The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-16
VICTIM NOT EXPECTED TO LIVE
John Hennefin and Alfred Ankcorn
Engage in a Quarrel That Gives
Promise of Fatal
Results.

John Hennefn, employed in one of the
local mines, was shot in the breast by
Alfred Ankcorn, metalguilder from
Spokane.
Ankcorn has been in Butte off and on
for some time past, and while here this
time but couple of days is already
known in police circles as a member of
gang Of tramps which are now infest-
Ing the city. He was arrested last sum-
mer on charge of vagrancy.
Ankcorn says that he had been drink
ing when the trouble occurred. but that
the shooting was purely an accident.
The Usual Woman.
AS is usual in such cases. there is
woman in it. Josie Olsen, over whom
the trouble originated, has been for some
time past a sweetheart Of Hennefin, and
has likewise, it is said, been receiving
the attentions of Ankcorn. These at
tentions, however. have never been re-
Quilted.
Both believed they held certain inal-
ienable rights over the woman, but Hen
nefin. being the first on the ground,
claimed prior lien. 1t was the usurp-
ing Of authority over the girl by Ankcorn,
which Hennefin claimed was not his to
usurp, that started the wrangle, which
eventually led up to the shooting.
According to the story told by the
woman, the enactment of the affray was
substantially as follows.
Josie Olsen's Story.
-Four months ago Ankcorn came to
the house and tried to induce me to run
away from Hennefin with him. wouldn't
do 1t, and didn't hear from him again
until he came in here yesterday after
noon and showed me his gune, and
threatened to shoot if wouldn't go with
him. said all right, that I would be
glad to go, but I said it to throw him
off, because the other girls were AFRAID
that he would make his threat good.
This happened in my sisters (Maggie
Winn's) place.
when Ankcorn came back. last night
Hennefln was sitting in the room.. Ank-
corn grabbed me by the ear and told me
to come with him, but I said. NO; l
know my own business, and know what
/ want to do, and I won't go with YOU
He said I'd have to go with him. Then
Hennefin got up and told Ankcorn to
let me alone; that if didn't want to go
WITH ulul L WOulull AuNS we -
pulled his gun right away. and struck
Hennefin over the side of the head with
it, and then they grappled and fell to the
floor. with Hennefin on top. Hennefin
tried to catch hold of the revolver, but
before he could do it the other man
pulled the trigger twice, and then 1 saw
Ankcorn get up and run out Of the door
way and Jump over the fence. 1 laid
John on the couch and took off his shoes,
and he talked with me till the officers
came. That's all.'
The Shooter Jailed.
AS Ankcorn sped through the door and
over the fence all trace of him was lost
in the night. A short time afterward'
however. officer Cook was approached by
a man near the Blackfoot lumber yards.
who said that he had accidentally shot
himself. Cook at this time knew moth
Ing of the affray in the alley, and SO
rang for the patrol wagon, into which
the man was assisted and taken to Mur'
ray & Fraund's hospital. AfterWard he
was removed to the county Jail.
Officers Cook and Murphy. meantime,
as soon as they learned of the shooting,
started out on still hunt for the fug!-
tive, not knowing that he and the man
at the hospital were one and the same.
When the clews they We're following at
last brought them to the Blacktoot
yards, the gates were securely closed.
"Frenchy" Quesnal. the watchman.
when ordered to open up. refused, and
threatened to make it warm for the in
truders unless they evacuated the prem
ises Immediately The darkness did not
admit of Quesnal discerning the uni
forms of his accosters, but when in
formed that they were officers of the
law, searching for a man wanted, ne
threw wide the entrance and rushed
headlong from the grounds.
Quesnal's Queer Actions.
The officers shouted for him to stop,
but he paid no attention, and drawing
their weapons they fired after the flee
ing figure, two Of the shots taking effect,
one in the arm and one in the leg. He
ran on, but soon bumped into another
officer, who had just come on the scene.
Quesnal attempted to show fight, but
a hard rap on the head with pistol butt
soon quieted him down. His wounds
are not considered dangerous. The OFF,
GERS, after prOwing around for some
time longer. were apprised of the where
about of Ankcorn and dropped the scent.
Hennefin in Hospital.
Honnefin, who lies at st. James hos
pital, is in too enfeebled a condition 20
talk, but an effort will be made to OBJ
tain from him a story of the shooting. in
order to definitely establish the identity
of his murderer, as there is every pros
peet OF his proving at present. DR..
Alexander stated this morning that he
did not wish to operate, as he considered
the case hopeless. An operation was de-
cided upon. however, for 8 o'clock this
afternoon. DR.. Alexander performing the
operation, assisted by two others. A
sister made the statement that the
patient had been sinking rapidly.
Daniel Hennefin, brother OF the in
jured man, was in attendance at his bed