Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-08-27
Jack Ret Kills One Man and lnflicts
What Will Probably be a Fatal
Wound on Another.
JUSTIFIED IN THE KILLING
Coroner's Jury Returns a Verdict of
Justifiable Homicide In the
Shooting of Fredericks.

Jack Ret has shot two men; one
Is dead and the other dying" was
the startling message that was tele-
phoned to the sheriff here early yes.
terday morning from Rockford.
County Attorney Belden, Undersher
if Slater and Acting Coroner McFar-
land, Stenographer Gibson and f. Z.
Smith started for the scene of the
trouble as soon as possible and on
their return to town last evening the
following information was CLEANED:
The shooting took place on the Ret
ranch about half a mile from the lit
tie town of Rockford. as the result
of which George Fredericks was kill
ed and Jake Stang received what may
be mortal wound. The shooting
was brought about by Fredericks and
Stang, who visited the Ret place at
late hour on Monday night and mis-
used the proprietor of the place, un-
til he was provoked to do the shoot
ing, which was attended with such IA
tai results. Ret did not try to escape
and was found at Rockford on the ar
rival of the sheriff. The coroner's
jury who held the inquest returned
a verdict of justifable homicide in
the case of the killing of Fredericks
and Ret was placed in the county jail
last night to await the result of
Stang's injuries.
John Ret is known Ly the euphon-
ious title Of Jack the Ripper" and
is rancher, freighter and old-time
resident of the state. Fredericks
worked on the O'Toole ranch on Rock
creek for short time, but is not
known intimately even by his part
ner in the trouble. Jake Stang is y
freighter and usually makes his head
quarters at the O'Toole ranch. He
has a mother at Bozeman.
Those present at the time of the
shooting outside the principals in the
affair were three ranch hands in the
employ of Ret, who had visited Lew
istown Monday and taken back two
of them to help in the hay field and
in harvesting his crops. They were
Robert Adams, who is well known in
Lewistown and was formerly janitor of
the Judith Basin Bank building and
of the ARGUS office, John Nichols
and Robert Cannon, two strangers
in this section of the state.
The story of the trouble as told by
Adams, the principal witness, and
others, is in substance as follows
Fredericks and Stang had been in.
dulging in large quantities OF
booze at the saloon at Rockford and
suddenly became possessed with the
notion that they ought to 60 to the
Ret ranch and stir up little excite
ment. They went and on arriving
there broke into the house and de-
mGnded that Ret get supper for them.
While he was rustling around to COM
ply with their desires, a dispute arose
over horse which Fredericks and
Stang claimed that Ret had stolen.
Eventually both men jumped on him
and beat him up in bad shape. He
got away and retreated under the
bed. They pulled him out and put
rope around his neck, saying that
they would break him to lead Ret
got away and ran into the inside
room and started to dig up a six
shooter, which he had wrapped up In
a handkerchief. Nichols and Cam
mon were in bed and he asked them
what he had better do. Cannon said
he thought IL man beat him up that
way he would shoot him. Ret walked
to the door and fired two shots; one
struck Fredericks in the breast, and,
ranging upward. came out at the
shoulder. while the other caught Stang
In the back and passed through the
liver and intestines. Not waiting to
see the result of the shots. Ret start.
ed for the HOFFMAN ranch and from
there to Volkenard's saloon at Rock
ford, from which place a message was
sent to Lewistown.
In the meantime Fredericks had
walked about two hundred and fifty
yards and laid down beside a hay.
stack, where he died. Stang started
for Rockford and got about half way.
when he fell from loss Of blood; he
called for help and was eventually
taken to Rockford. from whence he
was moved to the HOFFMAN ranch,
where he is being nursed by Cannon.
who is a nurse by profession.
When the sheriff and the county
attorney arrived at the ranch It pre-
scented O somewhat bloodthirsty ap-
pearance; the floor Of the room ir