Old Beneway Seven Pipes

From Montana’s Flathead Reservation and Its Outlaws, of which four were hanged in Missoula on December 19, 1890. David C. “Chalk” Courchane, 2014

http://www.oregonpioneers.com/FourHangings_Missoula.pdf

Murder of Benoit Seven Pipes

Benoit Seven Pipes was married to Mary (Blue-Eyed Mary) "Chpapa" Tellier (1845-1917) he daughter of Louis Tellier and Francisca (Pelassaway) (Qui-to-pee) Kuiltpi, and with her had a son, Narcisse Seven Pipes.

Court House Cullings

The witnesses who failed to appear on Wednesday, arrived Thursday, and about 3 o'clock the case of the Territory vs. Joe Finley and Baptiste Matt was called before Probate Judge Landers. The men were charged with killing Benoit, alias Seven Pipes, on July 6th, the particulars of which appeared in the Morning Missoulian.

The first witness called was Alex Matt. He said that on the day the killing occurred Seven Pipes came over drunk. He went to Matt's house and threatened to kill Matt and his son; that they (the Matts) were too thick with the white people and that he (Seven Pipes) was going to make a clean-up and clean out the place of those he did not like. He assaulted Alex Matt, who was crippled with rheumatism, and struck him with a club. Matt tried to raise his gun but could not do so, owing to his weak state. Joe Finley had the gun and was trying to get away from Seven Pipes. Alex Matt called to his brother Baptiste Matt to come to his assistance and not allow him to be killed. Joe Finley was clubbed and stoned by Seven Pipes, and opened fire on his assailant.

Seven Pipes ran, and when about 150 yards off Baptiste Matt took a shot at him, evidently with the intention of scaring him off.

Alex Matt's evidence was corroborated by Pierre Finley and others. Harry Lambert testified to the general bad character of Seven Pipes to his quarrelsome disposition.

County Attorney Webster appeared for the prosecution and F.G. Higgins for the defense. After the argument the court discharged the men on the ground that it was shown conclusively that the killing was done in self defense." From "The Weekly Missoulian" July 17, 1889, p4, c5.

Another of Blue-Eyed Mary’s “husbands” was Joseph "Kootenai Joe" Finley (1845-1928) the son of Joseph Finley and Arzell (Arshela) "Skalpi" Ashley. So in all probability he was the “Joe Finley” of the above story.

---

The Matt brothers, Alexander Matt (182-1922) and Jean Baptiste Matt (1849-1919) were the sons of Louis Matt, Sr. and Theresa Killed-in-the-Lodge. Alex married Susan (Predum) Prudhomme and then Susan (Predum) Prudhomme. Baptiste married Mary Therese Finley, the daughter of Dominick and Mary Madeline Finley.

Died While on Hunting trip. -- Baptiste Matt an old and respected citizen of the Flathead died last Saturday while on a hunting trip with friends in the Swan River country. Mr. Matt who is known by all the old timers of the lower Flathead, had been residing the past few years at Ronan. He had not been feeling well the past month, but for the benefit of his health he was induced last week by some of his friends to take a hunt in the Swan River Country. At their camp on Saturday Mr. Matt took a bucket and brought water from a nearby spring and just as he sat the bucket down he dropped to the ground dead. His friends started home with the body at once and was supposed to reach Ronan yesterday." From The Flathead Courier, Thursday, Oct. 16, 1919, page 1.

Alex Matt was in Bitterroot Valley, MT in 1879. Alexander Matt and his brother John Baptiste Matt were scouts for Chief Charlo during Nez Perce War of 1877.