Posted: September 8, 2012 at 4:13 pm

The Rehberg Dennis Doesn’t Discuss

Edward Rehberg served hard time for manslaughter

We all know Congressman Dennis Rehberg has a long history of scandal, from boat crashes to horse crashes to frivolous lawsuits.

But it turns out scandals involving the Rehberg family have always been a part of Montana history.  The current edition of the magazine High Country News has a fascinating and painstakingly researched story about the Rehberg family and its long tradition of land developing and subdividing.

But it’s the very end of the story that grabbed my attention.  Turns out, Dennis Rehberg’s great-great-grandfather, Edward Rehberg, served five years of hard time in the Montana Territorial Prison for manslaughter following the violent death of his young daughter.

Here’s an excerpt of the story by journalist Ray Ring:

Denny Rehberg invites people to consider his family history, to stoke anger against the government, but he leaves out some of the most striking facts, particularly when it comes to his great-great grandfather, Edward Rehberg, also known as Stephen Edward Rehberg — the family’s first generation in Montana. Edward’s hardships aren’t spoken of, but the facts I discovered complete the picture in a startling way.

Edward Rehberg emigrated from Prussia and settled on a small ranch north of Helena, at the mouth of Little Prickly Pear Canyon, around 1879. Montana’s 1880 census showed seven children in that household, including 6-year-old Albert (A.J.), and a woman named Amelia who apparently was the biological mother of some of the children, if not all. On Aug. 9, 1885, Edward Rehberg loaded 10-year-old Clara into a wagon and drove her to Helena, seeking medical care. Doctors treated Clara for weeks, but she died in a Helena hospital on the night of Sept. 5, a few days after her 11th birthday. On Nov. 2, a Helena grand jury indicted Edward Rehberg and his wife at that time, Louisa Rehberg — Clara and A.J.’s stepmother — on murder charges.

The indictment said that with “malice aforethought” and “great force and violence,” they had beaten Clara with their hands, thrown her down on the ground and kicked her, and struck her with a piece of wood, and a leather strap fitted with a metal buckle, and an iron tool called a “stove-lifter,” inflicting wounds on her “head, neck, stomach, breast, belly, back, legs, arms and sides.”

One doctor testified that Clara “was in a high degree of pain … The surface of the skin was red and inflamed and looked to me as though there had been hot water thrown upon her … the child seemed to have blisters all over her leg and arm.” Another doctor testified that “the inside of (Clara’s) right leg from near the thigh to near the ankle was all one running sore. The skin had sloughed off to the muscle, and the muscles were bare except in one or two places.” Both doctors said the beating had caused fatal infections.

Louisa Rehberg was acquitted of murder charges, but the jury members could not agree on a verdict for Edward. Convinced of his guilt, prosecutors put him through a second trial, trying to nail him for his daughter’s violent death, but that resulted in another hung jury. In a third trial in October 1886, Edward testified, “I never at any time struck my child Clara with any blunt instrument, strap, stick of wood, wooden shoe, stove lifter or any other instrument named in the indictment … I guess I have whipped all my children sometimes a little with the hand, but I cannot remember … ever whipping them with any other instrument.” That trial ended with Edward’s conviction for manslaughter. By then, the Helena Daily Herald was reporting that “the ‘Rehberg case’ has become a celebrity in the legal annals of Montana.”

That’s how the great-great-grandfather of Montana’s congressman ended up in the territorial prison, sentenced to five years of hard labor.

28 comments

  1. Paul S.

    Rehberg keeps insisting his ancestors are relevant to this race-you can’t turn around without someone from his campaign screeching at you that Rehberg is an 84th generation Montanan or whatevs. Well, if they are relevant than they are relevant.

    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

      I agree! For you see, the turd don’t roll TOO far from the asshole! Great granddaddy Reeburp was an asshole! And then there’s Dopey!

