The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1912-10-03
BURTON HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR FRED LONGS DEATH
Verdict of Coroner's Jury Is That Long
Came to His Death from Gun Shot
Wounds Inflicted by Burton.
MUCH |NCR|M|AAT|NG EVIDENCE BROUGHT To BEAR

The coroner's jury before whom
was held the inQues st over the death
CT Fred Lcng, the Sti,lwiter ranch
er who was murdered in his door
yard a week ago Tueeday night,
found TINT Lc.lg came to his death
from gun shot wounds Inflicted by
George w. Burton AMI that they
were inflicted with criminal intent.
The verdict was rendered e.. $50
Saturday afternoon by the six men
who were called to pass upon the
evidence exhibited by the sheriff
and ether witnesses.
County Attorney \. X. Stout
brought before the jury Sheriff In
graham, Chief Of Police Ben Hotter,
and Might Patrolman George Taylor
both of this city, and Mrs. Long,
wife of the murdered man.
Burton, the accused man was not
brought in, but his attorney, D.Nou,
was present in his behalf and took
a deep interest in the questions ask
ed by the county attorney CT the Of
Mcers who arrested Burton on the
day following Longs death. The
revolver found in Burtcn's shack
along with several handkerchiefs and
the handkerchief and scme empty
shells found en- The scene of the
murder, We're brought before
the jury. Mrs. Long related
her version of the affair about the
same as her previous story to the
newspapers. Nothing new developed
outside Of what already was known
On last Thursday the men who
were to sit upon the corcners jury,
were escorted to Waggener's under
taking parlors i'm Kalispell to view
the dead body Of Long before in
terment. Others present were close
friends Of the murdered man, Mrs.
Long and George Burton, the accus-
ed man. Burton gazed at the face
of his dead friend as anyone would
before a gruesome sight, but did
not show any expression which would
betray him to be the murderer.
There were two holes in Longs
head. The two bullets entered
the head on an even level
with the ear and passed clear
through. Above the right ear
there was a space larger than a sill
yer dollar where the gun must have
been so close that the fire from the
powder burned the flesh On the
neck were visible the finger marks
which We're inflicted in the first
deadly encounter when the murder
er choked Long while struggling for
possession of the gun.
Mrs. Lcng's story of the deed as
published in the Kalispell Bee is as
follows:
| Mrs. Longs Story.
Upon being questioned closely as
to the possible motive OF any cne for
killing her husband, Mrs. Lcng re-
cited the following story 1t is, ,acccnd-
Ing to her, the cnly conclusive one
giving any reason whatever for any
enc wanting to kill Long. She dis
claims any knowledge CT any other
enemy. Her story hinges en- her
husbands relations with Burton who
she claims was almost at home in
their house.
Her story is very conclusive and
shows the evolution CT close
friendship into possible enmity and
thirst for revenge. AS told by her it
is as follows:
Mr.. Burton was always welcome
at our home. l myself would call
him into our house for breakfast
and other meals, because l ccnsid-
cred him poor man who had no
chance of success. l pitied him and
did everything l could to make the
world pleasanter for him. My hus-
band also was very friendly with
him.
Had q Trade Deal.
Some time ago Fred traded with
Burton. He gave him a horse for
two cows. We considered the trade
closed. but Burton came back later
and said that the horse had died be-
cause its feet had been trimmed be-