The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-14
A MEMORABLE TRIP.

TuEAy nays Two PRISONERS ant
Has = Strange Adventure.
United States Marshal Furay arrived in
Helena yesterday after a week spent on the
west side, where he was engaged in looking
up two offenders against the federal laws,
n during which trip he underwent q very
thrilling adventure with a stranger. On
his return to Helena the marshal placed
his " prisoners in the county Jail. One
of them was Z Charles 8. Williams. the
assistant postmaster at Anaconda, who is
accused of having taken $625 from the
money order funds of the postofice. He
had been unable to secure $3.50 bail.
The other prisoner was a man named
William Barnes, who is charged with pass-
ing q raised United States government note
on a storekeeper at Harlem, in Deer Lodge
county. Barnes was dressed in q COW boy
puncher and an innocent victim of a coun-
terfeiter when arrested. Marshal Furay
thinks Barnes is one of the gang of coun-
terfeiters who have been working bogus
money Oh on the people Of this northwest.
ern country for some months. One of the
near Livingston some weeks ago with a lot
OF dies and bogus coin in his possession.
Thu plan worked by Barnes and his confed-
crates was to take q ~fve-dollar bill. change
the figures to twenty" make . a double x
out of the V, and work it of on some store
hurry to examine it closely. A cursory in
s%pection would fail to show the real condi-
ton of the note. Barnes was caught at
Virginia City. He had a little over thirty
dollars in his possession.
The marshal's little adventure was one Of
the queerest in his experience. He had been
up several nights and on arriving at Butte
late on Wednesday night, placed his pris-
oners In jail and tried to get a little sleep.
1t was very little, and when he was walked
up to catch the train, he felt so badly that
he thought a cocktail would brace him up.
Going into n saloon he ordered his drink
and stood reading o paper, when he was ac-
costed thus:
How would you like to be shot?''
The man who asked this strange question
was standing right at the marshal's elbow.
having come up very quietly. Looking up
the marshal saw that the man was a
stranger, and from the look in his eve, was
either crazy or just recovering from the ef-
feet of a prolonged spree. Before Marshal
Furay could recover from his astonishment
to answer, the question was re-
peated:
How would you like to be shot?'
Well" replied the marshal, ppm not
The stranger kept Rlaring at the marshal
and merely repeated the question:
How would you like to be shot?"
las ] said before, I'm not stuck on it,'
Furay. "Why. have you got a
Run?"
Yes" said the man, dropping his hand
into his overcoat pocket.
Furay's hand dropped at the same time.
only quicker. In an instant the strange
was gazing down the barrel of a
looking 45-calibre revolver. He
never finched. The barkeeper dropped out
sight behind the bar.
Now" said the marshal, "take your
hand out Of your pocket The man
l"What do you want, anyway?'
the officer at the safe end of the
zun. lyon and l have nothing up between
Is. What's the matter with your"
Nothing" replied the man.
Then come take a drink"
mo. l don't want a drink"
"Oh. yes, you do, and you'll take one.
Co.,"
As the revolver was still looking into his
ace, the stranger would probably have
complied but for one fact. The barkeeper
lad recovered from his astonishment and
right, and coming around in front. seized
he stranger and hustled him out on the
with more force than ceremony.
the marshal started to look for bis
TRANCE customer, he was nowhere in sight.