Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1911-02-07
Wells
Skull CRUSHED
Coroner's Inquest Brings to Light
Important Facts That Point to
Wells Being Murdered.
FRANK LAVERDURE HELD
Laverdure Was Last Man to See
Wells Aive-Is Held Pend
ing Further Investigation.

It was announced in the Democrat
last Tuesday that the authorities were
investigating the death of Peter
Wells, the half breed who was sup
posed to have frozen to death near
Grass Range in December, 1909.
This paper had received communi-
cation from the lower country stating
| that it was the general belief by
many who had investigated the
rumors aAoat that Wells had been
murdered.
Start Investigation.
As soon as the evidence OF foul
| play was brought to the attention OF
the county attorney and coroner, Mr..
Marshall ordered thorough investi-
cation. Coroner Creel and Deputy
Sheriff Morgan went to Grass Range
last Tuesday and had the body OF
Wells exhumed and brought to this
city the following day. While in
Grass Range, Deputy Morgan learned
that one Frank Laverdure, breed
living in that vicinity, was the COM
panion of Wells in a carousal on the
night Wells was supposed to have
frozen to death. Deputy Morgan
brought Laverdure in with him and
he was placed in the county Jail, but
no charge was placed opposite his
name.
Autopsy Reveals Crushed Skull.
Coroner Creel ordered an autopsy
Thursday, which was performed by
Drs. Long and Walln. The skull Of
Wells was prepared by the physicians
and introduced as evidence at the in
quest, which was held at the court
house Friday afternoon. The skull
very plainly showed a fracture on
the top of the head. which in itself
was sufficient to cause death.
The Inquest.
The coroners inquest was held at
the court house at o'clock Friday
afternoon, before jury composed OF
L. w. Eldridge, Frank Scovel, Frank
Stephens, E. S. Fowler and Paul
Smith.
|. The witnesses called to testify
we're Frank Laverdure, Frank Wells
brother of the deceased; John LaFonte
John Sally, Joseph Paul, and Mrs
Caroline Paul, all of whom reside ir
the vicinity of Grass Range; also
Drs. Wallin and Long, Of this city.
The evidence brought out the fac
that Peter Wells, Frank Laverdurt
and John Paul were all drinking to-
gether in saloon at Grass Range or
December 2, and Wells and Laver
dure had two-wheeled cart, with
team of horses, one of the horse!
belonging to Lavrdure and the othe
owned by Wells. Late in the eve
ming they both started out for tn
home of the former, with whom
Wells was staying. John Paul passes
them on horseback about two mile
out of Grass Range, and Laverdur
testified that shortly after Paul passe'
them, Wells insisted on unhitchinl
and following Paul on horseback
he did. Laverdure further testihe'
that after Wells mounted the hors
| and started after Paul. he, the wit
ness, made up bed and slept be
side the cart the rest of the night.
This was the last seen of Wells TN
til late the next day, when he wa
found in semi-conscious conditio
] about 100 yards from the cart L
- his testimony, Laverdure stated tina
: after waking up the next morning h
turned his horse loose and returne
to Grass Range, where he RENAME
/ all day, going over the same roa
that evening with John LaFonte, VIII
was going home from Grass Rang
i'll freight team. When they wer
close to the cart, LaFonte noticed tn
! form of man in sitting positio
about 100 yards off the road. H
stopped the team and went over t.
where the man was sitting and spok
to him, asking if he recognized him
| Wells shook his head in the negative
LaFonte picked Wells up and place
him in the bottom of the wagon an
took him to the home of John Pau
and when they took off the covering
}. it was found that Wells was dead.
II John Sally testified that on the da
following the unhitching of the team
he was passing along the road and
short distance from the cart h
noticed a stone in the road whic
was covered with blood After a
examination the stone was careless
ly thrown away,
II Doctors Wallin and Long, VIII
| performed the autopsy, testified tina
they found fracture of the skull
| little to the left of the top of tn
skull. which was made with som
! blunt instrument.
III The Jury's Verdict.
After short deliberation. the iur