The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-16
FRED WYMAN CAPTURED
The Man Who Left Butte on a Stolen
Horse After Penrose Was
Killed.
Taken Back From Holen as a Thief
and Possibly Brutal
Murderer.
The Long Chase Which He Led His Pur-
suers and How He Was Finally
Caught.


Caught.
Fred Wyman, the man who disappeared
from Butte on Wednesday morning last.
shortly after the murder of w, J. Penrose
and who went away on a horse stolen from
". 3. hutchinson, WAS arrested in Helena
yesterday afternoon. An hour later he
WAS whirling away toward Butte, on the
Montana Central train, In charge OF Jim
Conley, of Deer Lodge, and Under Sheriff
j. b. Gallagher, of Silver Bow county. The
charge against him was horse stealing.
Whether the more serious one Of killing
Editor Penrose, or having hand in the
murder, will be Brought against him later
depends on circumstances-to some extent
on Wyman's nerve and ability to keep his
mouth shut, and to greater extent on the
ability of the Butte authorities to fasten
the affair on him.
Wednesday morning. II will be rome M
bered, it was discovered that horse had
been stolen from the stable of w. 8.
Hutchinson, in Butte, during the preceding
night Fred Wymen, who had been driv-
ing stage between Butte and Pipestone
Springs was also missing. Jim Conley and
Under Sheriff Gallagher had been following
the trail of Wyman from that time until he
was run down here. They took the road
across the Pipestone, through Boulder and
Elkhorn, across the divide, through Wickes
and to Helena. All along the road they
heard of their man, but at one time got off
the scent and went to Virginia city. This
caused some delay, but 1t was learned that
a man answering Wyman's description ha
been seen making toward Twin Bridges.
They went TO the latter place,
only to find that they we're
too late, though they learned that Wyman
At that place they were unable to find out
whether their man had gone toward Hell
ena or Wickes. After fifteen mile ride
down the valley they became convinced
that Wyman was heading in this direction,
and returning to Boulder they sent tele-
gram to Wickes to Under Sheriff Forbes. of
Jefferson county, asking him to be on the
lookout. 1t was learned that man an
swering Wyman's description had stopped
at Wickes for supper and then gone on
north. Under Sheriff Forbes and Tom
Murray. OF Boulder, joined in the pursuit
at this point. They took slightly differ
ent course from that pursued by the
others and arrived in Helena yester-
day morning. Shortly afterward Coniey and
Gallagher came in, having crossed the
divide and ridden ITO miles in twenty four
hours, with three relays of horses.
After this long and hot pursuit Wyman's
capture came about in rather curious
way. John MoMurray, of the Butte Inter
Mountain, who had been on visit here
over Sunday, was taking breakfast in COM
pany with with friend at the Helena Cafe
about three O'Clock. Happening to glance
out of the window he saw Wyman riding
down Main street on the very horse he had
Conley and Gallagher were in possession of
this knowledge and started down Main
street to make a tour of the livery stables,
On nearing Placer avenue they saw the
horse they were looking for. but another
man was on the animal. The rider was
horse. He said it belonged to
a man who was then at the stable at the
corner of Main street and Placer avenue,
and he was only trying the horse with the
view of purchasing. The party, augmented
by the horse and the intended purchaser,
went to the stable. There was Wyman, who
had arrived here Sunday and had been
stabling his horse there ever since. He
submitted to arrest without any ado. and
was placed in the county Jail until time for
tho delayed west bound Great Northern
tram to arrive. Shortly after four o'clock
Wyman, with his handouts carefully con-
cealed by throwing his overcoat over his
hands, took a seat in the forward car with
Conley, Gallagher and McMurray and was
soon on his way to Butte.
While at the Montana Central depot
waiting for the train to get ready to move |
Wyman had very little to say, but looked as
i he fully appreciated the serious situation
Butte he had a moustaohe. When
arrested his lip was hairless. |
He is man of about % years, of less than
medium height. and is said to be son of |
Capt. l.. F. Wyman, well-known citizen
Of Butte. He wore when caught pair of
has been cowboy and if report be true.
has been under suspicion before of taking
other peoples horses.
Some days before the Penrose murder
Wyman told nm acquaintance i'll Butte that !
ne wanted to get away and go to Seattle.
II he is shown to have had any hand in tho
murder the officers think it was with the |
dea OF making enough money to carry him
20 the coast. If such be tho case and he |
was only one of those in a conspiracy his |
.rrest may lead to important developments.
II he was alone in the affair,
md robbery was the motive, he
must have been scared of I 10 soon, as none
If the murdered mans pockets had been
'ited and none of his jewelry taken.
From the fact that three men were seen
,ear the spot where the murder occurred
hortly before the body was found. it is not
likely that Wyman was alone in the affair."
wen if it is discovered that he had any
connection with it.
He must have had hard journey, not
nly for himself. but for the animal he
ode, rs he came all the way from Butte to
ielena by a most roundabout way and over
he main range on the same horse. He did
most of his travelling by night and rested
imself and the horse rs much as possible
uring the day. The saddle which he also
uok from Hutchinsons stable was found
n secondhand store on Main street,
here Wyman had sold 1t. Had the officers
cen u few hours later Wyman would also
ave disposed of the horse and started for
cattle.
The police here would probably have
aught Wyman first had they not been mis-
ID by tho description furnished of the
jolen horse. Their information was that
was an iron grey horse. 1t was, in fact,
light bay. A roundup of the livery sta
les failed to show any iron grey that had
sen ridden into town recently by a
ranger.
THE HnnSty