Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-09-19
HORRIBLE MURDER AT WILLOW
CREEK.


mitted at Willow Creek, in this county
which, for premeditated villainy and dare
devil resolution, has but few parallels ii
the annals of crime.
From the exciting and somewhat con
flicting rumors and reports circulating il
town, we give what appears at present t.
: be the most authentic and reliable accoun
of this shocking affair.
Michael Foley. the perpetrator of thu
crime. was arrested several weeks ago TO
making threats Of personal violence agains
w. E. Fredricks, of Willow Greek Mills
and Others, had an examination befor,
Judge Duke, was bound over in the sun
of one thousand dollars to keep the peace
and in default of furnishing bonds to tina,
amount. was committed to Jail.
He succeeded. however, in making his
escape about three weeks ago and has been
at large ever since, although diligent search
and the most strenuous efforts have been
made for his re-arrest and confinement.
On Sunday evening last he turned up at
Willow Creek, entered the residence OF
Mr.. Fredricks, armed and equipped tor his
fiendsh work, met Mrs. Fredricks and
made threatening demand for money he
claimed was due linn. Mrs. Fr@lricks
called for her husband, who, it appears.
was in an adjoining room. Mr.. Fredricks,
apparently compromising the situation,
armed himself and rushed into the pres
ence of Foley, when they almost simulta-
neously fired and both tel. Foley. how
ever, was on his feet again almost instantly
and, falling upon his victim, finished his
bloody work with butcher knife, and
then succeeded in making his escape.
Immediately on receiving the news. on
Monday morning. Deputy Sheriff Warfield
and a posse of citizens started in quick p,lr-
suit of the murderer, bgt as he has the
start of them some fifteen to eighteen
hours, he may succeed in eluding them for
a time. but the citizens of Willow Greek
are also thoroughly aroused and out in
force after the william, so that it is hardly
possible that he can escape. Should the
citizens succeed in capturing him before
the officers of the law, they will be very
likely to make short work of it.
W. f. Fredricks was an old-time Mon
tanian. lie came to the Territory in 1864
settled near Bozeman, and erected the first
in Galatin county. After opera
ting his saw-mill year or two, he sold out |
and located at Gallatin City where he erect
ed the FIGURING Mills known as the Madi-
son Mills. In this enterprise he became
financially involved and finally
lost his entire interest and claim to the
property. as many assert and believe, by
very unfair and unjust means. After this
his family resided in Helena. while he en-
gagged in the saw-mill business on the Up
per Gallatin. In 1873 he removed to Will
ow Creek, fitted up and run the FIGURING
mills there, where he was residing. and in
which business he was engaged at the time
If his sad and eventful death.
Mr.. Fredricks was an excellent nechan-
c, an industrious and energetic man. a quiz
It and peacable neighbor, and worthy
'itizen. He !Saves wife and one or two
children to mourn his sad and cruel death.
In this fiendish butcliery we are given
mother victim and triumph for the rough
nd hOOdlum element that has almost bid
etiance to law and order i'm the Territory. {
nut especially in Eastern Montana, for the {
'ast four or five years, and which threat t
ms. unless some prompt and severe RENE l
les are speedily applied, to shake the
of good society; uproot all c
morality. and make our otherwise pcacable [
nd law-abiding community a stencil and
y-word to all good people abroad. t
1t must be apparent to all good citizens !
hat, in order to have desirable and pros t
erous community, with steady influx of t
1Orthy and permanent emigrants, it is not 2
nOugh that we can demonstrate that we Il
ave the finest farming and grazing lands v
nd tie richest mineral deposits on the g
ointment; that we have the grndest il
cenery and the healthiest climate on the f
lobe; we must be able to how to the thou f
ands, east and west, who are looking for t
ONES and desirable locations in the rich t
alleys and gorges of the Rocky Noun #
iins, that life is safe and property sacred h
ere; that law and order are clearly in the
that drinking and fighting, Il
rawling and threatening and the flourish b
lg of deadly weapons, are things which I
re not only discountenanced but actually o
nd effectu.lly suppressed by the strong
rim OF the law, bac,,..cd and sustained nv
nat "power behind the throne "a n
ealthy public sentiment; we must show al
lem, in short, that crime and lawlessness
re promptly and deseryedIy punished and al
and that the peacabie pursuits "
industry in adj their laudable enterprises Il
I'd grand possibilities are honorsd. pro- :.
cted and rewarded.
Unless we dc this we may rs well, and at al
ace, relinquish all our fond hopes of fu- Il
Ire greatness and prosperity. give up all p
fort to induce the best elements of eastern
'ciety to emigrate and locate among us. ell
spense with our school, college and OF
lurch enterprises. dispel our cherished
'pes and desires for moral and religious 81
huences. and prepare, without delay, to
'andon, with our families, the country m
at, so far, has furnished US with living. h,
1t, beyond that, has been little more than tn
re of promise and ''great expectations. Z" is
However. we cannot lose our faith in the
lal determination and action of the good w
ople of Eastern Montana. They a or
w largely in the majority. The reckless bd
lmps, rOwdles. and cut-throats are but a ev
ndfull, comparatively, and now is the WI
'st opportune time for the people to arise m
their majesty and strength and put down he
Is element Of lawlessness, he
- de