Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-02-04

Of life for Mr.. and Mrs. Matt Kek
of Sand Coulee who for many year
were residents Of Belt and are well
known here.
Old age and. disease seem 10 havl
been the cause Of the murder anc
suicide as there were no financial diff
1iculties. jeanette Kelxo is the onlS
survivor Of the family. We appens
the Tribune's account Of the sad af
fair.
Mrs. Gretta Keko. 55, shot and fat
ally wounded her husband, Matt Kekc
So, and then committed suicide by
shooting herself through the head
twice with % caliber revolver Sat
urday afternoon at the Keke home In
Sand CouIee. Mrs. Keko died instant
ly. The husband was taken to the
Columbus hospital and is not expect
ed to live.
The double tragedy was discovers1
by jeanette Kel1o. 80. the only child
of Mr.. and Mrs. Keko. at $40 Satur-
day evening. She arrived at the homt
finding the rear door locked. Break
ing a window she Was enabled to gain
access.
Keko, according to the daughter,
was found lying on a lounge in the
parlor Of the four-room residence. He
was partly unconscious and suffering
from three bullet wounds One bullet
passed into the head, while a second
penetrated his throat. The third
wound, which is probably the most
serious, was caused by bullet pierc-
ing his chest, few inches to the
right Of ths heart. Keko, stated his
daughter was unable to talk when
found.
After shooting her husband, thl
wife walked to 9 small closet near tie
kitchen Placing her haad on pillow
she shot herself twice. One Of the
hullets entered the right ear, pene-
tratiDg the brain and apparently
caused death The other bullet also
entered the head a few inches above
ahe ear. When found, the revolver
,vas lying in Mrs. Keko's lap.
That Mrs. Keko shot her husband
and then committed suicide is verified
by the only statsment made by KeEO.
Gus Auitio, the first neighbOr to ar
rive at the home, went immediately 10
Keko. who was lapsing into uneon-
sciousness. Summoning his strength,
the husband whispered in the Finnish
language. "Mamna done it."
The aherffFs office was notified of
the tragedy at 7:15 and Sheriff Tom
Norton and Deputy Shsriffs Harry
Rix and AdoIph DOoley left immed-
lately for Sand Coulee. DR.. L. r
McBurney, county cononer, was also
summoned and made an investigation
Of the case.
Miss KeIco, according 70 statements
10 Sheriff Norton, attributed the sho0t
ing to the mental and physical condj-
hon Of her parents. Keko she stated
has for months been slowly dying oil
cancer and the wife had been con-
stantly worried by his condition. ,
''I can't stand it much longer" she !
ieclared few days ago, according to /
he daughter. 4
IL was determined by Sheriff Nor 8
on that the last time Keko was seen
vas at 3, when neighbor noticed
liEn in front Of his home His daugh- I
er stated that she had seen her par /.
'ntl at 1870 Saturday morning, short 4
y before going to work at the Fox n
6ercantile company. n
The family according TO Sheriff \
a0rton, was not IN financial difficult
lea, as neighbors stated that both =
Ieko and his wife were amply sup !
died with funds. =
Mrs- Keho's body was taken to the :
v. n George chapel and no definite
as to an inquest ha. N
san made by Coroner Burney. N
Ea addition to her dau~hter, Mrs
isko is survived BY the following ref fl
lives. C