The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-03-08

Billings, March Mrs. Loretta
Thursday morning at their home on
North Thirty-fourth street, is in the
custody of the sheriff. Although pub
lie opinion holds her as much in
jureo woman, who committed the ter
rible deed under the belief that she
was in imminent danger of great bod
lily harm, if not death, the coroner's
jury brought in verdict at noon to-
day, "That Charles Orcutt came to
his death from gunshot wounds in
fiicted by the hand of his wife, Lor-
eta Orcutt, under great provocation."
Mrs. Orcutt made her statement be-
fore the coroner's jury this morning.
Her story leading up to the commits
sion of the homicide was frequently
interrupted by sobs. She became al
most hysterical at times and moaned
and cried convulsively. She looked
pale and haggard.
Mrs. Orcutt acknowledge the kill
ing, but says that she did it in self
defense, as her husband was in the
act of killing her.( She said that Mr..
Orcutt came home about 6 o'clock in
a drunken condition and was abusive.
She prevailed upon him to go to bed
after preparing his supper and all
seemed to go all right until late IN
the night, when he arose and after
awakening her told her that he was
going to kill her.
He started for the kitchen to get
a weapon, when she arose hastily and
fed into another room, where there
was revolver. She remained until
her husband appeared and as he ad-
vanced into the room brandishing a
short handled ak, she drew the revol-
yer, one of 80 caliber and shot at
him. She fired three shots before
stopping and not until the last one
did her husband fall. The first shot
took effect in the right wrist and the
second in the chest, midway between
the nipples.
The last shot penetrated the heart
There is a family living On the first
floor of the house, but they knew
nothing of the trouble until Mrs. Or
cutt came running down stairs and
told them that she had killed her
husband and told them to notify the
police.
Orcutt came to Billings several
years ago from Bozeman, where, /,
is said, he left a wife and family
His reputation in that city was such
that he was compelled to leave. Last
December he was married to the wo
man who killed him. Her name was
Pontiac, Ill.
Orcutt was a mason and plasterel
and was a hard working man, but
was given to the free use of liquor
and was veritable demon when or
a spree.
His wife claims that he has abused
her on several occasions by beating
and choking her, and friends say they
have been compelled to Interfere OF
more than one occasion when they
were attracted by Mrs. Orcutt's cries
for help.
At the inquest, Mrs. J. B. Page &
dressmaker, who lives in the lower
part of the house in which Orcut
was killed was the first witness tt
take the stand. She testified tha
Orcutt and his wife occupied the por
tion of the house. She said Mrs. Or
cutt had lived with her previous tt
her marriage to Mr. Orcutt. Mrs. Or
cutt ceased living with her abou
December II last, when she movet
upstairs, after marrying Orcutt.
On being asked if she had notices
anything peculiar in the conduct o
Mr.. and Mrs. Orcutt since their liv
-lg together, said that last Saturda,
night she noticed that -Orcutt ha,
been drinking. He came home at
o'clock and had been there a shor
time until he began talking loud AM
'fussing' with Mrs. Orcutt. He KEEP
the Page household awake until near
ly - o'clock by running his wife il
and out of the rooms, and Mrs Or
cutt screamed as if he was hurtin
her.
Mrs. Page and Mrs. Chilcott,
boarder, went upstairs, found Mrs
Orcutt sitting on the corner of tn