St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-06
CAREER OF TETON JACKSON
History Of the Notorious Montana Horse
Thief.
THE TETON BASIN CORRAL
a Red-hot Frying Pan Applied to
Cbliterate Brands OF
Horses.
Special to the Globe.


BOHEMIAN, May 5.-The arrest of Te-
ton jackson, the horse thief, on the
CROW reservation, two weeks ago, with
large band of horses in his possession,
IS a matter of much rejoicing in this
territory and that of Wyoming. When
arrested, Teton declared that he was
not the man the officers thought him to
be, and he has ever since stoutly denied
that his name is Jackson. He was no
sooner arrested by Sheriff Harris, of
Billings, than he made strenuous effort
to become free, by lavishly exchanging
his horses for legal advice. This
led to legal complication in
the shape of habeas corpus and
came very near freeing the offender;
but Sheriff Harris was determined that
his prisoner should not get away if it
was possible to retain him, consequently
he was arrested and rearreSted on other
charges. In the meantime Teton's sole
companion had been given hearing,
and there being inadequate evidence ne
was dismissed from custody. Claiming
that he was entitled to nine head of
horses for services rendered Teton, the
associate repaired to the band, then in
charge of deputy sheriff, under the
directions of the Stock association of
this territory.
THE ALLEGED HIRED MAN
IN endeay0ring to get the horses which
he claimed as his own came in contact
with the deputy who shot him in the
shoulder; but without serious results.
A few days after this Deputy Sheriff
Tyner, of Boise City, Idaho, arrived
and at once declared that harris had
Crllt flnn Gov, Oh ~.
tiles had offered large reward and
Immediately proceeded to take Teton
back to Idaho, where he had broken Jail
at the expiration of one year and with
thirteen years yet to serve. While pass
ing through Helena the officer and pris-
Oner were stopped, and after consider
able delay were allowed to pursue their
way by order of the court. Aside from
the fact that Jackson is wanted for break
ing jail, the stOckmen of Wyoming and
Montana are anxious to see him housed
and an end put to his predatory horse
stealing raids which have made him and
his companions source of a great deal
of trouble to the Stockmen on the
frontier. He is named Teton for the
reason that eight years prior to the year
1886 he and his gang, sometimes COM
posed OF thlrtysmen, made their rendeZ-
vOuS in
THE TETON BASIN
in Wyoming in the Big Horn Noun
tains. In the winter this basin is as
impregnable as fort, and made a safe
refuge for the horse thief chief and his
band. 1t is completely surrounded by
mountains, through which there are
only two passes. In November these
and it is impossible for man or beast to
enter after winter has set in and
the first snow falls, until the warm
sun of May opens the gulches of their
icy letters. Becoming packed at first,
every stormy day adds fresh layer of
snow in this high region, making it i'm
possible for SnOWShOerS even to Wend
their way through these narrow defileS.
Warm springs are also located at these
points, which makes the snow even more
treacherOuS. Within the mountain in
closure, however, there is basin filled
with Succulent grass, perfect Elysiun
forssStock, where the snowfall is light
and warm springs keep open water con-
Stantly in reach of stock. The area is
about twenty miles square and here in
this
NATURAL CORRAL
it was the custom of Teton Jackson to
repair every fall and, surrounded by
his stolen band of horses, pass the
winter in comfort, safe from the eyes of
the law, with all that was necessary to
enjoy life in the way of provisions and
whisky. Three cabins were erected to
shelter the men, and the horses, turned
loose upon the rich grass, Jared equally
as well. During the summer bands of
horses were stolen in Wyoming, Mon
tana and even in Northern Colorado
and driven i'll small bands to the
Teton basin, where all the thieves
met in the fall and drove their stock
within. One winter it is said that they
had over 600 horses in their valley. To
obliterate the brands they took the same
method as that OF the Indian-applied
the red-hOt frying pan bottom, and dur
ing the winter salved the wounds, so
that by the time spring arrived the
wound had healed up and all Semblance
of the brand covered with hair. As soon
as practicable they then ventured forth
in small bands and, taking their horses
to different points, disposed of them.
THIS MONEY WAS DIVIDED,
an ample supply of provisions and
whisky purchased and man dispatched
to the basin, where he awaited the re-
turn of his companions in the fall with
their stolen horses. This was success
fully carried on for several seasons,
when at last the gang neglected to travel
dI night do lldu Dceu IllclT custom, IOr
some days after leaving their
winter rendezvous and were cap
tured. Teton was sentenced to fourteen
years in the Idaho penitentiary, where
he was captured with stolen horses, and
is wanted in many places. After a
years confinement he managed to es-
cape through the aid of confederates,
and has not been heard of for some
years until arrested on the Crow reser-
walton, not far from his old camping
grounds. The warm weather of Feb
ruary evidently allowed him to get out
of the basin earlier than usual, and may
have been the cause of his apprehen-
sion.
Jarbeau's Black Pearl