The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-26
Charles Bridgman Arrested for a
Hold-Up Committed During
February, 1890.
Two Robbers Who Stood OF a
6heritf,s Posse and Got
Away.
n Charge Of Horse Stealing Also Against
the Ono Captured-Inspector Watt
kiAs Makes the Capture.

@E II UubCLuOO 1u8p1CUOE William VubAInn -
returned TO Helena yesterday, after having
caused the arrest Of Charles Bridgman fol
= stage hold-up in eastern Montana nearly
two years and a half ago. Bridgman is
also wanted in Fergus county for horse
stealing, and if the charge OF highway rob
berry and riding the United States mail
IN be made to stick the other charge
of horse stealing can. as the main witness
to the horse stealing charge is now in Jail
suspected of burglary At Billings. On Feb.
10. 1890. Al nine O'Clock in the evening. the
south bound stage from Great Falls was
hold up between Grafton and Stanford on
Surprise Greek, in Fergus county, BY two
men. Lou Gates, the driver. was compelled
to throw out the mail sack, which the high
wayman ripped open. Not finding any
registered letters the mon did not disturb
any of the ordinary ones, but demanded
the cash box. This was given them. but as
it had nothing in it the robbers had their
labor for nothing. A posse was organized
TO hunt down the robbers, who were over
taken. but stood their pursuers off and
escaped. Just after this near the scene
two horses were stolen and the description
Of the suspected horse thieves Tailed with
that of the highwaymen and to the belief.
since confirmed, that they were one and
the same parties.
B~ridgmsn's partner in the hold-up WAS
Douglass Msltby, who has since left this
part Of the country. After standing off the
sheriff's posse the mare that Bridgman was
riding became lame. The two men roped
fresh horses. Arriving at the ranch of +.
l.. Ashley, B%ridgman sold the horse he had
stolen to John Allen, an employs of the
Tancher. Having occasion to so to Lewis
town shortly after this, Ashley borrowed
this animal from Allen to ride. In Lewis
town there happened to be the rightful
owner of the horse, who took possession of
1t. The way ii got to the Ashley ramon was
explained, and the Fergus county suthori-
ties have been looking for the evidence
against Bridgman ever since in order to
arrest him. Allen. the main witness, how
over. could not be found.
On July Is Inspector Watkins was at
Musselshell crossing, where he heard there
was q man going by the name of Joshua
Atkinson, but who answered to the de-
about the latter's exact looks, Watkins went
to Big Timber. where he telephoned to
Sullivan at Lswistown. From what
Sullivan said Watkins was surs the man
was none other than Bridgman.
Meantime Bridgman or Atkinson had kept
she Musselshsll crossing for the sawmill
whore he was working. Watkins got Dep
uty Sheriff Ramsey at Billings INC they
drove seventy-tive miles across country to
the sawmill, only to find their man had
one. They kept on to Musselshell. where
they found him asleep IN a shack. On
being awakened. he at first denied his name
was Brldgmap, but afterwards admitted it.
He denied that he had anything to do with
the hold-up Of the stage, but when told he
was also wanted for horse stealing, told a
story about the latter affair which makes il
Rlmost certain he was in the other affair.
lie said Deputy sheriffs Tom Cave and Jim
Ross tried to arrest him and Maltby,
for What ffenso he could not say. They
the sherifls off and escaped. BridQ-
man says his mare went lame and he and
Maltby each stole a fresh horse. B%ridRman
sold his to Allen at Ashley's ranch. Allen
has since been arrested OF suspicion of be-
ing connected with the recent burglarles at
Billings. He will DO used as q witness in
he horse stealing case. if needed. Lou
the driver of the stage that was held
up. has left the country. and is may be diff
icult to prove the case of stage robbery.
The horse stealing charge, however, can be
easily proven.
Bridgman is about &c years old and SAYS
is from Wyoming. His people live in
Nav York stats and are very we'll to do. He
1as not heard from them for a long time.
Bridgman is now in Jail at Billings await
ng a preliminary hearing. His confeder-
ate, Maltby, is said to be in Massachusetts.
AVE rs per cent.