The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-26
IT WAS A BRUTAL AFFAIR.
Sheriff rsmpleton Tells of the As
sault on Garrett at Big
Timber.
The Lame Sheep Herder Fearfully
Beaten and Robbed Of
Everything.
A TELEGRAM Received at Livingston JUS
In limo to Secure the Capture
of tho Thieves.

Sheriff Templeton, of Park county, be-
fore leaving for Livingston Yesterday, gave
the story OF tho assault committed upon L.
+. Garrett, the lame sheep herder. by two
tramps at Big Timber, which stamps 1t "a
one of the most brutal crimes of the kind
in the history of the state.
The assault occurred on Friday night last.
Garrett, who had some money about him,
was drinking in company with three strange
men,. One of the strangers produced a GER
~tiicate of deposit for 800, issued by the
Montana National bank to James Farrell.
He asked Garrett to cash it for him and
give him $50 for it. Garrett complied, and
the men had several more drinks. Finally
the three strangers got Garrett
outside in a lonely place..
and knocked him down and gagged him,
besides binding his hands and feet. The
gag consisted of a pocket mirror o
three inches long and an inch and a half
wide, which they forced into CARROTS
mouth lengthwise, tying a handkerchief
around the lower part of the face IN such a
way that it was not only impossible to
make an outcry, but was very painful as
we'll. Garrett was then carried bodily to an
old wool house. On the way he managed
to disengage the mirror sufficiently to Cry
for help. At the first sound the assailants
dropped Garrett and one of them. picking
up a heavy rock, beat the helpless man over
the head until he became unconscious.
While in that condition the robbers went
through him, taking all the money and
papers they could find. They boarded the
first train for Livingston. Meantime some
people had heard CARROTS cry for help and
soon a large party was out investigating.
As the cries had ceased the search was a
long one and the murderous assailants had
a long start. Garrett was finally found IN
an unconscious condition., and the gag, re-
moved. The handkerchief was tied 80
tightly that no one could undo the knot
TALLY revived by the use of stimulants, was
too badly hurt to tell any kind of story
about the occurrence. Many who were In
the search party, however, remembered
having seen the three strangers IN Garrett's
company shortly before, and suspected that
they had committed the assault and taken
the train going toward Livingston. A mes
sage was sent to that place asking that the
men be intercepted.
The first news | had of it," said Sheriff
Templeton, in speaking of the arrest. was
a dispatch from Big Timber to
coming on tbs train. Nothing
was said ss to why he was wanted. 1t was
such an indefinite dispatch that / walked
Up to the telegraph Office to ask them what
in the world it meant. l had hardly gotten
there when the operator began receiving
dressed to me. I looked over his shoulder
and saw him write these words: Wanted
for murder never waited to see the end
of that dispatch, but made a short and
quick cut for the stock yards. / got there
Just in time to meet the train and see the
arrest and calling help marched them to
the county Jail. One of them made a big
fight all the way. On one of them was
found the property stolen from Garrett and
q certificate of stock in a Helena building
and loan association. The fellows are old
brutal I ever heard of. The sheep herdel
was lame and could not do much agaisnt
three strong men at any time, and there
was no excuse whatever for the terrible
manner they beat him up. One
of the men asked me a few
going to take them to Big Timber for ,
hearing. I told him that if they should g
to Big Timber in too much of a hurry the,
might be sorry for it. The fact is. l believ'
the people at Big Timber would have mad
short work of the fellows if they coult
, nave caught Vnem. however,, uEe JuStlCe q
the peace at Big Timber is away, and thor
is no hurry about the matter. By the tim
he returns Garrett may be in condition t.
testify and identify them. I have that Ger
t~ifisate of deposit and the build
ing association stock in m
: safe and will turn it over to the owner a
soon as the case is disposed OF. The Ger
tificate of deposit is endorsed with Jane
Farrelis name, though the signature ma
have been forged"
The Indications are that when the Par
county authorities get through with Gal
rett's assailants, the man who produce
! that certificate of deposit may have t
answer a charge of grand larceny in Helene
The certificate, with other papers and som
money, was stolen from James Farrell
pocket in Helena. The valuable
, were in a pocketbook which WASH Farrell
q coat pocket. While the coat was hangin
on the wall in a restaurant the pocketboo
was extracted. 1t was subsequently four
: at the head of Main street, having bee
rified of it's contents. The police remen
Der a man answering the description {
y CARROTS principal assailant having bee
in Helena about the time Farrells pocket
book was stolen.