. They had something to drink and
remained there about half an hour Cur
RE then left, saying he was going to Hes
ley's. Later, his companions followed
him. A few minutes after they had de-
parted witness also went to Hesley's.
She oun the three men and Mr.. and
Mrs. Hesley in the room. After a time
the witness suggested that the Hesleys
probably wanted to go to bed and took
her departure, the men accompanying
her. Currie told the witness that he in
tended to go back to see Mrs. Hesley
and witness advised him not to do 50,
as he might get into trouble. Witness
then went to bed. Heard the noise Of an
alteration, but did no. pay much atten-
ton to it. and did not near of the row
until the next morning.
The testimony of Michael Connors, who
accompanied Currie to the Hesley home,
oorroborated that given by Mrs. Decker.
He said they were drinking and having
a good time when Mrs. Decker suggested
that they leave. as it was bed time. Wit
ness sat on a wagon 10 or II feet away
from the Hesley house. Saw two men
running. Witness then walked toward the
Copper State saloon and was met by
Hesley, who knocked him down.. saying as
he did so: "You are one of the clique
Witness then went into the Copper State
saloon, where he found Currie. Currie
was washing himself. Told Currie of his
encounter with Hesley, and about this
time Currie fell and became unconscious.
The witness did not see Hesley strike
Currie.
Officer Byrne told Of meeting Currie in
the Copper State saloon. Currie was
bathing his face and told witness that
he had been struck by Hesley and that
he wanted Hesley arrested. Witness
afterwards went to Hesley's home and
arrested him.
Fred Vacheresee testified that about
midnight he was near the Copper State
saloon and saw two men fighting. One
stood over the other and, brandishing a
club, exclaimed: "Pll kill YOU, -
-" and then struck the PROSTATE
man on the head. The men then went
towards the Copper State saloon, where
witness recognized the man who had
been struck as Currie and his assailant
as Hesley. Hesley then turned his at
tention to Mike Connors, saying: you
are one of this clique, You think be-
cause I live on Mahoney street 1 keep
a - housed" Hesley and Connors then
clinched n fell, Hesley falling on top.
The men were then separated.
DR.. Alexander told of the injuries re-
ceived by Currie. There was a depres-
sion on the right side Of the skull. The
skull was badly fractured. The witness
stated that Currie died from the effects
of a Shock, caused by a large clot of
blood which had formed on the brain, and
which witness had removed.
The examination will be esumed this
evening.