The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1904-02-05
WILBUR QU|Rk'S
DRAMATIC STORY
He Tells 1t to the Hand County
Court Before a Big
Crowd.
MISS PlLcHER's ACTIONS
Conflicting Stories and Her Relations
to a Man Regarded as Her Lover
Cause Especial Interest in
Her Story.

Miller, S. D., Jan. 29.-Before a crowd
that completely filled the Hand county
court room, the preliminary hearing Of
Hattie Pitcher, accused Of administer
ing ether to WILDER Quirk with intent
to rob. began Wednesday, Justice
b. II. Douglass, to whom a change Of
venue was taken from f. j. Miller,
presiding.
The evidence Of Quirk, who related
the details Of the holdup in the Collins
drug store the night Of January II, in
no manner connected the defendant
with the crime. but the states attor-
ney, ]. H. Cole. told the court that
testimony was at hand to establish
that fact.
Miss Pitcher appeared in charge Of
Sheriff Abbott's wife. She was heavily
yelled and at no time during the morn
Ing session did she permit a glance at
her features. She sat quietly behind
her attorney, Judge Pussy, with whom
she occasionally consulted.
Her lover. Dick Remig, sat near the
jury box with Wilbur Quirk, the prin-
cipal witness for the state. The young
men came to court together. The de-
PENDANTS former friends. who were
among the most prominent people of
Miller, declined to speak to her. She
was later taken back to the Jail. The
only person acknowledging her bows
was Quirk.
Miss Pitcher Laughed.
During the time Quirk was telling his
story Miss Pitcher laughed, n at ad-
journment turned to her attorney.
Il wish you would put me on the
stand right away" she said. I've got
something to say that will clear up this
mess"
Judge Pussy declares his client has
not told him what connection, if any,
she has with the case. She still ac-
counts for the bullet wound in her
shoulder by saying she tried to kill
herself.
No money was taken, Quirk having
risen at the first demand for admit
lance and concealed it.
He thought the short man was about
the size and build Of Miss Pitcher.
Thirty witnesses have been called.
Among these for the state are Post
master and Mrs. Rushfield, formerly
representative, and Mrs. Robert Sedan,
DR.. S. r. Wallace, Dick Remig, the de-
PENDANTS lover, Frank Weber, manager
for the Kirk & Herthin Lumber COM
ANY. The defendants witnesses in
,looG Z " VI. Lacy, pdSlOJ VI the
Presbyterian church, Il his wife,
State Senator and Mrs. Il. E. Saltman,
Justice Miller, Anna Bushfield, daugh-
ter OF Postmaster Bushield, Mrs. Mary
Healy, wife Of the editor Of the Miller
Gazette. Judge Pusey, the defendants
attorney, expects dismissal of the case.
He say he can establish an alihi. He
promises the defendant will tell q story
involving some of the states witnesses
in q sensational manner
Quirk's story in brief was that two
men, q tall and a short one, the latter
holding a gun in the left hand-the de-
q is left handed-got into the
drug store the night of January IL,
Il after forcing him at the point of
the pistol to open the safe, they COM
PEELED him to fill a bottle of ether,
drink some laudanum and then bound
n gagged him and then administered
the ether. The small man stood by and
only spoke once.
A Dramatic Holdup.
The story of the drug clerk, Wilbur
Qnirk, indicates that the persons who
attempted to rob the safe of Collins
store, intended to kill him, fearing de-
lection. Either that, or they intended
to ~incapacitate him SO that they would
be able to make good their escape.
Quirks on the night of Tuesday, Jan
uary II, worked until about midnight
at the store, when he turned out the
lights n went to hisroom, which opens
off the store behind the prescription
case. He was reused, he thinks, about
1870 o'clock, by a gentle tapping on the
window on the north of the building
near his bed. A narrow passageway
runs between Collins drug store and
the real estate office of Briggs & Miller,
the Junior member of which firm is
Justice E. V. Miller, before whom Miss
Pitcher is now being tried.
Quirk heard the rapping repeatedly
after he awakened, but he had visions
of burglars, n remembering that
there was a considerable amount Of
money in the safe, he slipped out Of
bed, went to the safe, and concealed
the currency in a pasteboard box which
he tucked away behind the bottles of
back to bed. The rapping at the win
dow had ceased.
N clerk had just composed himself
for sleep when a hammering on the
back door again brought him up stand
ing. The hamn!ering continued. Think
ing that, as is frequently the case.
someone might be needing medicine, he
walked in his nightclothes into a room
adjoining his sleeping apartment on the
east and stopped before the door, be-
yond which the person demanding adj
mittancejstcod.
VINO AS tnere! he asked, cautious
ly.
"OpeN up, Kid! This is John, don't
you kfsssSsN me?" a voice which sounded
familiar to Quirk. called.
Admits the Robbers.
Quirk Immediately threw open the
| door. On the steps stood two people
one a tall mar wearing a long overcoat
and cap, the other short. slight of build,
also wearing a long coat and a cap.
Here's the prescription, hurry up
and fill it, Kid" said the tall man,
handing Quirk a slip of paper.
The clerk turned about and started
to walk into his room the men follow
ing. Once in the bed room-there was
no light either here nor In the drug
store, he heard the men whisper. He
turned about to find two revolvers
within an inch Of his nose. At the same
time the small man turned on an cleo
erie bull's-eye lantern, which half
blinded the clerk.
DO now as we tell you and you'll
have no trouble; refuse or make a
false move and we'll shoot your head
off," said the tall man.
Backing Quirk toward the door lead
ing from his bed room into the drug
store, the men followed him keeping
hiin covered with the pistols. The ter
:ifled clerk asked permission to put on
his clothes, q demand which the taller
nan agreed to. Quirk was permitted
y put on his socks and had started for