The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1954-02-05

Brutal Murder
Of Browning
Indian Woman

lnQldn woman
The most brutal murder in
the annals Of crime in Mon.
rama. or most any other state.
was committed in Browning
some time during the night
of January 20 ~. when
Mary Gerard Parker was
beaten to death by her hvs.
band. Patrick Parker. . crime
to which Parker confessed in
a statement TO 2. 3. !. Agent
Robt. Wiekware and Sheriff
Jesse Harlan in Cut Bank a.
100 o'clock Tuesday night
Of this week.
The community was shocked
Friday morning when it was
learned that Mrs. Parker had
been found dead in the Parker
home by q neighbor about nine
o'clock, her body terribly multi.
ated.
The neighbor who made the
discovery telephoned Deputy
Sheriff Colbert. who in turn call.
cd Chief of Police Dewey Bray.
and the two officers went 10 the
home and forced an entrance.
finding Mrs. Parkcr's body in
one room and Parker asleep in
an adjoining room.
Parker was aroused from an
apparent drunken stupor. and
taken 10 the city Jail for invcsti.
CATION. Both county and federal
law enforcement officers were
notified. and Sheriff Harlan and
County Attorney Moore and F.
B. !. Agent RObt Wickwarc were
soon on the scene for invcstiga.
ton.
Parker stOutly maintained that
he knew nothing of the affair.
and assumed a cynical silence
concerning his actions during the
night. Saturday night an autop-
sy was held. and the report made
that Mrs. Parker came to her
death by reason of severe blows.
bruises and decorations. but max.
ing no attempt to fix the blame.
In the meantime the invcstiga.
ton was continued with all poss.
il,lr vigor by the law enforce.
mC1t men. but as there were no
knuwn witnesses 10 the crime.
and Parker maintaining q strict
silence rs to his own actions and
claiming he knew nothing of the
affair. the task of fixing the
blame where II belonged was diff.
ficult. Late Tuesday night. how.
ever. Parker broke down and ad.
mittcd committing the crime.
In the meantime. a prclimin.
AIRY hearing was held before
United States Commissioner VIM.
Ecrcovirh. in Browning on Mon.
day afternoon. in which Parker
was charged as follows: THAT he
did fclorCuSly and unlawfully
strik" with an object or objects
unknown Mary Gerard Alison
Parker. causing her death. She
being Blackfcct Indian and
ward of the government. This act
occurring at Browning. Montana.
and within the confines Of the
Rlackf""t Indian reservation"
The complaint was signed by
Robert Wirkwarc. special agent
for the r. u. I.
Parker did not testify at the
hearing. Commissioner Bcrcovich
bound the defendant over to the
u. s. district court in Great
Falls. and fixed bond nj $1,000.
Parker was then rc.coinmittcd 10
the Gut Bank Jail. and would
have been taken to Great Falls
and held for trial had he not
confessed the crime later.
Parker has been taken to Great
Falls where he will be held un.
Ill he is given n hearing before
the judge Of the federal court.
Mrs. Parker was a member of
ono Of the prominent and most
highly respected families of tho
Srrrati0n. She Is survived by
her parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Fred
Gerard. ST.. fO Browning. and n
number Of brothers and sisters.
Mr.. Gerard. ST.. was for many
years county commissioner of
Glacier county. and was one of
I,ic nnrIv ft,v raocboru a,,.l ,,..,L