The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-03-12
FOREST SERVICES FINDINGS
ACQUIT RANGER OF SHOOT.
ING FiREFIGHTER.
INVESTIGATION THOROUGH
Forester Greeley Issues Statement
Concerning Inquiry Of Months Into
Tragedy Of Internal Days Of Last
Summer and County Attorney Mul-
roney Concurs in Final Action.

! After Il careful investigation ef all
| of the facts obtainabe in the case, All
investigation that has been vigorously
prosecuted since the latter part of last
H November, Forester w. y. Greeley last
evening, announced the findings af the
I forest service IN connection with the
I death, last August, of oscar Woigert
of this city. one Of the firefghtcrs IN
4 Ranger William ~ Rocks crew near
4 Avery. II Will be remembered by Mis-
i soulian readers that this was the Sec
\ ton Of the country through which the
4 forest fires OF last August swept with
I such Internal fury. and whore the most
4 Of the firefighters who pershed were
/ entrappcd Oscar Wcigert died on the
4 night Of August u. 1910 and although
/ II was understood by the officers Of
the forest service. who made the in
/ vestigation ut the time that the young
man committed suicide by shooting
/ himself after becoming frcn2ied with
4 fright ANA running away from his
I camp. the theory of suicide was not
advanced at the time out of consd-
1 GRAFTON of the relatives Some weeks
! later, when stories gained circulation
! concerning hunger ROCK nANlnB
threatened some of his men with Il gun
to keep them together in camp. in
formation was brought to Mrs.
Wcignrt, which caused her To have her
sons body disinterred here and eX-
amined by local physicians. Shortly
after this examination Mrs. Wcigert
made the announcement of her sus-
! picions that her son had been shot by
Ranger Rock, and Oh November 90.
! 1910, she ltft for Wallace. Idaho. with
the ayowed intention of starting some
action against the government
investigation Started.
An investigation was started nj once
By the forest service and when Mrs.
Weigrrt came back from Idaho and
conferred with Forester Greeley She
agreed to rest her ease pending the
results by the service. This inycsti-
cation has been most difficult and.
owing to the difficulty encountered IN
locating some of the men who were
capable Of offering evidence, because
Of their presence in the Rock camp
or the part they took in the recovery
of Weigcri's body, much time has been
required. The forestry officials spared
no pains or expense in finding the men
ana were compelled 10 canvass savt raj
states. going as far south as cali
fornia for one affidavit. After all of
the evidence WAS secured everything
was submitted 10 County Attorney
Mnlroney of this county with the re
quest that he consider IL carefully and
give an unbiased opinion as to whether
there was anything on which such a
case as Mrs. Weigert sngges,s i could
be established Mr.. Mulroney in-
ished his investigation last evening
and his opinion Is that the ease was
one of suicide, beyond a doubt. How
ever, he also suggested that Mrs.
Wcigert be given adequate relief by
the government If possible, for hors
was deserving case.
Unbiased Proceedings.
In commenting on the ease last
evening Mr.. Greeley said:
I'VE have attempted TO make ms
thorough Investigation of the matter
as possible. We had no interests In
the matter other than to get at the
facts. If Ranger Rock was guilty of
amy misconduct we, wanted to know il,
, If he was innocent we were as anxious
to prove II and thus wipe out the blot
cast upon his record and indirectly
: upon the forest service, we went IL
. considerable trouble and expense to
a reach every man who we knew would
/, be in "a position to furnish my in
formation These we requested 70 make
. affldaylts In their own way telling
facts which they knew to be the truth
!, only the last few days tn, Sc have beer
= received and they were submitted Il
!, County Attorney Mulroney for his un-
: biased judgment, Although the eyi-
denee points conclusyely to oscar
Weigert having committed suicide, The
i circumstances were such that | have
? recommended that she receive Wha
y relief can be given by the government
y from the funds appropriated recently
p by congress for the relief of the fam
lilies Of firefghters who lost their lives
q last summer in the field. 1t has beer
9 shown that Oscar Weigert contribute,
much to his mothers support and OF
% this account, also, ! feel that she is en-
y titled to relief We have done oil
e best to lift the cloud from the sa,
a case and have proceeded in as fair an,
: impartial manner along every featur
u OF the investigation"
le Mr. Greeleys letter to Forestc