Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-09
BELIEVE THEY
HAVE THE MAN
POLICE OF THE OPINION THAT AL.
FRED AUKCORN SHOT JOHN
GRAHAM
THOMAS MAY SAW HIM
LEAVE LODGING HOUSE
Says Aukcorn said II Have Just Killed
A Man"-Aukcorn Followed Ora
ham Into the Room

Today'S developments in the Free
Coinage nNrder mystery strengthened
police in the belief that in Alfred AUX
corn, alias Thomas Keys, they have the
man who shot and killed John Graham
yesterday afternoon.
The mar whose story connects AUX
corn almost directly with the murder
is Frank May. May was somewhat rat
tied when he talked yesterday, when he
said, early in the afternoon he had
loaned Aukcorn-a razor. About 5 o'clock,
or later, he saw Aukcorn come out of
the lodging house and hurriedly strike
across the street. May followed him to
the corner of Galena and Dakota streets
and asked him for the razor.
Keep away from me- said Aukcorn.
II have just killed a MANI
And with that he turned and walked
in the direction of Park street.
May was more composed this morning.
The exciting events of yesterday. in
which he was a participant in a way,
were not so close to him and he had
time to think of other things. He re-
membered one incident in particular
which may lessen Aukcorn's chance of
liberty.
Immediately after the three-cornered
fight in which Graham is supposed to
nave whipped both Hunter and Aukcorn,
May saw Graham enter the rear room
of the lodging house. Five or six minutes
later Aukcorn entered the same room.
After a lapse of two or three. minutes
Aukcorn came out of the sleeping room
and started across the street. May fol-
)ruaI hin, and than il was that AUX
corn told him of the killing. And about
the time May was talking to Aukcorn,
A.. C. Ainsley was making the discovery
that Graham lay dead in the sleeping
room. When Aukcorn was searched at
the Jail, a few hours later, Mays razor
was found on him!t
Jail, a few hours later, Mays razor was
found on him.
Mays story dovetailed to a certain-ex-
tent with that told by A. c. Ainsley, who
was playing checkers with William Car
roll in the front of the lodging house
when he heard the report of a shot in the
sleeping room. Ainsley remarked to
Carroll that he thought some one had
committed suicide in the back room. A
few seconds later some one came out
of the room. Ainsley did not know the
mans name. but described him as one
of the men whom he had seen fighting
in front of the place a short time before
This man was excited, pale, and evil
IDENTIFY in a hurry to get away. Ainsley
asked him wha had happened, but re-
ceived no reply. Ainsley could give bu,
a very slight description of this man
and what he gave TALES with Aukcorn's
appearance.
A man known in the neighborhood OF
the Free. Coinage as 'Scotty' was with
May when Aukcorn borrowed the razor
from him. He also saw the fight, saw
Graham break a cane on Hunters head
and saw Graham go into the lodging
house to clean up after the fight.
Chief Deputy County Attorney Cor
nelius Kelly spent the greater portion o,
the day at the city Jail interviewing wit
nesses. He caused frank May to be hel6
as a witness, and the following witnesses
were held on charges of vagrancy: vii
liam Hunter, las. Murphy. James Nor
rell, Fred Rainford, w. Irwin, james
Carr and Oliver Williams.
Aukcorn was sent to the county lal
late this afternoon and officers Gray anc
Curley preferred a charge of murder
against him,