The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-12-11
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF OTTO
FRANCS DEATH.
CARRIED GUN FULL COOKED
Weapon Discharged While Owner At
tempted to Draw It over
Fence He Crossed.


From the Big Horn County News,
published at Meeteetse, further par.
ticulars are learned concerning the
death of the late Otto Franc, who
rwas Killed. on mis- ranch, near Nee
teetse, a week ago last Monday.
AS near as can be learned from the
testimony at the inquest, says the
News, Mr.. Franc had been making
trips every afternoon to pasture
across the river from the ranch house
to assist in feeding cattle. On these
trips he invariably carried his shot
gun, shooting ducks and rabbits. Mon
day he left the house as usual about
2 o'clock, carrying his gun and go
ing in the direction of the cattle
| across the river. Shortly afterward,
at different intervals, three shots
were heard.
| Nothing was thought of his absence
until evening, and as he did not re-
turn James Mckinney and Steve
Hales,, employees at the ranch, started
out to look for him. About a quarter
of q mile from the house, directly
across the river, they came upon the
body of Otto Franc, lying upon it's
face, about three feet from the fence.
The gun, 1O-gauge Parker, was stand
ing up with the stock on the ground
and the muzzle against the fence. The
right barrel was empty, the cartridge
having been exploded. The left barrel
was loaded and the hammer cooked
i His hat and glasses were still on,
his mouth drawn as though to express
"Oh.' A spot as large as dinner
plate on his white duck coat was pow
der burned on the left side. There
was no evidence of struggle; death
must have been instantaneous.
At this moment w. P. Rice, fore
man of the ranch, came up, he having
Just returned to the house and learn
ed the the fact of Mr. Francs absence
A wagon was secured, the body taken
to the house, and Mr.. Rice rode to
, Meeteetse like the wind to carry the
| news. When he reached here riders
> we're dispatched for George Merrill
J, w. J. Chapman and Colonel w. D.
> Pickett three of the deceased's mos1
/ intimate friends. Mr.. Merrill arrived
3 in Meeteetse shortly after midnight
t from his ranch down the river.
l The news spread quickly over the
r town and groups of men could be seer
t here and there discussing the awfu
3 accident. kilograms were at onc'
t sent to Mr.. Francs brothers in New
J. York. Thursday they requested tha
d the body be held for interment
4 Meateetse upon the arrival OF G. Au
e gust Franc, who will arrive Tuesday
e The body will be laid at rest in tn
d new Meeteetse cemetery. Service
= at the hall Wednesday at II.
n After giving an account of the II
Y quest held on the body, the New
il gives a description of the place wher
the accident occurred. The gun wa
at full cock when Mr.. Franc leane
. it against the wire fence, says tn
:. paper. After he had gone through
IT or over, the fence he started to dra'
" the gun through, grasping the barre
n The ground here is stony, one goo
W sized. round boulder being directly
:. his path. He must have stumble
If over this boulder, drawing the gu
ia almost through the fence. In recove
tvl ing his balance he showed the gu
n. from him a trifle and the left hammt
rs was pushed down by the wire, the fu
~ charge entering the left breast. II
~ hammers of the gun required only
at slight pressure to set them on,
r.. fact demonstrated to the jury on II
de ground.
as The fact that the other barrel WI
nh found with the hammer at full coc
as and the fact that the jury tried
re manipulate the gun so as to cock
ga on the wire, proved the above theor
ad and it is the only logical explanatio
hv In conclusion the News gives
lis biographical sketch of the deceas
he and also contains resolutions adopt
i'm by the Grey Bull club and at a me-