Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-02-14
JESSE JAMES OLD PAL.
Dick Liddell Alive-He May Be Seen Often
at Clifton or outtenburg Race
Tracks.

The announcement which comes from
Jefferson City, Mo-, that the otorious
Bill Ryan, n member of the Jesse James
gang. has been pardoned by Gov. More
house after serving ten years of a SELL
tence OF twenty-five years in the Mis-
souri state prison for completely with
his pals, Jesse James, Ed Miller. Wood
Hite, Dick Liddell ana Tucker Basham
IN the Blue Cut train robbery on the
Chicago a. Alton railroad in 1879,
calls to mind the fact that some OF the
members of the famous border gang.
though far from the scenes OF their
daring depredations, are still in exist
ence enacting roles which are within
the limitations OF the law.
Almost any day while the short
tracks at Clifton and Guttenburg have
races, a medium-sized, slender individ.
ual, wearing a brown SUIT of clothes,
his trousers tucked in his bootlegs-
from which dangle four green straps
ifahGs. sl3iehs he {, dedl q ,oxr,irnreoh;re-
markably polite, and has the grip
which indicates a warm heart. There
is nothing i'm his face, which is smooth
save a neatly trimmed moustache,
which would lead one to suppose this
man to ever have been anything be-
yond an everyday sport, yet there Is
a twinkle and peculiar movement III
his large brown eyes which show cour-
age and daring.
This man is old Dick Liddell, the pal
OF the James boys and their colleagues,
and one of the most fearless of the
band.
The story comes TO us from an au-
thority who was at the Clifton races
recently who was an eyewitness to an
alteration at n hotel near the course,
in which old Dick Liddell took a hand
in such dramatic style as to demon
strate that he had lost none OF his old
time bravado.
Liddell was perched upon seat in
he u1JTJrr rr'rr1tfi dressing a
female devOtee OF the races with whom
he had an acquaintance, and after
taking his departure temporarily she
withdrew with another male acquaint-
ance, and Liddell learned when he came
back that she adjourned to the hotel
and was chatting with some friends IN
the parlor.
Flushed with anger the ex-bandit
hied himself to the hotel, prepared TO
avenge the insult.
As he entered the door he spied the
cause OF his anger in the midst OF n
noisy circle, tipping glasses and enjoy
ing themselves like true followers OF
the race course.
There was number OF stalwart men
in the assemblage, but undaunted by
{ heir presence Liddel rushed in, and
in true border style and language ex-
pressed his opinion oi the woman who
had desert ed him.
She fell back terrified, and the insult
was quickly resented by several oi the
men, who approached Liddell evident
ly unaware of his identity, with the in-
tention oi throwing him out.
There is no one or more men here
who can throw me out - cried Dick.
when the crowd was about TO grapple
with hlm.
! For n moment the crowd retreated,
and one of the number called out:
''Who in HI are you? Then the old
| timer drew back, threw himself into
powerfully dramatic attitude, clencned
his fists and beloved like a demon: II
am Dick I.iddell, OF the Jesse James
gang"
The announcement was sufficient to
stop what would have ended in "a
bloody fight, because everybody took
the cue at once and cleared out OF the
room like flock of sheep by every
exit, leaving old Dick I.lddell ma ster OF
the situation.