The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-02
BIG MURDER
CASE NOW ON
Killing Followed Drunken
Brawl at Mandan-Evi-
dence Not Positive.

BraWl at Mandan-EVi-
dence Not Positive.
Mandan, N. D.. Sept. al 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 I got there. No I didn't
shoot him. and what is more. I 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 I
went up to the house. I know be-
cause when I heard the shot ! felt for
the gun and 1t was missing. After the
shooting we looked all around for the
gun but we couldn't find it.
Bolton vas drunk; about IA soused
as a man can get. and he was. calling
down his wife. He usually did bawl
her out when he got tanked. I was
about seventy-fve yards away when
the shooting happened and don't
know who did 1t. / 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 coron-
er'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 second floor Of the shack with
Molash. T..
The quarrel was renewed over that
Mrs. Bottoms thirteen year old 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
eral bottles and went down to the
clump of trees on the river bank
where Mrs. Bolton was. about seventy
five yards from the house and were
later Joined by Shorty" Long and
Bill Smith.
We're ouarreling.
Bolton and Molash were quarreling
and on two or three occasions the lat
ter drew his revolver and pointed 1t at
Bolton. Smith left according to his
Testimony given atethe inquest. while
the " were still quarreling, and the
entire party was very drunk.
On the wa yto town Smith met M
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 he was standing there
he noticed q few people on the river
bank and that while he was looking
that way Bolton stood up and sudden
ly a shot was. fired and Bolton fell to
the ground. sAcc9rding to Jaros, the
shot was fired from the ground as he
saw smoke that would. lead to that be.
lief. This matter, was proven later
when It was found that the bullet had
entered from below and had taken an
upward direction. Jaros after hearing
the shot. heard Mrs. Bolton scream
started to Shields to get help.
afterlefth:
Turkey Track Pulled Gun.
Mrs. Bolton, when placed on the
stand stated that Turkey Track had a
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 it
back. They had been sitting around
on the river bank for some time and
Molash n Mrs. Bolton were sitting
about eight feet apart. Bolton stand
Ing behind his wife. when Mrs. Bolton
heard her husband say: MY God,
don't shott."
She heard a shot and turned to him
as he was falling. In the excitement
Mrs. Bolton stated that she did not no.
tice 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. I
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.
IN Oscar Olson and Coroner T. G. C.
Kennedy arrived and took the two in
charge.
Shot Below the Heart,
At IN inquest it was found that
Bolton had been shot through the
left han 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
further testimony will reveal other
startling points in the case.
Turkey Track Bill" Molash is n
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 tract a.
a brand. This gained for him he
sobriquet of Turkey Track" by which
he 10 Familiarity known. He has been
employed on various ranches in this
section for the past twenty years. but
about a year 6 moved to Shields and
1t is alleged that he has since been
operating a blind pig at that place.
Molash is SO years of age.