The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-11-12
mother had burned up the
lo+ter since then hfs father

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letter. Since then his father
had appeared to be o cheer
full, especially since last Friday, when
the boy said he brought some medi-
cine for him. Asked II his father had
been a drinking man, the boy said
that he had, but had not been drinking
for sometime past.
At the inquest last night several
witnesses were examined. With the
exception of Bartholomew Curtis, the
~15-year-old son Of the deceased, none
was able to shed much light upon
the facts Immediately connected with
it. I. D. O'Donnell, who had known
Curtis for a number of years, testified
that during the last three months that
, Curtis lived on his ranch he had told
him that both he and his family were
dissatisfied and thought that if they
sold out and removed to some other
part of the country they would like it
better. The witness noticed, though,
that after he did sell and remove to
the city deceased seemed no more
contented than before and Curtis told
him several times that if something
would not turn up he would do some
thing. The last time the witness had
a talk with him was about three days
before the suicide and Curtis asked
him to suggest something for him to
do. Mr.. O'Donnell advised him to go
back on a farm, as that was the prop
er place for him and hat he would not
be content in town, especially while
working for some one else. To this
Curtis agreed and asked the witness
what he had to sell in the way of a
farm. Mr.. O'Donnell said he had men
toned a couple of places to him and
the deceased said he would go out and
look at them. aN
The testimony of the boy was very
complete and went to establish the
fact that ever since their removal
to the city his father had been despon-
dent and at times apparently not in
full possession of his mental faculties.
He related the matter of taking the
gun away from him and said this had
occurred two days before. At that
time he believed his father intended
to harm himself and he had hid the
rifle in the ~haystack, where it had re
NAMED until late at night, when his
mother had taken it back into the
house for protection, as his father had
ceived for the ranch, so that he might
count it. The next day he had taken
it back to the bank and as he seemed
more cheerful the witness said he had
thought his father no longer entertain
ed any designs on himself. Yesterday
afternoon the witness said he hat
gone to see the football game and OF
his way home had been told that hi:
father had killed himself.
The boy proved to be an exception
ally bright and manly lad and gave hi
testimony in a straight forward, sus
cinct manner. What he testified tt
convinced the jurors that his fathe:
had been of unsound mind through
dependency at having sold his rancl
and they returned a verdict of sui
eide, committed while deceased wa
laboring under temporary mental dc
: rangement.
Curtis was apparently between A
and SO years of age and bore an eS
cellent reputation with those VIII
: knew him. His late neighbors in tn
: country esteemed him as an honest
, upright and honorable a Al
though called "Bartle," his prope
:. name was Bartholomew Curtis an
: prior to coming to reside in the cit
2 lived about one mile from Canyol
creek and about eight miles fror
town.
: Since coming to town he was en-
: ployed as car inspector for the Nortf
ern Pacific.
e II have used Chamberlain's Cole
g Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy an