Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-04-16


apparently did not have any gun. At
this time Nate Pierce stepped out Of
the door and after he had passed
Fisk the latter pulled a gun out of his
pocket and shot at him; Pierce turn
ed half around and clinched with Fisk
and during the melee which ensued,
three more shots we're fired. William
Pierce was getting some groceries out
of the wagon, which was standing
close to the house, and at the sound
of the shots both he and Perry ran
toward the two men.
At the same time Myron Bradley
and Lou Smith, who were looking out
Of the bunkhouse window, saw Nate
Pierce walk out of the kitchen door
and saw Fisk commence to attack
him. Both parties rushed to the SPOT
as soon as possible. but when they
arrived there both Pierce and Fisk
were on the ground with Pierce on
top. William Pierce grabbed the six
shooter. which Nate had in his hand,
Immediately placing 1t in his pocket
and asked his brother, Nate, IL he
en- and asked his brother Nate If he
was hurt. Nate replied: HE has
got me. boys; l am a goner." He
was taken into the house and Fisk
was splaced under guard in the bunk
house, William Pierce and Lou Smith
taking turns in guarding him with a
shotgun until the arrival Of the sher.
IN.
AS soon as 1t was found that Pierce
was seriously injured, George Macca-
tee was sent for the doctor and the
sheriff. He proceeded to the ranch of
Jack Frye. about ten miles on the
road to Lewistown, where he found
Frye, who at once hitched up team
and accompanied him to town.
The wounded man stated that as
well as he could remember four shots
were fred, three of which struck him.
At the first shot he had closed with
Fisk and received two more before he
could get the gun away from him.
When he did get possession of the
gun he hit Fisk on the head with It,
knocked him down and fell on top of
him, where he was found. He Sndur-
ed great agony until the arrival of the
doctor, who seeing that 1t was only a
matter of few hours until death,
administered opiates to relieve the
intense suffering. He died at 1890
on Friday after bidding everybody
goodbye, and at the time of his death
did not seem to be suffering and the
end came peacefully.
DIR. r. S. Hedges, in his testimony,
stated that he found three wounds;
one entering the left side and rang
ing upward, and two in the abdomen.
One of the bullets, which penetrated
the abdomen, was recovered, but the
others were not found.
The jury brought in verdict to
the effect that Pierce came to his
death from gunshot wounds from a
six-shooter in the hands of Charles
Fisk, the manner of his death being
felonious.
Nate Pierce is one offour brothers.
all of whom are well known in this
vicinity; the other three are: Will
liam. Ellory and Avery. At the time
of the killing Ellory Pierce was
at his ranch a few miles distant, but
was summoned as soon as possible.
Avery was on the road between Ben
ton and Lewistown with an express
team and did not get the news until
after the funeral The parents of the
boys live at Pasadena, Cal, and or
iginalIy came from Wisconsin. Nate
and Avery have lived in this section
of Montana for the last twelve years,
neither of them being married. Will
liam and Ellory are both married and
have families, having come to Fergus
county from California only a few
years ago.
The coroner. sheriff, county attor.
ney and the stenographer returned
to Lewistown on Saturday night,
while the remains of Nate Pierce
were brought to town on Sunday morn
ing by John Sellers, who left the mill
with the body on Saturday, but owing
to the storm was detained for several
hours. The body was taken to the
Montana Hardware Co. store where
it was prepared for burial.
Owing to the delay in bringing the
body TO town the funeral, which had
been set for two o'clock on Sunday,
was postponed until s p. m.
The funeral cortege. which started
from the Montana Hardware store.
was a large one and was composed of
a large number of friends of the de-
ceased. as well as his brothers, Will
liam and Ellory with their wives.
Nate Pierce was 39 years of age
at the time of his death and was
universally liked by those with whom
he came in contact. ...
Fisk has followed the carpenter
trade in Lewistown and vicinity for
several years and is addicted to the
liquor habit. He has penchant for
rifles and has several in his shanty
at the mill and made the remark in
the hearing of witnesses that IF a