The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-06
STORY OF THE CUTTING
Investigation of the Death OF
Alexander Murray.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
A Dying Statement Made by the Muir
dered Man-Murray Struck Neary in
Quarrel and Was Stabbed
Few Minutes Later.

For the first time since Alexander
| Murray was stabbed by James j.
! Neary at the New Years day cock
fight at the Boulevard road house, The
real cause of the trouble which led I'D
to the cutting, came out last evening
| when Coroner Julien began his official
inquiry into the cause of Murray's
death. In a dying statement made by
Murray, which bad not previ ously been
made public and which was introduced
| in evidence, it was told that Neary and
Murray sat behind one another at the
chicken fight, and that when Neary lost
$40 he used such language that Muir
ray struck him in resentment. Less
than five minutes later, Murray receiv-
ed the fatal thrust. The inquest was
held at Richards undertaking rooms,
where as many spectators as could
crowd in, assembled to hear the testi-
mony. County Attorney Connolly was
present and examined the witnesses,
Of whom there were quite a number
and their evidence was taken very ful-
~. In the whole, it tells the story of
the cutting affray in great detail.
DR.. NJ. G. MacNevin, one of the st.
the deceased, was first called. He said
Murray was suffering from extreme
shock when he reached his side. A
wound had been inflicted by a knife,
which was about three inches long and
was about two inches below the naval.
From it 20 inches to two feet of the
small intestines protruded. The wound
went clear through and pierced the abb
dominal cavity. There was another I'M
important wound in the back and still
another which was important in the
left side of the neck but the abdominal
wound was the dangerous one. In OPP
Grating on the man, the surgeons found
the protruding intestines cold and they
were properly cleansed and warmed
preparatory to putting them back. IT
was then found the intestines would
not go back through the aperature and
it became necessary to enlarge it, which
was done. A small portion of one intes-
tine was found to have become devital-
lied and this was cut out, the intes-
tine sewed together and the intestines
then replaced and the other wounds
dressed. Mr.. Connolly asked If it was
necessary to perform this operation,
and DR.. MacNevin said it was abso-
lutely so, or the protruding intestine
would have 6loughed in a very short
time and death have followed. DR..
MacNevin stated that the three wounds
were undoubtedly caused by three sep
arate thruStS.
DR.. J. Newton Alexander. also of st.
James hospital staff gave the same
testimony, adding only, that in his
judgment, death was due to prolonged
| surgical shock.
| DR.. Henry Cayley who first attend
ed the deceased, testified that Murray
lay in a room at the Boulevard house.
| Not knowing what sort of a case he
was being called to attend he was not
prepared to suitably dress the wounds,
but he made an emergency application
| of bandages and did all he could to
! keep the injured man in as good condi-
| ton as possible till he reached the hos
pital. Witness also assisted the hospital
surgeons by giving chloroform during
the opera ton.
Captain of Police w. ]. Dawson was
| next called. He merely testified to
searching the city for Neary and to
being called later to- the corner of Park
| and Main street, where Neary gave
| himself up. At the Jail Neary neither
denied nor affirmed the cutting, but did
say he had acted IN self defense. Ser
| geant of Police James Leyden testified
| to the same facts as Captain Dawson.
| Detective Jerry j. Murphy testified
| that he went out to the Boulevard house
| upon being notified of the cutting and
though he talked with the proprietor,
bartender and several others, he could
|
| to want to keep the matter quiet. Muir
| ray also refused to say who cut him.
| Mr., Connolly asked who it was who re-
| fused to give informa ton, and Mr.. Muir
ply said Edward Bishop and Edward
| Libby, bartender and proprietor.
John Fox, bricklaye1. was at the
fatal cock fight He did not see the
cutting but he did see the trouble at
the pit-side. Neary and Con Gibbons
were disputing question and Gibbons
got mad and called Neary a vile name.
| Neary said: You should not call me
such names for we are old friends
| John kiley stepped between to separ-
ate the two men who both stepped back
| and Neary became reconciled. A mo-
| ment later Murray struck Neary with
| his left hand without provocation. Wit
| ness turned to Murray and asked him
| to leave the place and he did so Wit
| ness said he had no interest in the fight
| The witness could not say whether
| either Neary or Murray was drunk.
| Witness did not know whether Neary
| was knocked down or not when Muir
| ray struck him. When Murray turned
| and went out at the suggestion of wit
| ness, Neary was being held by friends
| and was bawling to be allowed to get
| away and follow Murray. A short time
| after Murray left, man came in and
| said Murray had been cut but the wit
ness could give no idea of how long it
| was llplll the lllIe NJ uTTay NSdTE
till he heard Murray was cut
L. f. Jennings, proprietor of the sa-
loon at IL West Park street, was at the
cock fight He said he was sitting on
the south side of the pit when he saw
Murray strike Neary He ran over and
saw man standing in front of Neary
trying to protect him from others who
were trying to get at him. Murray turn
ed and left the cock pit as soon as he
struck the blow. The witness did not
know the cause of the trouble He
only saw Neary and Gibbons
talking together and then saw
Murray strike him. Witness did
not know whether Neary was knocked
down or not Two or three minutes after
Murray went out, witness and Neary
also left the pit, and went to the saloon
to get a drink. Murray and John Ea-