The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-09-03

CASE NOW On
KILLING FOLLOWED DRUNKEN
5RAWL AT MANDAN-
EVIDENCE NOT
POSITIVE.
Mandan, N. D., Sept. 81 was UP
at the house when the shooting hap
pened and I heard the shot and went
back to where the whole bunch had
been lying in the grass. Bolton was
dying when 1 got there. No, l didn't
shoot him, and what is more, l don't
know who did.
81 had my gun when the bunch was
lying around sopping up booze, but 1T
dropped out of my pocket when l
went up to the house. I know be-
u when 1 heard the shot l felt for
the gun and it was missing. After the
shooting we looked all around for the
gun, but we couldn't find 1t.
Bolton was drunk; about as soused
as a man can get, n he was calling
down his wife. He usually did bawl
her out when he got tanked. l was
about seventy-five yards away when
the shooting happened and don't
know who did 1t. l am not worrying
about the result of the case, and only
hope-I get out in time to take in the
fair
That was the way Turkey Track
Bill Molash, accused of the murder
of Guy Bolton at Shields, described his
part in the affair.
The testimony given at the coro-
ner's inquest and to the authorities,
however. would indicate that Bolton
was shot in a quarrel and that liquor
and jealousy over Bottoms wife were
the two. causes
The testimony of the several wit
nesses given at the %coroner's inquest
makes the story appear as follows:
Bolton and his wife went to the
blind pig operated by Turkey Track
about a mile from Shields and at that
time the quarrel started Bolton had
occasion to leave the. place and on his
return found his wife in the room in
the srcoEG floor :! the shack with
Mo!as1. ~----
The quarrel was renewed over that
Mrs. Bottoms ~13-year-ofd son went
to the Molash place and Bolton
went up to the house to get some beer.
Turkey Track said he was out Of beer
but had some whiskey. They got sew
eraI bottles and went down to the
clump of trees on the river bank,
where Mrs. Bolton a about sew
enty-five yards from the house and
were later Joined by. Shorty" Long
and Bill Smith.
Were QuarreIing.
Bolton and Molash were quarreling
and on two or three occasions the
latter drew his revolver and pointed
it at Bolton. Smith left, according to
his testimony given at the inquest,
while the two were still quarreling,
and the entire party was very drunk.
On the way to town Smith met n
Jacob Jaros, who stated that he was
going to get some beer. Jaros, when
placed on the stand, stated that he ar
rived at the house and tried both
doors, but they were locked. He stat
ed that while ne vas standing there
he noticed a few people On the river
bank and that while he was looking
that way Bolton stood up and sud
denly a shot was fired from the ground
as he saw smoke that would lead to
that belief. This matter was proven
later when it was found that the bull
let, had entered from below and had
taken an upward direction. Jaros, aft
er hearing the shot, heard Mrs. Boil
ton scream, and without waiting to
investigate started to Shields to get
help.
" iuFkSy rack .FullSo 1uns
Mrs. Bolton, when placed on the
stand, stated that Turkey Track had
gun and that he pulled it several times
and threatened Bolton. She testified
that on these occasions she grabbed
the revolver and made Molash put 1t
back. They had been sitting around
on the river bank for some time and
Molash and Mrs. Bolton were sitting
about eight feet apart. Bolton was
- L. IL AE--
Bolton heard her husband say: my
God, don't shoot"
She heard a shot and turned to him
as he. was falling. In the excitement
Mrs. Bolton stated that she did not
notice whether Molash had a gun in
his hand or not. She stated that both
he and she were terrified at the death
of her husband, and that when they
found he had died instantly, they
started for the house, both weeping.
As they neared the house Molash
raised the revolver to his head and
said, well, I'm done for now. l guess
I'll kill myself"
Mrs. Bolton grabbed the gun and
told Molash that he had done enough
damage already. Constable Carlson
arrived shortly after that incident.
Later States Attorney Biting, Sher-
if Oscar Olson and Coroner T. G. G.
Kennedy arrived and took the two
in charge.
Shot Below the Heart.
At the inquest it was found that
Bolton had been shot through the
left hand and just below the heart, a
wound that killed him instantly. The
murdered man evidently had his hand
over his breast when the shot was
fired.
The hearing of the case will be held
before Justice Henke at the city hall
tomorrow and it Is expected that fur
Their testimony will reveal other start
ling points in the case.
Turkey Track Bilr' Molash is one
of the characters of Morton county.
He came from South Dakota about
twenty years ago.. where he had been
employed on a ranch which used a
marking similar to a turkey track as
a brand. This gained for him the
s%obriquet of Turkey Track" by which
he is Familiarity known. He has been
employed on various ranches in this
section for the past twenty years, but
about a year ago moved to Shields and
1t is alleged that he has since been
operating a blind mig at that nlaca