The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-06-05
FATHER OF GIRL
DETAINED KILLS
CHARLES TORDICK, SLAYER OF
JAMES TERPINO, ADMITS
SHOOTING DEFAMER
Justifies His Action by Claim that
Terpino Circulated Stories Reflect
ing on His Daughters; Story of
Shooting.

IIdS d lhtllCI llIC iISlAt W All w
cause a man gives circulation to
lewd stories about his daughters?
Does there exist such a vague in
strument as an s'unwritten Iaw?"
These questions will nave to be
threshed out by a Chouteau county
jury in June when a Bohemian
farmer goes on trial on a charge of
murder. The accused man admits
taking a life and his defense will
be that he killed to protect the
good name of his daughters, it was
stated in Great Falls a few days
ago by a trio of attorneys who
have been engaged to represent
him.
The story of the killing and the de-
PENDANTS account of the motive
which urged him on until he now
stands in the shadow of the gallows
form one of the strange cases of the
kind Montana criminal annals have
known. The story is that of a mar
who claims he took a life for the sake
of his family's honor. It's scope Is far
reaching, for a prosperous Bohemian
colony Of farmers near Big Sandy
and many residents of Chouteau
county know the history of the case
and have an interest in the fate of
Charles Tordick, who awaits trial in
the county jail at Fort Benton. The
trial will open June %. S. j. Cowley
of Great Falls will be the principal
attorney and with him will be asso-
ciated S. e. Peterson and Senator
]. w. Speer.
Hopp, a large Bohemian colony
mar T1iod Mont tho root nnCf-
office, was the scene of the killing,
which took place April %, 1924. His
attorneys say that after Tordick has
admitted that he killed James Ire
pino, another farmer who lives in the
community, he will tell the jury this
story:
Trepino was constantly in trouble
with his neighbors. For many months
he had annoyed the Tordick family
and about three weeks before his
death matters came to a head when
they learned that Trepino had circu-
later a malicious story about Tor
dicks 1~4-year-old daughter. The
rumor charged against Trepino re-
Elected in a most offensive way on the
girl.
When Tordick heard about 1t he
appealed to the county attorney, the
county superintendent of schools, the
sheriff and other officials. These of
ficials conducted Investigations, and,
according to Tordick, found them ma
1iciously circulated to injure Tordick
and his family. Tordick then ap-
pealed to the county attorney to press
a suit for criminal SANDER, but that
official advised him that there is NO
such statute in Montana.
The direct of the killing
came a short time later when Tor
dick received a letter from his daugh-
ter, Libby, II years old, who was at
tending school at Big Sandy, stating
that stories circulated about her had
caused her so much embarrassment
that she was forced to leave school.
The new rumor was to the effect that
Libby had been robbing Trepino's
mail. The father knew the rumor to
be false, for his eldest daughter vas
not in the locality.
Frenzy seized him at this latest
gossip, Tordick tells his attorneys.
Bent to correct the injustice by the
only method he saw, Tordick grabbed
a rifle and rushed to Trepino's home,
a short distance away.
When he arrived there he saw
Trepino blowing in the field, rushed
him and commanded him to
stop. Trepino, according to Tordick,
swore roundly that he would not
stop. Tordick raised his gun and
fired. A little squirt of sand arose
above and to the right of Trepino.
Tordick thought that he had missed.
Trepino looked back at his assail-
ant and told him to "come on"
Tordick rushed toward Trepino
Ind hit his victim with the butt end
Of the gun. Trepino fell and was left
'or dead.
A few hours later, when the hus-
1and failed to come home, Mrs. Ire
)ino went to find him. Approaching
he field where he had been blowing,
saw the team of horses standing,
With the pillow still in the ground,
where Trepino had been stopped.
closer she found her husband
unconscious.
She summoned aid and the wound
ID man was taken to Big Sandy,
where he died the following night
rom the effects of a bullet wound
n the body and the blow on his head
rom the gun butt. AS he was dying
made a statement involving Tor
lick.
Satisfied that he had killed Ire
inc, Tordick returned to his home
fter the shooting and stayed there
.ntil officers came to arrest him in
he evening. He submitted to arrest
objection.
Tordick has not been admitted to
all, though 76 of his neighbors, ac-
ording to Mr.. Cowley, have signed
petition asking that the district
ourt fix bonds at a nominal amount.
New Fish Hatchery Approved