The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-03-08
HIS LIFE OR mine"
she SHOOTS TO KILL
Young Billings Wonls''ss.a< Wrs IS Three Shots
a.. Brutal Husband
STRAIGHT THROUGH THE HEART
Sped the Bullet Which Finally Brought Him to Time
The Coroner's Jury Rendered Verdict Inferring
Justiiable Homicide.

/ bed and looked as if she had been
choked by Orcutt. He ordered them
out of the room, but they refused to
go until he promised he would leave
his wife alone. They left Orcutt and
went to sleep. Everything was quiet
| from that time on and all day Sun
| day. Sunday evening Orcutt and his
wife went to church and later to
cafe and had supper. Everything was
quiet so far as Mrs. Page knew until
night, at about 1890, when she heard
two shots fired and was called by
Mrs. Orcutt. She arose and calling
Mrs. Orcutt were fighting again. Mr..
| Chilcott went to the foot of the stairs
wnen Mrs. Orcutt called: "Oh, he
made me do it; l have killed him;
it was either his life or mine"
Mr.. Chilcott went upstairs and
found Orcutt lying on the floor. He
tnen went after DR.. Clark. Mrs. Page
testified to Mrs. Orcutt having told
her that Orcutt had threatened her
life and he did not deny the accusa-
ton. Speaking of the tragedy, Mrs.
Page said that Mrs. Orcutt had told
her that Mr.. Orcutt came down stairs
and locked the hall door and came
uack upstairs. He then went into
the kitchen and got an ak and ad-
| vanced upon her. She pushed him
from her two or three times when he
advanced and Sc fired at him.
The gun is one that Mrs. Page
brought from the country with her
1t belonged to Chilcott. One day
Mrs. Orcutt, finding the door un-
locked to the Page apartments, went
in and got the gun. Mrs. Page missed
it and accused Mrs. Orcutt of taking
it. She acknowledged she had and
said she had done so in order to pro-
tect herself, as she feared her hus-
band would do her harm.
, Mrs. Orcutt said: "She had been
married to deceased on December II,
last; they had family discords soon
after they were married. Last Sat
urday night when he came home he
: had been drinking and, after supper,
: at which there were some words, he
/ went down town again. He came
r back late and abused his wrfe. choked
. her, and threatended to kill her.
Again, on Wednesday evening, he
! came home drunk and swore at her
/ and threatened to fix her. He fell
. asleep in his chair; fell off it, and
! crawled on to the bed. She prom
{ ised him that if he would go to bed
. she would come to him. He cursed
her awfully and she spoke of leaving
\ him. He said he would kill her first
He went into the kitchen and holding
r one hand behind his back he had
+ threatened to throw acid in her face
p and also use the hatchet. She had
n taken revolver belonging to Mr.
Chilcott from dresser in the lower
4 part of the house ana had concealed
q it under the bedding. He came al
v her in threatening manner. and she
n got the revolver and fired This must
" have been the shot which wounded
s him in the arm. He turned and went
OoI VI IhS lOOlu anu IuSA CdlS DdCk
a Il thought l hadn't hit him." contin
r ued Mrs. Orcutt, "and so | fired
t again. knew it was either my life
q or his" Then she went into the hal
t and called for Mrs. Page. The last
= two shots had gone straigt to the
r mark and pierced the mans heart.
O Frank c. Miller, or Orcutt resided
r in Bozeman about IL years ago. Some
# time after his arrival he, as Frank
d Miller, married frankie Marshall OF
this city, but was soon after arrested
d for bigamy, but not punished.
If Afrer getting a divorce from his
y first wife he remarked Miss Marshal
V under the name of Frank Orcutt. He
d later removed to the Shields river
8 but took to drink and his wife got &
It divorce from him.
d He at one time owned a ranch or
IT Camp creek. He was a plasterer
r. Orcutt frequented saloons a grea
n deal, but was not regarded as bein,
r member of the tough element.
g Few remember Orcutt. or Miller
except with rferenee to his being ar
a rested for bigamy.
s. He left Bozeman about ten year,
e a~o.