Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-08-09
LOv[SWAR MUST
DIE FOR CRIME
Sturgis Jury Finds Him Guilty
Of Murder in the First
Degree.
1T WAS a CLEAR CASE
Cold BIooded Crime Fastened
Upon Him by Strong
Evidence.
CRUEL, WANTON MURDER
George Ostrander and Frank PUCK
Murdered in Their Cabin While
Aslcep-Shot First and Their
Heads Crushed With an Ak.

Sturgis. s. D., Aug. AT II O'Clock
Friday night, the jury in the case 0.
the State VS.. Ernest Loveswar, alias
Bird, after they had been out two
hours, returned a verdict, finding
Loyeswar guilty of murder in the hrsl
degree, and fixed death by hanging
as the penalty.
The verdict meets with the approval
of all the residents of Sturgis, and the
many friends of George Puck and
Frank Ostrander, the victims. The
murder was n Of the most cruel, bru-
tal and wanton crimes that ever has
been brought to light.
From a seeming entire mystery, by
the constant and unfailing work OF
Sheriff John Smith, and dozens of JUS
tice loving cowboys and ranchers, a
clear case was made u against Loves
war, q vicious halfbreed Indian, who
had been driven from his own people
by his crimes.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
The murder was committed on Tues
day night, June 10, but vas not dis
covered until the evening of the next
day. Wednesday evening Frank iior-
locker and John Timmons, cowboys,
rode over to the Puck ranch on White
Owl creek, to help Puck and Ostrander
at some task. The-ranch was deserted,
but Horlocker and Timmons, knowing
the hospitality of the region, entered
The cabin. 1t was deserted.
A mound under the bed clothes in the
punk attracted their attention and Hor-
ecker turned down the sheets to find
lis young friends cold in death. A bull
ct hole was in each head, and both
skulls were fractured and bruised by
leavy blows.
A search of the cabin revealed ev~
eTything intact, except Puck's revolt
yer, which usually hung upon the wall,
and q quantity Of ammunition. The
.wo ranChmen at once rode to Sturgis
md gave the alarm, soon q sheriffs
posse was on the spot, n blood
hounds were secured to trail the muir
lereTs.
POSSE WAS BAFFLED.
There was no apparent motive for
he crime, and for a time it puzzled all.
Puck and OStrander were the best or
trends with everybody. At first it was
opposed to have been the work of cat
lie rustlers, but no evidence was found
o prove the existence of any rustling
II the vicinity.
In the meantime a note was found
scar the cabin from IA Mrs. Boo to
Peter Culbertson. The sheriff picked 1t
~ and saved it. Ernest Bovcswat,
who had been n hanger-on in the neigh
jorhood, was missing. He had been
employed at the Doe ranch nearby,
md Il was found that Loveswar had
seen dispatched with Mrs. Boe's note.
Then came the news that at White
wood. eighty miles north OF Stur8is,
/ nI,nCNN-DF bod 90 Chn1 n motto Of DIlFE's
payable to Loveswar, for 500. At Rap
Il City he note was declared n for
gerry.
LovESWAR ARRESTED.
Suspicion pointed to Loveswar, and
le was arrested at Pine Ridge reser-
ration. He was locked up In the
Meade county Jail at Sturgis and
,harged with the crime. The indian
Sould not deny that he had been at the
Puck ranch the night Of the murder.
He was urged to confess.
Finally he told his story. He had
stopped at the Puck ranch that night.
N the evening Puck and Ostrander got
nto a quarrel over some cattle, and
finally Ostrander shot Puck. Love
;war left the cabin, Ostrander followed
aim, and he shot Ostrander. Then he
carried both bodies back and placed
them In the bunk.
But this did not explain the bruises
and cuts on the bodies, and after much
sross-questloning, the Indian admitted
his guilt.
HIS STORY OF THE CRIME,
Then he told another story. A few
lays before he had agreed to sell Puck
Ave mares. He was hard up and had
gone to the Puck ranch for money. He
asked Puck for 500, which Puck re-
used TO give him. not having seen the
mares. After a little diCkcring the In
lian started TO go. Puck urged him to
stay and spend the night at the ranch.
and Ostrander retired, and Love
Swar laid down on the floor.
Disappointed at Puck's refusal, all
the hatred and villainy in his indian
blood began to boil. The two men were
asleep. He got up. Taking bis revol-
yer in one hand, and Puck's in the
other, he went over TO the bed.
With one revolver he shot Ostrander.
uck rose up in bed just as Loveswar
shot him. He fell back without n
groan, but the Indian, fearing that he
might not be dead. went outside and
got an AK. He pounded the heads of
both men until there vas no longer a
possibility of there being a spark of
in their bodies.
Then he helped himself to Puck's
check book and $500 worth Of %certif-
Gates of deposit on the Iowa State Ma
tional bank Of Sioux City. He saddled
horse and rode off. ~ninging away
the ak and PuCk's revolver.
He told the sheriff where he had
thrown both. They were picked up In
the very spot. There seemed no doubt
of the Indians guilt, and for fear of q
lynching, the Indian was spirited away
to the Deadwood Jail.
Here he plotted to kill his jailer,
murder all the white prisoners in the
Jail, and escape. He conided his plans
to one of his own race, u the latter
was a trusty and told the plan to his
FINALLY BROUGHT TO TRIAL.
At the preliminary hearing enough
evidence was introduced to prove his
guilt, and he was held without bail.
His trial was set for July 2S, and on
that day he was brought before Judge
Rice. Attorney Mcmahon, for Loves
war, adopted Fabian tactics, but the
court refused 10 permit delay, fearing
a lynching, and on Thursday the trial
was commenced.
The Introduction of evidence was
begun Thursday afternoon, Everything
pointed to the Indians guilt. The
who discovered the body, the
coroner and those to whom he con
essed, testified.
Yesterday morning the check cashcC
by the defendant was introduced ana
Cashier Schneider Of Rapid city testi-
fed hat same was a forgery. Ths
of admitting the alleged con
fessions being challenged by the de-
Tense on the grounds that they were
procured by threats, the jury was dis
49, - 1n1-