The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-21
is IN CUSTODY.
The Murderer Of Thos. Burns Cap
tured by a Posse After q
Sharp Fight.
Three Fatal ARRAYS in the Flat.
head Country Reported on
Monday Last.
hut Ono Of tho Guilty Parties Under Ar
rest-Jack Wilson Tells About the
Experiences of u Friend.

The report from Missoula last Friday
that Jack Jurden, the murderer OF Thos.
Burns, had been shot to death by tho citi-
zens of Demersvilie, proves TO have been
untrue. Jack Wilson returned from De-
mersville yesterday, and besides denying
the story OF the shooting, gives later details
from custody by Justice Shepherd, he left
Demersyiile, and within u few hours tho
law and order people were on his trail, de-
termined to bring him to Justice. II was
thought he might probably be hiding in
town, and guards were stationed on the out
skirts to watch for him. Other parties
were organized, and a thorough search
made for Jurden. Among those parties
was one under the leadership of John Rowe,
night Waterman ut Demersville. They
took the route to McCartheysville, and on
Monday wore was received at the former
place that Rowe's party had caught Jurden,
and after a fight, in which the murderer
was shot, he was captured, and the posse
were on their way to Demersville will him.
How serious Jurden's injuries are, Mr.. Will
son did not know.
The crime for which Jurdens is wanted is
the shooting of Thos. Burns at Demersville
May 2. Early On the morning of that day
while Burns was walking across the street
Jurdens stepped up behind him and shot
him in the back, the victim dying within
an hour. Jurdens declared the u went
off aocidently, and in the trial before
Justice Shepherd a number of witnesses
testified that not Jurdens, but an unknwn
man had shot Burns. The Justice dis
as soon az possible. After the trial there
vert charges that Jurdens' aoquittal had
been secured through corrupt methods;
that a fund Of $3.50 had been raised and
used for his benefit. 1t also developed that
Jurdens mistook Burns for a rival in the
killed him by mistake. Justice Shepherd
was afterwards ordered out Of the town by
the people, and took his departure forth
with, saying he was going to Helena to lay
his case before the governor. Sheriff
Houston rent to Demersville Saturday. and
arrested three notorious hard cases, taking
them to Missoula.
Mr.. Wilson also brings the news of three
murders which happened on Monday. the
day before he left. One was at Golfer Bros
camp. A man went up there n had some
dispute with the proprietor. Finally he
drew a u and just as he fired his arm was
thrown up and an innocent bystander
killed. The second one was a fatal ~stabbing
ARRAY on the east fork. and the third the
shooting of a carpenter at Columbia Falls.
But one of the men was captured, the party
who did the shooting ut Golfer Bros mill.
Mr.. Wilson left the scene at four O'Clock
Tuesday morning, and so can give no
additional details.
Wilson tells a good story of the expert
ences of a friend of his, a year out from
Scotland, and a brand new arrival in
Demersville. Wilson lives o a ranch about
four miles from the town, and the other
night about u o'clock he and his friend
started to walk to it. The new
arrival had a little bit of an
old-fashioned revolver with him and
was very much worried over the prospect of
being held up. The couple had not gone
but a little distance when q man rose up
from the prairie and challenged them.
Recognizing Wilson, the guard told him
that he was looking out for Jurden. A lit
tie distance further and another challenger
stepped forward, and still further out on
the prairie another, Arriving at the ranch,
the tenderfoot informed Wilson that he
would not make that journey again from
Demersville after night for $500. The next
morning he refused to 60 into town, and is
now located iii the country until things be-
come more quiet.