The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-02-08

over q debt of about 500, Freeze shot
and killed his friend and ueighbor,
Frank c. Gilmore, afterwards placing
the dead body in q wagon and making
q night drive of about twelve miles to
the vicinity Of Benton lake, where 1t was
thrown into an abandoned we'll. The
remains were accidentally discovered
the next day, and the Cascade county
authorities notified, the locality Of the
CHASTITY ind being 10 Cascade county.
An Investigation followed and the
trail of the wagon wheels leading to
the Gilmore ranch, suspicion pointed
to Freeze, who had driven the team
into Great Falls, and he was arrested
by the Cascade county sheriff.
The arrest was made on or about
October 6, and since that time the
Chouteau county authorities, to whom
the suspect was surrendered, have
been engaged In securing evidence
that will be presented to the jury.
At the Wednesday afternoon session
of court. good progress was made In
the Freeze murder trial, several wit.
nesses giving testimony for the prose.
cution. One of the important witnesses
was William Gerard. owner OF the
property where the dead body of Gill
more was found. Mr.. Gerard stated
tina be noticed blood on the ground
near the we'll, that some of the planks
had been moved, and his suspicious
being aroused he secured a ladder
and went down the we'll. He found an
arm projecting above the water, a
discovery that caused him to com.
munica,e with the sheriff of Cascade
county, who Don arrived and raised
the body from the we'll.
Lou Kommers, under sheriff OF Cas-.
cade county, testified that the trail of
the wagon was followed from the Ger
ard place to the Gilmore ranch; at the
latter place blood was found on the
floor of the cabin. The wagon trail
was also followed to Great Falls, and
after considerable search the wagon
and team were found at the White
Elephant livery stables. Some hay
in the wagon correspondent with hay
found at the Gilmore ranch.
The authorities took Freeze into
custody at Great Falls, and asked for
an explanation of bloodstains on the
wagon. and the prisoner is said to
have finally admitted that he killed
Gilmore during q quarrel. because
Gilmore threatened to beat his brains
out with q club.
Corroborat ive evidence was given
by Sheriff John Collins, of Cascade
county, W. H. George and DR.. j. H.
Fairfield, the testimony OF the latter
being to the effect that Gilmore was
shot through the back of the head.
Evidence for the prosecution was also
given by Sam Stephenson and F. M.
Nickerson. of Great Falls.
The defense called some of it's wit
uesses at the Thursday morning ses.
sion of court, rank Lawson, H. G.
Woodward and Guy Nevills giving
evidence as to the condition Of the
premises where the shooting took
place. The attorney for the defense
~endeavored 20 prove that there was q
box OF stove wood in the room, to.
ward which Gilmore was reaching to
secure O club.
Most Of the Thursday afternoon and
Friday morning sessions of court was
devoted to the testimony of the de.
fend ant, Paul Freeze, who was placed
on the witness stand in his own be.
half. There were a few discrepancies
in the story told by the accused, and
in reply to some of the questions ask
ed by the prosecution the witness
pleaded inability to remember. In
direct examination by his attorney,
the defend ant said he did not Intend
to shoot Gilmore, but that he fired the
revolver for the purpose of soaring
him; when amined by the pro.
secution he declared be had shot Gil.
more in self-defense.
LUG pIASOueI oAoreo ~
Of his action in removing the dead
body and placing it in the we'll, de-
claring that his mind was entirely
blank as to that feature OF the tragedy.
He did not remember what happened
after the shooting.
F. N. Wild, q Great Falls news.
paper nan who was called by the de-
tense, testified that he had an inter
view with defendant in the Jail al
Great Falls. At that time the prison,