The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-09-24
Sill YER BOW BELIEVESIT
Evidence Tending to COrrOborats vii
lards Strange Story.
On the Morning Of the Murder Ed
Conklin Saw a Horse and Rider
Corresponding to Will
lard's Description.

Special 10 the Standard.
SILVER Bow, Sept. 23-To the people
living at and near Silver Bow junction, il
seems very strange that anyone should
doubt the reality Of the murder reported
at Silver Bow. Two hours work as tho
junction was quite enough TO convince a
STANDARD reporter that the murder is a
terrible reality.
To briefly recapitulate the story: A
wood-hauler named Willard living near
Silver Bow notified Deputy Sheriff
Handley last Thursday that a few days
before he and his wife were in the cabin
when some distance away they saw a man
on horseback chasing another man on foot.
The man on horseback called to the fugi-
tive, "Hold up your hands, !" The fugitive.
the story goes, did hold up his hands, but
Just as he held them up the pursuer dis
charged both barrels OF his gun into him.
killing him instantly. Willard rushed out
and demanded To know what he had shot
the fellow for. II am the sheriff Of Deer
Lodge county, said the pursuer, land
was after this man for murder COM
mitted below Anaconda. | have been
chasing him for days, but now I've got
him don't know what to do with him."
Willard suggested that the body be put
on the back Of the horse. The stranger
agreed TO this suggestion and asked for
helping hand which was accorded. The
body rolled of the horse two or three
times, but was finally fixed so il would
stick. That is the last Willard saw OF
the stranger or the corpse.
Willard was at the junction all this af-
ternoon. lie feels somewhat aggrieved
that more effort has not been made TO fer
ret out the murderer, or ut least To dis
cover enough evidences TO relieve him Of
the suspicion of being a madman. Be
fore the reporter talked with Willard he
stood in ONeill's place and said in con-
versatiou with the proprietor: "Why, Mr..
O'Neill, IL saw that man again should
know him Just as well as know YOU"
Later in the afternoon Willard talked
with the reporter aud told his story with
the same persistency and earnestness as
he has told il all along. He said he had
lost several days' work through his efforts
I 70 assist the officers, but he was willing
to give them yet more time, for he wanted
| 10 convince them that his story was all
straight.
The reporter found an opportunity to
have a word with willard's
sSs yite wsS .sa was ,S,, jus, leaving town
morning Of the murder, her husband
came straight TO the camp and there told
his story in the presence Of herself and
four Of the hands on the ranch. This
\ was atvrr% 3p>tf6ck In the morning, per-
haps an hour after Willard saws the
murder was committed. Mrs. Willard
is a very bright. pretty young woman, and
has every appearance OF telling a true
story.
Mart Morgan, one Of Willard's en-
ployes, corroborated Mrs. Willard's story
in every respect. He said that when
| Willard came into camp, he was very
much excited and told them he had Just
seen fearful thing, relating the same
story he tells now. .l
Further corroboratlon of Willard's story
is found in the fact that on the morning
OF the murder about o'clock, Ed. Conk-
lin, one of Miles men. saw man riding
alone on horse towards the point where
the murder was committed. This man
was quite short, wore light clothes and a
black hat and bore the appearance of ono
who had been riding some distance. He
rode horse between n bay and
tion tallies in every respec,
with that given Of the murdered man by
Willard himself, This vas 7 O'Clock; he
was riding toward Prices gulch; about
an hour later the murder was committed.
Many have asked why Willard did not
Immediately report the affair at the juno.
ton. II now appears that he did so for
his wife came up To O'Neill's ard told the
story the day after the murder was com
mitted. A day later he came himself
The story went around. but nothing was
thought Of IL, as the man was supposed
10 be what he said he was-a sheriff
Morgan said to the reporter that they KEEP
buying the daily papers, expecting to flnt
something about IL. Ii was only wher
they were unable to find anything in thu
papers that they suspected anything
wrong.
Willard is not the only one who com
plains because the matter has not beer
more carefully followed up. In fact
nearly all here feel that their rights Al
citizens TO the protection of the law ar,
being neglected. Two days have nov
gone by without any effort having beef
made, and this time they think too pre-
cious To be lost.