Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-08-29
|0FFER REWARD OF ONE THOUSAND D0LLARS|
County Commissioners will Pay that Sum for the Ar
rest of the Murderer of Samuel Studzinski-FourAr-
rests ade-SheriffS Slater and Under Sheriff Mar
tin Bring in W.P. Coye and Jos. Dennison
er and County Attorney Ayers were
also in attendance.
Time Of the Murder Eixed

er and County Attorney Ayers were
also in attendance.
Time Of the Murder Fixed,
Little Of importance was brought
out. in addition to the facts given in
the Argus Friday. 1t was established
however. that the murder was com.
mitted Wednesday night instead of
thursday night. as was at first SUD-
posed. The physicians who conduct.
ed the post mortem examination tes.
tined positively that from the condi-
ton OF the body. death must have en-
sued not later than Wednesday night.
Some witnesses We're strongly of the
opinion that they saw the old man
Thursday. and one swore positively
to this. but he is evidently mistaken.
Weapon Used by Murderer.
It was also shown that. in all prob
ability. the murder was committed
with the knife found on the floor of the
little home by Sheriff Slater Friday
morning. The knife was in its scab-
bard. 1t is double-edged weapon,
with a horn handle, and is very heav-
lily metaled at the butt, which has a
circle of brass. enclosing a consider.
able amount of lead, so that it's weight,
all told, about 3h pounds. A person
using 1t as a club, by grasping the
scabbard over the blade, could deliv.
er a terrible blow, and the wounds
indicate that they were made by lust
such a weapon. Two slight scalp
wounds would be inflicted by the
guard, while the hole in the skull at
the back of the head would be caused
by the butt. A most peculiar circum.
stance in connection with this knife
Is that 1t was the property of Stud
zinski, and was stolen from his place
Wednesday, during his temporary alb.
sence. AS the theft was committed
in broad day light. and the place must
have been entered by the front door,
which was left unlocked, and It seems
possible that some one might have
seen the thief entering or leaving the
place. This point the officers will,
no doubt, try to clear up. Several
persons who were at the place on
that day have already been account
ed for. and every one who was seen
to enter or leave will have to be look
ed up, because it is reasonably GER
tain that the man who stole the knife
is the same person who delivered the
death blow.
Amount Of Piunder Taken.
The amount of plumber secured by
the murderer is not definitely known.
Studzinski had probably not less than
500 in money there, and the sum may
nave been very much larger. He had
several watches of value and some
jewelry, but whether the box of dia-
monds and other gems that has been
talked about so much was in the
trunk is not known. At all events,
the watches, jewelry and money form
ed a lot Of plunder of no small val.
ue.
Testimony Of J. c. Luton.
}. G. Luton was the first witness
called. He had known Studzinski sew.
eral years, and wrote all of his bust.
ness letters for him. He stated that
the deceased had gone right through
the trunk several times in his pres
ence, and he knew that he had
of watches and revolvers on
hand. Usually the old man kept
like 800 on hand for the
transaction of business in buying
hides and furs and as pawn broker.
was very careful and was
not in the habit of doing business ex-
cept in the day time. A few days ago,
the deceased told the witness that a
man had come to his place at night
to buy gun, and although he Of
fered him SIS for weapon, Studzin.
ski refused to do business with him.
The old man said that the visitor was
short and dark, and had sparse whisk-
nhiah 10 % 10
false. 1t was doubtless this circum.
stance. and the fact that the caller
was stranger to him, that made him
so cautious on this occasion. Mr.. LII
ton told of calling at Studzinski's
place Friday morning to give the
old man his mail. and seeing the
body lying on the floor, upon which he
called in the officers.
Left Meat for Him Wednesday.
o. L. Bryant, butcher. testified that
last Thursday morning he called at
Studzinski's place and left some meat
for him. He found the door locked.
and placed the meat on box in front
of it. Friday morning at about 8
o'clock, the witness was driving by
the place and saw the meat still lying
where he had left 1t.
Fixing the Time Of the Murder.
Alex. Branson, proprietor OF the
First and Last Chance saloon on
Main street. opposite and little above
Studzinski's place, gave some very
important testimony. He said the
old man was in the habit Of visiting
the saloon each noon for glass OF
beer, and frequently came in the af.
ternoon and purchased a small pail
of beer. In addition to that, when
the old man did any business at night
in the way of making a loan. he al
ways came over to the saloon and
borrowed what money he needed un-
til morning. Studzinski explained
this by saying that he never showed
his money to callers at night. He
last saw the old man alive on We'd
nesday, when he called twice. On
one of these occasions he told the
witness about the knife having been
stolen from his place. When Mr..
Branson closed up his saloon Wed
nesday night, he stopped outside and
looked up and down the street, as
was his custom, TO see il there were
any strange men lurking about. In
this way he chanced to look over to
ward Studzinski's place, where there
are some trees, and his attention was
attracted by a light in the old mans
room. AS he started away. 1t com
menced to sprinkle, and he stopped
-