Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-13
George Smith Tells a Story That Throws
Much Light On the Terrible
Tragedy.
he NAMES THE MuRDERERS
SAYS "BFF" 0c0NNoR AND BURKE COMMITTED THE DEED-E
CLAIMS THAT cox HAD KN0WLE EDGE OF THE PLOT.

Blood was oozing from a wound in the
center of the forehead and glance was
sufficient to show that he was beyond
human help.
Slaton told the officers that he was
in the front room talking with Wells
and Cox, when two men with black
masks over their faces entered the room
and, presenting their revolvers, ordered
all present to throw up their hands.
Almost at the same instant the revolver
held by one of the men exploded and
Wells fell to the floor. Slaton said that
he became very much frightened and
ran past the two men and out into the
alley, expecting to be shot every mo-
ment. Ferns took Slaton to the jail,
where he was locked up as a witness.
About ten minutes later Cox was seen
returning to the cabin but was inter-
cepted by Officer Matthews. At first
he denied all knowledge of the affair
and then told one differing in important
details from that told by Slaton. Later
in the evening, when interviewed by
Chief Lavell. he said that he was excit-
ed and did not exactly remember what
had happened, but that there were no
masked men in the room He further
declared that he could not identify any
men who had entered the cabin just
before the shooting.
The two men We're locked in different
cells and the next morning were inter-
viewed by Detective Murphy and Mayor
Mccarthy. Slaton said that one man en-
tered the room and demanded money at
the point of his revolver, the weapon ex-
ploding just the words passed his
lips. He said further, that Cox was
drinking at the time and did not know
exactly what had happened. When ask
ed if he could identify the man who had
entered the cabin he replied that he did
not believe he could.
Cox denied that he was drunk at the
time of the shooting. but failed to give
very clear account of the tragedy.
When Slaton accompanied the officers
to the scene of the shooting a pile of
money was lying on the faro table and
he showed it into a drawer At the jail
his pockets yielded $3.50 in cash, but Cox
had no money on his person.
An examination of Wells body showed
| THAT the bullet had entered the center
OF the Forehead. while the skin about
theh eyes was powder burned.
| The next morning Officer Radmiloyt, n
found four exploded 41-caliber revolver
| carriages near the cabin and a cartridge
|
same caliber. In the L. ght of later events
this discovery may justly be regarded
aus of considerable significance.
SMITHS STORY.
Now for the story of Smith, in which
i the police are unable to discover q
single contradictory statement:
AT the time of the murder" he said.
COX and l were Toommates and had a
room in the Goldsoll block. The night
previous to the shooting he came to me
and told me that there was a scheme on
foot to make a Wad of money with little
effort. He said that Charley Siaton had
a good deal of money and that pan
had been formed to rob him. He believe.i
that Bin O'Connor and man nana|]
Burke We're going to do the job and thu:
the scheme was so fixed that SIaton
wOuld never suspect the men connecte
! with it.
Cox was drinking dttle bit and as
he handed me out several packages vi
! hot air of the same kind before, l
laughed and paid no more attention to
what he lad said. The next day, how
ever, he brought Colts revolver of Al
caliber a black gun, to the room, a I'd
| later in the evening took it out with
| him. The scheme. as fixed up, was for
| nnl TO De IN une room WITH SlatOn Wh IN
! the other two men entered and he would
| have to be searched as we'll as Slaton.
! This would tend ito throw suspicion ,ff
his shoulders.
THE PLAN MISCARRIED.
when / heard of the murder the
same evening was Mortified, because J
could not understand how it was Steve
that had been killed. for Cox had told
me that nobody was to be harmed un-
less Slaton made trouble. I was bitterly
sorry that 1 had not gone to the author
tiles at the time and told them what
was in the air, but I thought it was a
pipe dream at that time. Since then /
have kept still for the reason that l
feared l might be implicated on account
| of knowing what was to take place be-
forehand. However, am convinced
that Slaton is in a bad hole, and rather
than see an innocent man suffer for
something he did not do. intend to
give my story to the police.''
Smiths tale leaves Off at this point,
but it is taken up by other witnesses
and evidence Of damaging character
furnished. On the evening Of the mur-
der thirty minutes prior to the COM
mission of the crime. Cox entered Rippe
| & Mirfin's restaurant in company with
two men bearing the description of
O'Connor and Burke. This fact in it.
self is not Of great Importance. as all
three We're from Salt Lake and had been
|