The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-08-19
Local News,
Two Sides to a Story.

The Mi>soulian of the Sth inst. thu, rx-
plains officer Lytle'> failure to capture
Barnes, the Ascending stage driver.
saturdays coach brought down Il single
passenger leading a horse behind the vehicle.
Report has it that he came dow in the stage
20 Col. Bakers and represented to that gem
Fle,nan that he was IA messenger in the en-
ployment OF the stage Company. He asked
the Colonel if he could buy him IL horse.
Col. H.. had none to sell but Incidentally re-
marked that there was an estray about the
premises. The stranger became interested.
went to see the cstlay. and claimed it to be-
long TO a friend OF his in Deer Lodge County:
said he would pay charges upon it, and take
it to its owner. The story was swallowed
whole, and the horse turned over to its owners
friend The man hf there and proceeded
on his way. About two o'clock SUNDAY
morning a Deer Lodge Deputy Sheriff. named
Lyle we believe. came into town with intor-
nation that the fellow had stolen $500 from
some one at Wunderlirh's Assistance was
readily given by Un,ler-Sicritr Andrews. who
took the kootenai trail. While Lytlc went
down the road to FrcncltoWl. 4.ytl". has not
Yet returned. but information from below
states that he came to Frencltnwn. and was
Informed his man was only an hour ahead of
him. He requested Moses Clemens to 20
with him to hold the horses while he arrested
him. Mr.. & got in to the buggy. and rode
down about IL mile and Il half to Tct.eault's
ranch. while within Il few feet oflle road, the
object of the search was engaged in trading
horses viii, Trtlatcault. Fer some incxpli-
cable reason Iytlc declined to make the arrest
at Tetl.ault's saying he would wait for lin
ut Sllai1er'S five miles further down. The
stranger completed his horse trade. rode down
;wo and Il half miles further to LrI'cau'> asked
who the parties were in the buggy which had
Just passed down. and was tod that it Was !.
Stranger with Mr. Clemens. He then took to
'ile hills. and Mr.. Iytle can wait for him a:
Shelters us long as he p~lcasrs.
The above is the account Of the affair as r.
ported to the Wixso,Rim by SOME one iuciincA
10 criticise tive detective skill Of niiir,. I.ytlr.
The t%ollowin" is tie version given by ~tricl;ls
ri that gentleman. When Lytlr and Clemens
III their buggy cHni.; Ia sight of Barnes he was
:.hou! GOO feet to one. side of the road, aln!
about midway between the road and the foot
hills. In that situations OF affairs L.ytlc thought
t!lc fugitive would certainly take to the hills
# the buggy turned off apparently onl,is track.
Acting on this belief til" officer proceeded to
the next house where they Waited. in vain.
Barnes having taken to the mountains as soon
Al, he learned that Clemrl>' companion WAS Il
stranger from the upper country. This is lo"
III" escape was made. If Kyle lad started to
drive his buggy to the spot wir1" his man VAS
standing. and Barnes had turned intotlle hills
it is probable that the .MiSSoutiuns' informant
would have been still more severe IN rpns,r-
ing such stupidity. In saying this w"ho not
hold the officer blamelcss by any means. \
deputy sheriff in the mountains should lm able
to take the saddle when ~star,ingout, especial
ly in such a country as that below Missoula.
N the trail Of the fleeing criminal. If hi,
health is SO delicate that he must ride in !;
carriage. he is too delicate to render efficient
service us IL peace officer.