The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-03
THE NOTE BOOK.


Jim Conley is one of the most efficient
and valuable officers in this state, and yet
his work is 30 quietly done that few know
of his movements. He 10 in one town to-
day and another tomorrow. and he usually
brings man along when he returns to Deer
Lodge. So energetically has he followed
the horse and cattle thieves that he ia in
constant receipt of threatening letters from
these men. It is habit of his to start
right out for the locality upon the receipt
Of one of these communications. As will
be remembered, he recently shot horse
thief who afterwards died. A short time
| after the shooting he received an ancny-
nous letter containing the information
that he would be killed upon his appear
ance in that vicinity. He started for the
country Immediately. At Missoula he pro-
cured half-breed and the two went down
to the scene of the shooting, right in nest
of horse thieves. They struck camp and
! picketed tho horses near by. Conley's at
tention was attracted soon after by the
movements of his horse. The animal
pricked up his ears and neiqhed as though
some one was approaching. Conley grabbed
his Winchester in time to see the form of q
man coming over the hill. When the man
was in fair view he found himself obliged
to "throw 'em up."
said Conley.
''That amt fair advantage to take Of .
man," replied the stranger.
| Never mind, want YOU"
The horse thief went and is now serving
time ut Deer Lodge.
wv
Last year Conley went down in Wyoming
after q man. He had occasion to visit a
cabin where he noticed the presence of
man with a very light shade of blonde hair
and certain other striking features. Jim
finished his mission and returned to Mon
tana. This year he learned that the fellow
who attracted his attention. was wanted at
Pierre, OAK, for murder. Last year Conley
went down to Wyoming found the blonde
haired man, and took him to Pierre. He
proved to be the right one, and is now on
trial and his captor is there as witness.
A curious change in the criminals appear
ance ia head of fine black hair. This was
the original color, but his hair was bleached
for the purpose of disguise.
~.
chatted with commercial man the other
day about travelling life in the great north
west. "The great overshadowing feature
he said, lis the smoke in Butte. You know
what it is, but to the unfortunate traveller
who visits the town for the FIRST time, the
smoke is something that stands out in his
brain like grim spectre from Hades. The
| very appearance of the town to begin with
suggests the place of punishment to the
| imagination. I first struck the camp on a
| pleasant balmy day last March. The smoke
was of course an annoyance, but not SO bad
as I had pictured. That evening I went
out to dine with party Of friends. The
entertainment broke up at O'Clock in the
morning and started for home. I had
hardly got out of the house when the sui
black and yellowish mass of dense clouds
of smoke. It went first to my lungs and
couRhed until my frame seemed racked
to pieces. Then it pierced my eyes and
was obliged to cover my face with hand
kerchief. worked my way into the street
and moved about in blind search for the
hotel. People were moving about with
lanterns. picking their way through thu
streets, seemingly unconscious that the ali
was in anything but normal condition
Finally hailed a cab and was carried t
my hotel. The next morning ! awoke ant
found the smoke still there. The color wa
dismal gray, which even the struggling
rays of the sun could not change. I hur
RED out of the town with all possible speed
Two days later had an attack Of pneu
monia that kept me in bed two weeks i
Spokane. That was my first experience i
smoky Butte, and never visit the plac
when can get rid of it."
ri w
= Colonel Wheeler has been honored by a
} assignment from the Lippincott's to writ
up Montana for the coming new edition {
Chambers encyclopedia. The work wi
require full knowledge of the resources
and history of the state but tho man
friends of the popular librarian know tbs
: he is fully equipped for the work.
y ~
n The INDEPENDENT is in constant receipt {
communications asking the whereabouts I
people. Most of these are concerning me
who came here in the early days and vi
d are now wanted in the east for legal an
d other reasons. The latest is from +.
# McGillick, Of Blairsville, Pa, who wou
10 like to find his uncle, Frank Nolen, vi
II was last heard of in Montana in 1867. T
B. was miner. an Irishmsn and 10 now abo,
II ifty-eight years old II alive. Who know
re- his whereabouts?
- ~.
e II costs to 60 to law. Moreover it doesr
va always pay. About hve months ago . la
10 of this city went to work for the Hele
m District Telegraph company. Her pay v
!. $50 q month. At the end Of the four
- month there was disagreement betwe
h the lady and the manager Of the compal
ce and she was discharged. She claimed
m wages for the full month on the grou
o os that abe was engaged by the month.
company claimed that she was only engae
at the rate of 90 much = month. The @
was taken into Justice Fleischer's COT
In and decision Is expected to-day. ]
&C. amount in dispute is $8. The costa in
lat case are $7.
ed -