The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-20
he WENT BACK HEELED.
Tho Killing Of Farmer Peel by
Johnny Bull Recalled by
VA. Old Timers.
The Result of an Old Quarrel Be-
tween Two Desperate and
Fearless Men.
Stories illustrating the Nerve OF Peel,
whose Friends Were ~ True as
hose of = Better Man.

The publication in yesterday's INpErEN-
DENT Of Dan dc Quille's story of Farmer
Peel, recalled to many old-timers the early
days in Helena whom mon Of Peels stamp
were more numerous than they are now.
Many incidents connected with PeeIs res
idence in Helena were recalled. and they all
showed that he was as u~nscrupulous a. he
was brave. Unlike the average bad man,
Peel was not a big fellow. On the con-
trary, he was a little below the medium
height, slenderly built, a blonde with a
cunary-colored moustache, was always
neatly, though not e~xtravagantly dressed,
vent to the barber regularly. u under all
circumstances was cool and self possessed.
Bad though he was, he had many warm
friends in this section, men whose lives he
had protected when in danger, and whom
he had saved from being robbed. When
out of money he was never particular how
he replenished his purse, and whenever ne
levied tribute it was paid. In illus
tration of this a story was told yes
terdav. Peel WAS in tho habit when
"broke'' of going to the leading gam
blers and asking them for money. 1t
was never refused, because a refusal mennt
a shooting match. Finally the proprieto's
of the leading games got together and
agreed not to be blackmailed. Peel heard
of the combination and shortly after he was
out of money. To test the strength of the
combine he went to the biggest gambler IN
the town, a man who had the reputation of
of being q slayer.
"Bill," said Peel. 'lend me 500"
,tC,.SA IL - 1Hor,pcr33 thu ~ v~h top rn.
piled, II havn't that much money in my
pocket"
"Bill," said Peel, in a quiet voice, but
full of determination lend me $50"
The gambler. who lowered head and
shoulders above Farmer, locke down at
the determined little desperate q moment,
and the next handed out the $50. That
was the last attempt of the Helena gamb-
lers to suppress Peel.
Shortly after the above experience a cele-
brated hard character from Salt Lake ar
rived in Helena. His name was John Mo
Donald, and among his possessions was =
bull dog. III face of tho man so nearly
mer had had four legs or the latter "
they would have passed for twins. Me-
Donald showed as a memento of past exper-
fences only four fingers on one hand, hav-
ing had the little one bitten of by a hungry
opponent. One day he went into the E1-
big sack of gold. 1t was tho style in those
days for players to give the dealer their
sack of gold dust, taking what chips they
needed. If luck was against the player,
after " or three deals he would weigh
I'M and the account be squared. Mcdonald
got two or three stacks of reds, and the
game was going his way, when in walked
Peel. He stepped up to the table. took a
stack of McDonald's chips, and the first
turn out of the box he lost. He repeated
this three times. Then Mcdonald turned
to him, saying:
Farmer. you have broke my luck. I
guess will cash in" and he did SO.
the room thought there was going to be a
fight, and it scattered. But Mcdonald,
who had killed more than one man, pre-
ferred not to try conclusions with Peel, be-
lieving he was lucky in getting off with the
loss of $500 or $500.
At another time Peel broke up a brace
game, running in the basement of q house
where the Colorado saloon now stands On
Main street. He walked into the place one
evening about 10 O'clock and found six
miners playing, each having his sack of
gold dust up in the dealers hands.
GLOW much are you in this game?' said
Peel to the man nearest him.
oSVokpy SAA@Aa "NS eAo ASPAJ
Peel put the same question to all Of them,
and then turned to the dealer, saying:
Give this man his seventy dollars,'
indicating the one whom he had first
asked about his losses. The dealer obeyed,
and then Peel com pelled the restitution Of
She money lost by each of the men. This
done, he suddenly reached over, opened the
dealers box and showed the players how
the brace was worked. Then he told them
if they wanted to gamble to 90 across the
street where square games were played.
Peel came to Helena from Salt Lake, and
he brought with him one Of the prettiest
women that up to that time had boon
seen in Helena. Her father was an Italian
and her mother an Irish woman, and the
girl-for she was only 2O-had the black
eyes and hair of her father and the beauti-
full complexion of her mother. Her fea-
lures were perfect, but the fact that she
passed as PEEPS wife was sufficient to deter
admirers from showing their feelings yery
openly. She fairly worshipped her man
killer, and while the latter lived on her
earnings as a faro dealer when he was
broke, he had the reputation of treating
her kindly, and when he was killed she was
nearly frantic. The only name by which
she is rernembered is Belle.
John Il, Drew yesterday told the story of
she meeting between Farmer Peel and
Johnny Bull in a very interesting wayr
Peel came here from Salt Lake" said Mr..
Drew. "DOWn there he and Bull had had
some trouble. and when they parted it was
with the understanding that when they met
again there would be a gun fight. Oneday
Peel was playing faro in the Exchange gam
bling house, on the corner of Wood and
Main streets. He was sitting facing the
door, and glancing up he saw Bull come in.
"'Are YOU heeledy called Peel to Bull.
mo- replied tho latter.
Then you want to 20 and get heeled
and come back shooting.'
Bull went out, and Peel continued to
play as though nothing unusual had oc-
Cured. Finally he left the Exchange to 20
to lunch. His supposed wife was dealing
faro IN Chhse's place, about three doors
north of Wood street. Peel want in afte,
her and they came out together, the woman
holding his right arm. They started north
On Main street. and had only gone q little
distance when from behind a pile of dry
goods boxes u shot was fired, striking Peel
IN the side. He reached down to pull his
gun from his hip pocket, bat the woman,
who was frightened, chung to his arm, and
he could not draw the weapon. Another
shot from the ambuscade struck Peel in
the heart and he fell to the ground, Their
the man who had fired the first two shot,
jumped from behind the boxes, and stand
ing directly over Peel, fired again. the bull
let striking the fallen man in the head.
ut developed aftsrward that Bull had
concealed himself behind the boxes, wait
ing for Peel to make his appearance. Al
examination WAS held and Bull was released
the shooting being considered justifxble
Peel was buried in the old burying ground,
back of tho present high school. Hi
friends put up a head-board and many il
the time l have read it. After giving hi
sna p1aca ~ birth md data NJ hio 1Hotb ;