Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-16
MAY Be CASE
Of MURDER
TESTIMONY SHOWED THAT VIII.
RYAN HAD BEEN BADLY
BEATEN.
WIS ATTACKED SATURDAY
AT THE GRANT HOUSE
Dennis Mckinley Is Also Held as an
Accomplishments Result of
Drunken Quarrel.

At puggan's undertaking rooms last
evening an inquest was held on the
body Of William Ryan. who died in the
county jail on Thursday night, and il
resulted in the jury holding James Nee:
han partly responsible for kyan's death
AS stated in the Inter Mountain yes
terday. Meehau is in the county Jail
having been arrested by Deputy Sheriff
Proebstel yesterday morning tuer i:
was learned that Ryan had been beaten
b.. hI.u a few days before. Last even
ing Dennis Mckinley, who is alleged to
have assisted Meehan in the assault
was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Morgan
in Anaconda. and is now keeping COM
pany with Meehan in the county jail
here. he having been escorted from the
Sme.ter city by Deputy Kirby Of Sheriff
Fureys staff this afternoon.
The inquest developed the fact that
last Saturday evening Ryan was at
tackled by Mcehan in his room in the
Grant house at Centerville and given a
terrible beating and kicking, and that
MCKINLEY was present. On the witness
stand DR.. =. J. Sheerin testified that
Ryan's death was due to alcoholism,
but other testimony was decidedly
against Meehan.
The dead man was brother of Geo
Ryan, who was stabbed to death by a
gang of toughs in East Park street
about fifteen months ago. and always
bore good reputation. BY occupation
he was a miner and had worked in both
Nevada and this city. He and Meehan
formerly roomed together in the Grant
house. but last Saturday the latter left
on account of having had some words
with the proprietor, who had accused
him Of having broken a window light.
After Ryan had gone to bed Meehan
Went to the room, so the story goes and
attempted to force an entrance by
breaking the door. Ryan let him in
HoWeVer, before the door was broken
according to witnesses, Meehan struck
Ryan and knocked him down. Then
while Ryan was lying on the floor, he
kicked him on the head and about the
body several times.
NJ. j. Gallagher testified that he ac-
conpanled Meehan to the room. He
said Meehan was drunk and had pre-.
Nlously told him he did not like Ryan
and proposed to whip him. Gallagher
said Meehan kicked Ryan over the right
eye While Ryan was lying on the floor
as result of the knockdown blow.
NJ. r. Proebstel, the officer who ar
rested Meehan, testified that Meehan
hdrl-tted to him after the arrest that he
haa given Ryan d good beating.
Meehan did not know at the time he
made the admission, said the witness
that Ryan was dead. In addition to this,
Meehan told the officer that RYAN had
stolen $40 from Mckinley a few nights
before the assault was committed
John Hart, who occupied the room ad
joining that of Ryan, testified that he
heard MCKINLEY and Meehan engage IN
a fight in Ryan's room on Friday night
and Ryan had acted as peacemaker. On
the following night he was awakened "
Meehan's attempt to break into Rvan'S
room. He SAID that after Meehan hal
been admitted to the room he jumped on
Ryan, and the latter had pleaded to BE-
let alone. Hart said he jumped out OF
bed and went to Ryan's assistance and
Gallagher and himself had compelled
Meeh han TO let Ryan alone.
j. ]. Grant. the proprietor of the house
said Ryan had roomed at the house
seven months and had always been E
quiet. sober and gentlemanly person
He SAID he knew nothing about the as
sault until the following morning, whal
he went to Ryan's room and found hin
lying in bed with blood running from hi!
nose. He advised Ryan to go to hes
pital for treatment, but Ryan espresso
the belief that he would be all right /,
few days. The witness further sal
Ryan told him he had been badly beatel
by Meehan and he believed he woul.
have been killed had it not been To-
Hart and Gallagher. The witness sait
he had gone to Ryans room las
Wednesday for the purpose of insistin.
that he should go to a hospital, bu
Ryan had already gone out
John Jellich and James Baldsero
county jailers. testified that Ryan Ia,
appeared at the Jail on Thursday even
ing and said he was being pursued b,
several thousand men, who wanted t,
throw him down a mine shaft. AS h
Showed signs of arrangement they lii
placed him in a cell, and a few minute
before II O'Clock he had been foun,
dead.
DR.. p. ]. Sheerin, the county physician
testified that he had been called to tn,
Jail to see Ryan. He had found hin
very much intoxicated. He attempted t,