The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-06-27
NOT The STAGE ROBBER
United States Detective SHEPPARD Banks
Up the Wrong Tree.
He Thought He Had a Cinch on a
$4,000 Reward but He Has
Not Come Within Gun
Shot of II.
py thc standard's slecIal wIre.

BUTTE, Juue 25.-Ben L. Shepard,
United States detective, arrived in the
city last Sunday, and ever since his ar
rival has kept the shcriif's Office and the
newspaper reporters In n state of ferment
Mr.. Shepard. is "A lean, slender young
man OF about % years, consumptive In
appearance. He has an innocent look
and a hacking cough. He wears "A black
suit and a large black felt hat, creased In
the center. He is as far from n detective
in appca rance as possible, but he has his
papers, sure enough from n OF the
many detective agencies in the county
which coin money by making detectives.
In the minds of those with whom
Shepard has come in contact in Butte he
seems To have been n ldloI reader oil
"Old Sleuth, the Dare Devil Detective"
and kindred works Of fiction.
Detective Shepard came To Butte ON IA
hot trail. On December 10 last. there was
a stage robbery near RawliDs, Wyoming.
Two daring h~ighwaymen held up the
coach. relieved il of its mai bag contain
ing several thousand dollars and rode
away on the coach horses. The robbery
created quite a stir and 5000 reward was
offered.
Somebody told United States Detective
Shepard that two men answering the de-
scription of the robbers had been seen In
Butte lately. United States Detective
F7ItItaIh WI in iot wi btttt-
He had his description of the men n
within "a hours found them in an East
Park street dive. On Monday United States
Detective Shepard appeared at the
sheriii's Office, and communicated his
tale i'm hot and thrilling whispers. A
messenger was dispatched for United
States Commissioner Dingevon and he
arrived nj the shcriif's Office To be intro
duced to the detective. The latter told
his tale, and while Judge Dingevon, as
well as the sheriff's officers. was surprised
ut the youthful and innocen appearance
Of the detective, nevertheless the war
rants for the supposed stage robbers was
duly sworn out.
Late Monday evening Shepard and
Deputies Gallagher, Nichols and Richards
started after their prey, while the Butte
press club camped on the court
house steps awaiting their return.
The return was not until after 2 o'clock
the next morning and no prey was
brought. One of the couple had been
found, but il was decided To wait for his
'"pardncr," for G he might take fright.
Tuesday night was also spent in the
search, but was also unsuccessful
Last night the party again went forth
and about 10 o'clock brought In n of the
men, his partner not being found.
The stage robber" gave his name as
Frank Ellis, q years old, with boyish,
ruddy face, light blue eyes, round chin,
ttfu ur Ia w ~ rtlkt bDDt III aItptstT-
ancc as Shepard vas from appearing like
n detective. He was arrested in
a Park street dance house and
made no resistance, not even ask
ing what he was arrested for.
There was not "A cent of money about him
and his effects consisted chiefly of letters
from relations in Kansas and Missouri.
He was locked up n the reporters were
requested to say nothing about the matter
yet, as II might result in losing the other
robber.
To-day the shcriif's Office became con-
WINGED Of its suspicion that the whole
thing was n fake. Young Ellis was dill
gently questioned by Under Sheriff Gala
CHER and succeeded in satisfying that
officer of his He showed sat
isfactorily that he was in Butte, December
~, last, and had beef here since October.
He aid that Texman, his pardncr. had
gone 10 Anaconda for work. United
called 10 the shcriif's Office and
questioned Ellis. Comparing Ellis with
the description in the hands of the de-
%tective, "A marked difference was found.
The age were u the same, but the
robber was represented to have a sallow
complexion, pointed chin and black or
brown eyes, while Ellis is ruddy aud has
light bluc eyes. On the authority OF
Judge Dingevon, Ellis was released.
The strangest thing was That during the
whole proceedings, Ellis never asked
what he was arrested for. He seemed To
have AN idea that II was for vagrancy. He
is lather by trade and is well known
here. United States Detective Shepard
is convinced Of his mistake and has
started oil on another clue.