  2. Irwin M. Fletcher

    Based on this story about Rehberg’s great-great grandfather, the internal polling for Senator Tester must not be good. Practice saying, “Senator Rehberg”

  3. Aware and Not Stupid

    What’s your point Cowgirl? I’m NOT defending Rehberg for HIS past, but we all have ‘skeletons’ in the closet in our families, what does this US Senate race have to do with his ancestors? Can we please talk ‘issues’ and quit slinging mud, I’ve heard a few choice stories about our current Governor and his temper in his youth but you don’t see that blasted all over the blog pages, yet! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not voting for Rehberg so I have no vested interest here but this is really a ridiculious post, again, can we talk ISSUES of the day please?

    • Rob Kailey

      There is the point of hypocrisy, that Dennis “invites” scrutiny of his family’s Montana Bona Fides, but has little interest in discussing what those credentials actually are. Still, I agree with you that this is weak sauce at best. Please consider, however, that discussion of issues which clearly show Tester the superior candidate seem to have little effect on many voters.

  5. Irwin M. Fletcher

    Too bad for Denny that his last name wasn’t Kennedy or Clinton. The press would ignore this tripe or swoon over the “colorful” history in his family tree.

    • Ingemar Johansson

      Did you mean Teddy Kennedy? Lion of the Senate?

      Iowahawk Guest Commentary by Senator Edward M. Kennedy

      Like all Americans, I had high hopes for the future of the Oldsmobile and its passengers, as we struggle against the onrushing water and its poorly-designed shoulder belts. But as claustrophobia sets in we must begin to sober up and face the truth: hope is no longer an option.

      It is time for us to recognize that our continued presence in this volatile region is a hinderance to the Oldsmobile and its people. Rather than helping the situation we are further weighing down the Oldsmobile, causing it to sink faster and faster into the quagmire of Chappaquidick Bay, creating a dangerous situation for both ourselves as well as its passengers who are desperately seeking an air pocket in which to start a better life.

      That is why I believe we have reached the point where we must take a deep breath and immediately depart the Oldsmobile. We must seek through the watery darkness and release the belt latch of madness that has kept us here, and reach out for a sane and honorable window crank.

      Obviously there will be passengers in the Oldsmobile who do not want us to leave, and will likely try to grasp and grab at our feet as we depart. While we wish them success, it is critical that these passengers quickly learn independence and self-determination. The most effective way to teach them is through example, and with a vigorous kick-off. Let us hope they will cherish our shoes as a lasting legacy of our commitment to liberty.

      And, after we return to the safety of the American shore and phone our lawyer, we must begin to ask the hard questions. How did we get here? The sad answer is that we were sold a lie by Gene Quinlan of Hyannisport Oldsmobile-Buick-GMC. We were told that this Oldsmobile had the Delta 88 Royale option package with 6-way electric seats. We were told that they were sold out of the new ’69 Toronado. We were given a choice of a burgundy vinyl roof, but never given an exit strategy. We were told, repeatedly, that the Oldsmobile was waterproof and had an automatic pilot system. In short, Gene Quinlan sold us a lie.

      There will be ample time for us to reflect on the mistakes and lies of the Oldsmobile misadventure, and hold those who were responsible to account. But that is for another day. Now we must focus our energy on getting out before it is too late.

      Come home, America. Come home.

  6. Irwin M. Fletcher

    BREAKING NEWS: Mayor Rahm Emanuel reaches out to Governor Walker for advice on how to deal with the excessive demands of government unions.

  7. Havre Voter

    This is interesting, the whole article really is a great piece of investigative journalism by Mr. Ring. Should be required reading for anyone who plans to vote this fall.

  9. Mizoola Democrap

    If you had read the article, you would see that Edward looks to have been wrongfully convicted when it was the girl’s stepmother who may have been the perpetrator. Regardless, Edward Rehberg is not running for the Senate. I bet the cowgirl has some questionable ancestors too…

    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

      HEY, me too! Poor cousin Jonny had the bad habit of making early withdrawls from the banks…..before the money was his! Hey, a guy’s gotta have a hobby, and Jonny’s was robbin’ banks! At least he was an HONEST thief, unlike these Pubbie bastards!

      Alcatraz 272