Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1907-10-22
JOHN DONOVAN
HAS SENSATION
CHARGES MRS. KEMPENDORFF
WITH TRYING TO CHLORO-
FORM HIM.

John Donovan, lately from the N
Bar ranch, against Sarah kempen-
dorff, who keeps rooming house ov-
er the Big Bear saloon on Main
street, was investigated before JUS
tice Edward Brassey Saturday after
noon. Donovan alleged that last
Wednesday, Will, lying On the bed in
room occupied by him at the place.
Mrs. kempendorff attempted to
chloroform him for the purpuose of
robbing him. The hearing lasted all
the afternoon, and at the conclusion
Judge Brassey discharged the de-
fendant, there not being sufficient
evidence to warrant holding her for
trial
County Attorney Roy +. Ayers ap-
peared for the state, at the start, but
was practically superseded by Dono-
van long before the case was over,
while Mrs. Kempendorff was not rep
resented by counsel.
Donovan's Story.
The complainant was the first
witness called, and he made long
statement, two thirds of which was
wholly immaterial 1t was impos-
sible to check him, however, and the
substance of his story was that last
tuesday he went to the Kempendorff
rooming house, where he had stopped
IN July last, and engaged room. He
was considerably under the influence
of liquor and after getting the room
paid the landlady $40 Hearing some
one laughing in another room, he
thought Mrs. kempendroff had taken
his money and given him the laugh
he said, and he went out into the hall
armed with beer bottle and pre-
pared to make a rough house After
work, Deputy Sheriff Tullock was
celled in and told Donovan to keep
quiet, and the trouble ended for the
night. In the morning, as a result
OF his not feeling we'll, his room was
in bad condition, and Mrs. Kempen-
dortf CHARGED him $3.50 for cleaning
it up, Donovan admitting that the job
was worth the money In the after
noon he returned to the room and
taking off his coat, vest and shoes,
carefully secreted his roll of bills
under dresser, and laid down on the
bed. The woman, he stated, had
seen this roll when he paid her and
saw him put it in his inside vest
pocket He left the door ajar, and as
he laid there, saw Mrs. Kempendorff
pass. and repass several times. She
would look into the room, and con-
that she had some designs
on him, he feigned to be sleeping, in
order to speed developments Finally,
he said, she quietly entered the room,
"frisked' his coat and vest, finding
nothing. and then stepped out. In
few minutes she returned with al
towel and approaching the bed, sud-
denly put the towel over his face.
That was just the moment Donovan
was waiting for, and throwing off the
towel he grappled with the woman
and started to drag her out of the
room, his intention being, he says. to
turn her over to the police. She
tried to pacifv him. saying she would
explain, but he was determined. At
that Juncture she screamed for help
and in an instant her husband was at
the door and landed three swings
on Donovan's jaw. The latter let 90 |
Of the woman and sped down stairs, |
sO.hS iiitC lhC W. " NJ. Saloon 10 IN |
1uire for an officer. He told Dick
Young what he wanted and Dick
out Marshall Burke, who was
On the street few feet away. The
nan and the officer returned to the
coming house, and Donovan, enter
nR his room, drew out from under
he dresser his roll, saying to the
kempendorffs, "This is what you were
after"
The only bit of corroborative tes-
,imony was given by Dick Young. !
Who stated that when Donovan came |
nto his place, the witness instantly |
detected a strong odor. which he took
o be chloroform.
Marshall Burke said that on reach
ng the room. there was no smell of
'hloroform. but an overpowering odor
If perfume. which had been literally
lsed in the room.
Mrs. Kempendorff's Denial.
Mrs. Kempendorff, testifying in her
'wn behalf, made an excellent wit
less. Her answers were all clear cut