Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-28

Il I~~>oS n Z
ING I'm WAIT FOR YOUR LIFE. Sined l9 DEspEB
ATE AND DETERMINED MEN all SWORN to hau
| lars). 'Ao''e'iio oo'
You mite take this as a Joke but wban tho bo
comes fore the money and If he does not cit 70;
WILL be a corpse inside of 8 days.
The modest request for such a sum pro
voked good humored grins from the official,
and clerks, who regarded the queer missiy,
as the vaporings of some crack. brainec
crank or as practical joke from some on,
desiring to create q sensation. Seyera
days elapsed when another and similar le,
ter bobbed up serensly in the mail an,
noated into the bank. Mr.. Clark consid
cred the time consumed in the perusai O,
tnese letters as wasted and gave no heed
TO the wild, wierd and gloomy threats
contained therein. In bank parlance the
last day OF grace given. had arrived, when
Mr.. CLARK was called away to Helena.
Last Monday a third letter came to hand
stating that owing to his probable min.
tentional absence at the capital
the nineteen CORY intentioned I'm
tlemen had held q caucus and
graeioasly extended the date of the annihi-
lation one day, and further informed him
That messenger would present himself at
the bank the Il flowing day for tn. money.
However, they wished it perfectly under.
stood that they were campsd on bis trail
and that lingeringdeath would follow un
less their financial demands met with i'm
mediate compliance. Promptly at2 O'Clock
tuesday afternoon, rs per statement in the
previous letters, the messenger, a young
man named George Stackpole, we'll known
in the city, entered the bank and presented
2 note accompanied by q xarhel iaaai-y aa
to whether or not Mr.. Clark was in the
bank. Mr.. Sexton, to whom the note wss
given, replied that he was not, but informed
the visitor that he had just stepped out
and would return In a few moments. Stack.
pole was kindly requested to take seal.
he accented the invitation and unsuspect.
lngiy fell into the trap that had been set
Tor him. While he was exercising his pa
tlence one OF the clerks was sent out for
hiei Smith. The latter was soon found
and given the tip. Going to the bank the
chief found his prey calmly reposing his
[rame lp an easy chair, unconsciously
waiting to be gathered in. He was placed
ander arrest and asked to his explain his
queer mission. He positively denied know.
ing anything about the contents OF the
etters, and essayed gauzy explanation
DY saying the note had been given him the
previous evening by man whom he met
n the alley in the rear OF the Combina-
ion gambling house. The unknown and |
,enerous individual had given him ten |
1Offars to deliver it.. He insisted having
acted blindly and upon instructions from |
;he mysterious gentleman OF the alley. |
The package of money, he said, was to |
,ave been carried by himself to the big |
quite and there turned over to other par !
les who were to be On hand and relieve |
him. He could give no plausible descrip.
nm ~ fho oil ,L~ L.. 4
Employed him to carry the note, while a |
lumber of diaphanous statements con.
1inced the officers that Stackpole was g. |
fitted prevaRicator, deficient only in. the
natural or acquired talent to reconcile
onficting stories about the affair. Seeing
hat he could not extricate himself from
he embarrassment OF the situation,
md further satisfied that Stackpole
lad probably written the letters
himself, doubtless assisted by confeder. !
ties, he was taken to the coun Y Jail and
ocked upfor further investigation. Shortly
.fter his Incarceration Staekpole wrote d
ote to q young associate stating that he
7as in trouble and asked him to call at
he jail. The pote was intercepted and
cad, but as yet no other arrests have
cen made. Stackpole's father is al in
ustrious and honest mechanic residing in
he city, but George is looked upon with
uspicion by the officers, who say his asso-
iations have been bad for months past.
Ie is about 10 years of age and is also q
but is said to have discarded his
ocation AMI sought to WOO fortune at the
ambling table. Like other moths who fit
round candles he got burned, and prob.
bly, resorted to the above. plan to recoup
be wreck Of his finances.
The original plan as formulated by the
ank officials upon learning that mes,
enger would call at LIe bank, was to have
[arshall Macarthur and several officers
tationed within easy call and at the
roper moment summon them to shadow
be messenger, who was to have been given
decoy package. The package had been
xed up and was ready for delivery, but
wing to the failure OF the marshall and his
&cers to be on hand this plan
ad to be abandoned and another one
nprovised upon the spur OF the moment. 6
1hen found Chief Smith was merely told
D call at bank at once. Hehad no inkling
what was on the tapis until after he had
laced Stackpole under arrest upon the Or s
Or OF Mr.. Johnson, the cashier. Then, for ,
ne first time, he became acquainted with
le facts OF the case. Stackpole declined {
} make any disclosures, but comparison I
the letter written Mr.. Clark with the
of Stackpole in other letters {
,rrespond almost exactly, and gives
,ound to the suspicion that all we're writ
N by the same man.