Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-22
That IS the Opinion of Witness
John F. C0Wan
BUT LOOKED FOR TROUBLE
When He Was Drunk..Carried q
Gun and Was Always Ready
to Use It.

John F. Cowan was the first witness
testify at the morning session of the Lar
kin hearing. He said he resided In Salt
LAX where he was engaged in mining:
had formerly resided in Butte where in
1885 he became acquainted with James
Larkln; was associated with L.arkiu in
some mining claims in German gulcll. his
business associations with Larkin te~-
minated in 1891 or 1892. In closing up the
business association Larkin acted for
himself. A number of conferences were
held n the ina settlement was mad
through Carver and Ford. who were
jointly interested in the claims with Lar
kin and the witness. Witness was on
rather intimate terms with Larkin. In
the early part of 1893 witness left the city,
ter his return in the fall of that year.
From your acquaintance with Mr.. Lar
kin, would You consider hat his mental
faculties were in any way impaired?"
asked Mr.. Evans.
When Larkin was sober he was as sane
as any man, but when drunk, which was
quite often, he was like other men in thai
condition" replied the witness.
What would you say as to his compe-
tency to look after his business affairs %
When he was sober he was as capable
OF taking care OF his business as the av-
elage man." replied Mr.. Cowan.
What would you say as to his men,
ory?'
He a the average merory 1
think
Prior to hearing that Larkin was in
the asylum it never occurred to witness
that Larkin was insane. Witness avoided
Larkln when the latter was under the
influence of liquor as it was known that
he always carried a gun and was ready
to use it.
The cross-examination then began.
Witness a conference with
Larkin in 1891 when 1t was decided not to
represent the claim in German gulch. Had
no business association with Larkin af-
ter that time. Met him frequently and
talked with him. Was never in his cabin.
and was not an associate OF Larkin's.
Witness could not recall a day or place Of
meeting with Larkin during 1892. Larkin
seemed to be drinking mere during 1892
than IN former years. His appearance
was untidy. There was a general de-
terioration in the man, caused, in the wit.
nesses opinion, by the excessive use Of
whisky. When intoxicated Larkin was
Cuarrelsomc, even with his best friends.
He was worse, then, than most men in
that condition., and his drunkenness was
chronic. Witness remembered no pacul-
~iarities in Larkin in 1892, and considered
that Larkin, when sober, was as compe-
tent at that time to transact business as
he was during former years.
James O'1'rien, the next witness testi-
fled that he had lived in Butte since 1877,
in Montana since 1866, and that he was
employed by the Anaconda company. Be
came acquainted with Larkin in 1877. L4iv-
ed in Idaho in 1866. in the same place that
Larkir had lived, but did not know of l..
until after coming to Butte. Witness saw
Larkin quite frequently, but had no bust
ness relations with him. Witness saw
Larkin during the years 1892 and 1892.
Last saw Larkin when he was being TAX
en- to the hospital. On one occasion he
told witness why he said he sold the
Mountain View. He said he needed the
money. He also told witness that he was
satisfied with the money he had receiv-
ed for the Snohomish and Tramway, and
said the money was sufficient to last him
his lifetime. Witness was Of the opinion
that I.arkin was sane, in 1892, and able to
lake care Of his business affairs.