The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-10
THE FIRST
/ Supposed BOY Who Was Detected by 8
M Stolen Watch.

\ Supposed Boy Who Was Detected ny q
Stolen Watch.
Before Helena was fully awake yesterday
morning Marshal Sims had called about
i'm all the members of the police force,
hight men az we'll as day men. Men" he
laid, .it is our place to run down the high
vayman before he does any more damage.
We must 20 to work at once.' All the men,
wen those who had just come off an excit-
ng and arduous night shift, volunteered TO
ktny out on the aunt until the fellow was
nm down. They were divided oil in sys-
ematio picket style. and by the time the
snn was rising every outlet from Helena
was being patrolled.
It was the duty OF Policemen Gibson and
Back to look out along the Northern Pacific
abroad tracks to the east of the city. Glib
son wore his uniform and Back was IN
c~itizen's dress. About a mile from the
depot and going toward East Helena, about
O O'Clock, they saw some one going in the
direction of East Helena with a bundle Of
clothes on his back. 1t was decided to in
kestiQate. The investigation took some
minutes, but though the bearer of the bun
dle turned out to be only a Chlnaman
carrying some clothing to be washed, those
few minutes, as it turned out later, were
we'll spent, and led to important results
AT the time, however, Back and Gibson
we've considerably disgusted with having
run down only an inoffsnsive Cinnamon,
and turned back toward the railroad tracks.
AS they neared the tracks below the North
ern Pacific yards they saw a man walking
along and started toward him. Nearing
the party the officers called to him to halt.
"What do you want?" came back in q
thin, boyish voice. :,
"Only to zee if you have a gun on you,"
said Back, who by this time was alongside
the boy.
II haven't any gum said the same pecul-
iarly youthful voice..
Nor had he, RS the search revealed. But
in one of his pockets WAS a gold watch with
a deer head carved on the case. Back REQ
ognized it at once as that stolen from Con-
ductor Richardson or Tuesday night.
II want that watch, exclaimed Back.
t'And I want you,' said Gibson, laying
his hand on the boy. 49,
The young fellow was taken aback. II
haven't lone anything, !" he said. II bought
that watch from a man in front of the Eel
videre house about three days ago and gave
him $3.50 for IT,"
sAll right; come along" was the answer.
It is the custom to search all prisoners at
the city Jail as soon rs they are taken IN
This process was of course to be gone
through with in the case of the lad captured
by Back and Gibson. 1t was noticed that
the prisoner betrayed great uneaslnesl
when preparations were made for search
ing. When the police attempted to &c
through the boys pockets he at first OBJ
jected and finally protested loudly. a
You shall not search me-" he said.
"Oh, yes; I guess We WILL" said Mar
shall Sims, unbuttoning the bow
vest and preparing to look into the inside
pocket. As he did 80 the prisoner ahranl
back. clasped his hands across his chess
and uttered a shrill and peculiarly feminine
scream. The marshal began to feel in thu
pocket of the boys flannel shirt.
You're a woman" Sims exclaimed.
Eyes I am" was the answer.
II so it was--a woman with hair Gu
short in boys style, and dressed in trousers
vest and coat, and dark SLOUGH hat, ant
with a pair of shoes, which, though small, still
showed that they we're too large for tn
feet they encased. .
The search was stopped right there, as il
was seen the woman had no weapon ant
she was placed in the cell for females
There she soon sought that refuge of al
women-bold or timid-and dissolved il
tears. She said her name was Chnrli
Miller, and refused to give any other; tina
was the name she was known by. and ha
been known by, and she did not propose +
have her family know of her whereabout
or her trouble.