The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-01
A H|GHWAYMAN CAUGHT.
But the Man He Meant to Have
Robbed Made Good His
Escape.
Policemen We're In Hiding and
Appeared at the Proper
Time.
The Intended Victim May Turn Up When
He Finds 1t Wasn't a Footpad Chas-
ing Him.

The police of Helena last night atopped
short the career OF a very promising highway
man nv Capturing one would-be knight of
the road. His capture was easily affected,
bus his intended victim got away at the
time, though hotIy pursued by one of the
policemen. The chances are he thought
the officer who was behind him was the man
who ordered him to hold up his hands, and
when he learns different will be readily ao-
cessibie 90 witness for the prosecution.
The man who failed in his first effor. as
highway robbery in Helena goes by the
name OF Bryan Fitzgerald. On Ang. ID he
was arrested for yagrancy, and while on
the chain gang allowed himself to be inter-
viewed by one of the local papers COM
planning bitterly OF the treatment tho pris-
oners received and Of the workings of the
police laws in general. When his time was
out he was advised to leave town, and did
SO. Recently he returned.
Sergeant Callahan received information
last night to the effect that Fitzgerald was
back in town and bent on mischief. He
was well known to the police and whom
Ofhcers Barrett and Martin, in citizens
dress, and Detective FinneQan started after
him they had no difficulty in tracing him.
They found him hanging around the inter-
section of Main street and Helena avenue,
in company With another suspicious
character. FiDnegan concealed him
self near the Steamboat block,
ings on the south side of Helena
avenue and Martin got behind the big sign
board right where the two roads meet,
About half past eleven some one was heard
coming down Main street. Presently
man turned into Helena avenue. He passed
fha Iil
space between there and the German
hotel when Fitzgerald stepped mp to him
with a drawn revolver and the order
Throw up your hands" Before the man
had chance to recover from his surprise
and obey the order, the officers jumped cut
from their places OF conceaiment FitZ-
gerald dropped his revolver and started to
run toward Main street with the intention
of making for the old placer diggings in
that direction. He didn't get there, as he
ran plump into Barrett's arms. Martin
picked up the revolver from the sidewalk,
and the hignwayman and his outfit were in
the hands of the law, which only a few sec
onds before he had attempted to violate.
His companion. having seen tbs officers
inst escaped across the tailings.
Now as to the man who had been or
dered to hold up his hands. No sooner did
he see the officers Jump out into sight than
he took to his heels and was on his way
down Helena avenue toward the Northern
Pacific depot. Finnegan called to him to
stop. Either shrinking the officers were
more OF the same or that it was the high
wayman chasing and calling to him, he
only fastened his pace. and last heard from
was getting considerably the better of the
foot race. Finnegan lost trace of him at
the depot.
Fitzgerald was taken to the city hall and
locked up. The weapon he had used is an
ordinary bulldog revolver. He also had on
him razor and penknife. In one of his
pockets was small drug store envelope,
such as are used for powders. IL was la
belled poison and in it was enough sugar of
lead 10 have killed dozen men. The
poison was neatly wrapped up in paper
inside the envelope. On the way to the
lookup. Fitzgerald was seen to take some-
thing from his pocket and bite il. As the
cover of the envelope showed signs of hav-
ing been freshly chewed it is thought Fitz-
gerald tried to bite through the sugar of
lead package and poison himself. His
teeth missed the package. however, and if
he got any of the poison it was too little to
have any effect.