The Life and Legend of Turkey Pete

Paul Eitner was nine years old when he boarded the steamship HAMMONIA with mother Susanne and sister Ida to begin the journey from Hamburg, Germany to America. Once united with father Charles, the family settled in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Young Paul spent his younger years working in the Hoboken ship yards as a rivet heater until poor health forced him to make a major life change.

His dreams of being a cowboy led him to head west where he ended up in the Montana cow town Miles City. He found work at the Fort Keogh army post where during his short employment he received a serious head injury. While recovering he found employment in a Miles City Saloon and resided in a local boarding house.

On January 21, 1918 the catastrophic combination of his fear of sedition activists, alcohol abuse, post-concussion syndrome and jealousy over a young lady, resulted in Eitner murdering a local Irish teamster. He was sentenced to Montana State Prison for his natural life. During his 49 years of incarceration he became know as, the Champ, Turkey Pete, multi-billionaire and philanthropist. This is the story of his life and how this small, humble man became a legend.

Jim Blodgett and Joy Morris