The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-30
Motives Back Of S0ule Duel
and Implications Not
Revealed.
WOMAN TELLS STORY
TO COUNTY ATTORNEY
Wife Of Murderer and Only
Witness Clears Name
of Victim.

~--s
Thompson Falls. Jan. 29.-Special.---
The mystery surrounding tho murder
of young ben Soule by his uncle and
neighbor. Arthur Soule. in his lonely
mountain cabin last Friday was deep
ened when a confidential verdtct'
was returned today by the jury which
heard the coroners inquest.
! Other developments only added 10
the mystery. The murderers wife, w
clearing the dead man OF Arthur
| Soule's charges OF philandering, multta
piled the persistent rumors that the
real motive for tho killing has not yet
been revealed.
To these rumors additional strength
was given by the secret verdict, which
apparently indicates that others than
Arthur Soule may have been imp)i-
Gated in the killing and that the mo-
tive may have been moro sinister than
suspicion Of Illicit intimacy between
the young man. happily married, and
the middle aged mother OF seven.
Ths Days Events.
Todays important Developments
were:
Coroner Il. T. McCafferyss Jury.
after hearing testimony only from
hcarsay witnesses. returned
confidential verdict" apparently
indicating that others may be Inn.
piicated in the murder.
Mrs. Arthur Soule told to County
Attorney Wade Parks tho story OF
the killing which she refused to
give at the inquest. clearing young
Soule of his uncle's charges.
Arthur Soule. tearfully begged
by his victims widow to tell the
truth. said only: II was amply
justified In killing him."
Inquest Throws No Lipht.
Because Mrs. Arthur Soule refused
to testify and her husband was stlll
unable to leave the hospital the In
quest today developed no startling evi-
dence. The only unexpected thing
about 1t was the confidential ver-
diet" the contents Of which was with
held by the coroner. Az far az In
known here such a verdict Is without
precedent.
Ross Denies knowisdas.
Ernie Ross. a neighbor Of the Soules,
told Of meeting the elder Soule
wounded, on the road. Tho old mans
only comment. the witness said. was:
We'll, I've killed the ----."
Ross denied any knowledge OF the
motives back of the shooting. He nd-
mitted. however. that he knew whom
the old man had killed. though no
names were mentioned.
Parks Not Allowed to See seuis.
DR.. e. ID. Peeke. at whose hospital
Arthur Sonle Is now held, testified
that he refused to permit the county
attorney to talk to the murderer. He
declared that Soule has not been en-
tirely rational since the killing. He
said also that Young Sonle was killed
by "A single blow over the head.
These were the only important wit
ncsses at the inquest. Their testimony
was quite overshadowed by County At
torncy Parks announcement that Mrs.
Arthur Soule had told him her story
os the crime, clearing the dead man or
blame According to the county at
torney, Mrs. Soues story Is an follows:
Mrs. Arthur Souie's Story.
Ben Soule had spent Thursday night
in town, waiting for the delayed train
on which his wife was coming from
Michigan. In the morning. he drove
out to his ranch. He stopped near Ar
thur Soulc's cabin and asked Mrs.
Soule to come out and help him
straighten up his cabin in preparations
for his wife's arrival.
Mrs. Soule agreed and they went on
to the Young mans rlaco n vaa cher