Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1872-08-08

KILLING OF Three and Capture
of Tive!


were rapidly disappearing, and that it was
the general impression that an organized
band Of thieves were operating in our midst.
It seems that several persons in BozemaIl
have been for some time suspected Of being
engaged ii this nefarious business, and It
was observed, after the disappearance OF
twenty or more horses from our imm ediate
vicinity, that some Of the suspected persons
were also missing from their usual faunts-
the saloons aud street corners.
Horses had been taken from their picket
stakes all around town the thieves in many
instances changing good halters and
ropes from poor horses to good ones and
rice veysa. Among the nnmber losing stock
was Mr.. James Hughes, Of this place, who
had missing valuable span Of mules. Mr..
Hughes determined to make an effort to re-
claim his stock and hired man to accom-
pany him. Hearing that Mr.. p. Mccormick
had also lost several head, Mr.. Fl. saw Mr..
McCormick who consented to join him IN
his efforts TO find the trail of the thieves and
the missing stock. Sheriff Guy took charge
Of the party. Of insisting James Hughes, Paul
Mccormick and --- Butler, and on the 95th
ult., started for the Cherry Creek mines,
where they has been informed some of the
stock was seen.
Mr.. Guy and his party came to where the
thieves had camped on the head of Cherry
Creek: and on Friday morning they followed
the trail leading from the camp towards the
Madison valley five miles, which then de.
iverged Southeast through canyon difficult
to traverse, and in passing. through which
the horse of Mr.. Guy, which he was leading,
lost its footing and rolled down prccipice
about l5O feet, lodging againsta tree. Being
protected by the saddle in its rolling feat the
| morse was recovered without serious injury.
The thieves continued their course, travel
ing high up on the range on the East side OF
| the Madison. Friday night heavy rain fell,
| which rendered the trail difficult to follow.
On Sunday evening Mr.. Guy and his party
came upon the camp, westof Henry's Lake,
occupied the night before by the thieves.
They had also met a party of ranchmen from
the Madison valley who had seen and con-
versed with the band, and represented them
to be tour and probably more in number.
Mr.. Guy, thinking it would not be. prudent
| to attack superior force, sent MIR. .McCor-
mick to the Madison valley for assistance.
Eleven men returned with Mr.. Mccormick.
The wlole party then took the trail which
led in the direction of Red Rock, and on
Tuesday afternoon, little before sun down,
they came upon the thieves camped about
| twelve miles Southwest Of Henry's Lake. on
Red Rock. The discovery was almost siinil-
taneous OH both sides. Mr.. Guys party held
short council of war, and determined to
surround the camp. The party was divided
into two squads, NE. Guy taking charge Of
one and Mr.+Hughes the other, Mr.. Guy
giving instructions to take theniy dead or
Ealive. The ealpp was Immediately surround
ed and the thieves ordered TO surrender.
Three of the most desp rate approa> he'd Mr..
Huges' party. and tive started Ii, the direc-
ton of Mr.. Guy, the latter indicating de-
sire to surrender. The former were ordered
frequently to hold up their hands, but per-
| sistently refused to do SO; when about forty
or fifty yards from Mr.. Hughes ard his party
| it was discovered that they were armed with
| pistols. and still refusing to throw up their
tile most desperate character, who was easily
recognized, ordered his men to fire on the
other two. The shot of Hughes took effect
| in the heart of Thomas Harlowe, well known
in our community; one Of the other men,
| VIM. Marsh, was shot through the head and
also several times in the body the third took
shelter in a ravine by lying close to the
ground. The party continued to fire At him.
but without effect. He had drawn bis pistol
and was trying to return the fire, but it was
| SO rapid he could not rise. Mr.. Hughes
fianked him, aud obtaining better view of
the body, sent Needle gun ball through it,
which struck III the region OF the back, pass
ling entirely through min, and coming out
about the breast. Hughes then ran up closer
| to him and shot him through the head with
his revolver. The man proved to be John
Connor, who has been loafing around Boze-
man for the last year. The two who had
virtually surrendered to Mr.. Guy, upon hear
ing the firing of the other party, commenced
running toward the mountain, and were fired
on several times, shot from Mr.. Guys pis-
| tol scdlping enc of them, but not seriously
injuring him. Finding themselves entirely
surrounded, and being assured they would
not be hurt il they would surrender, they
came OUT and gave themselves up. They
were recognized as GINS. Callahan and George
Clark, alias Piute Jack. The former is
young man whose partents have resided in
ahr place since Its first settlement, and no
family j. more lnghly respected and esteemed.
and he has himselfalwsys, so FAR as we know,
borne a good character. While the conduct
OF the young man will fall with crushing
weight upon the heart of doting mother,
she has the Warnest sympathy of the entire
community. Clark has been engaged with
George Ray in hunting and mining, and
Joined the party on Cherry Creek He claims
to have been employed as a guide, and had
no interest in the spoils. Eighteen horses
and mules were found in possession of the
band, belonging to1citizens in Bohemian and
vicinity. The thieves were will armed, had
about 60 lbs. Of Needle gun cartridges, and
were well provisioned. Mr.. Guy and party
returned to Bozeman on Friday evening,
having in possession the two prisoners and
the stolen stock, after an absence .of nine
DAYS. The prisoners were lodged iii Jail.