The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-15
he SLEW FARMER PEEL.
Johnny Bull, Who Shot the Des-
perado, Pays a Short Visit
to Helena.
His Presence and Identity Known
Only to Some Old Ac-
quaintances.
The story Of the Famous Tragedy OF Upper
Main street Recalled After Twenty
Five Years Time.

With the exception of a few personal
friends OF the old times gone by. not many
people knew that there was in Helena. from
noon Thursday until the same time yester-
day. the man who killed the notorious
Farmer Peel on the main street OF this CITY.
The man was Johnny Bull, now a citizen OF
New York. and he was on his way to a visit
along The Pacific coast states. Bull is now
4 man OF 30 years. and his hair ID beginning
ia whiten. He ism man OF medium height
and we'll built. While here he wore q
SLOUGH hat we'll pulled down over his eyes,
20 that his most intimate friends did not
recognize him until he made himself known.
Since leaving Helena Bull has spent much
OF his time in South America. lie told
some of his acquaintances here that the
Argentine Republic WAS one OF the most
beautiful spots or earth, and q great place
for q man to make money. He made some
money himself in South America, but did
not do az we'll as he wanted tom Argentine,
owing to the fact that there was . revolu-
ton on at the time he was there. Ball
only stopped here for a day to see some OF
his old friends, but his visit naturally re-
called the tragedy that removed from the
scene of action one of the most dangerous
and desperate men who ever walked the
streets of Helena.
Farmer Peel. unlike the average bad man.
was not a big fellow. On the contrary, he
was a little below the medium height, slen-
derly built, q blonde with q canary-oolored
moustache, was always neatly, though not
e9travapantly dressed, went to the barber
.---I--e- m-L -. Ill nirn,,r ~ mo ,eo uuao
cool and self-possessed. Bad though he
was he had many warm friends in his Sec
ton. men whose lives he had protected
yhen 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 he levied a tribute
it was paid. Peel was in the habit when
'sbroke' of going to the leading gamblers
and asking them for money. 1t was never
refused, because refusal meant a shooting
match. Finally the proprietors of the lead
ing games got together and agreed not to
be blackmailed. Peel heard of the combi-
nation and shortly after he was out OF
money. To test the strength of the COM
bine he went to the biggest gambler in the
town. a man who had the reputation OF be
ing n slayer, and asked for the loan Of $50.
"Can't do it Farmer the gambler re-
piled. II haven't that much money in my
pocket"
"Bili." said Peel. in a quiet voice. but
full Of determination. lend me $780,
The gambler. who lowered head and
shoulders above Farmer. looked down at
the determined little desperate a moment.
and the next handed out the $50. That
was the last attempt of the Helena gamb-
lers to suppress PEEL
in the basement Of q house on upper Main
street. Going into the place one night he
found six miners playing. He asked each
miner 10Y much he was in. On being told
he ordered the dealer to return to each man
what he had lost. When this was don't he
suddenly reached over. took the dealers
box, and showed the miners how the brace
was worked. 1t was such actions as these
that made friends for the Desperate.
Farmer Peel came to Helena from
Salt Lake. With him was one of the
p~rettiest women who had been seen in these
parts up to that time. Her father was an
italian and her mother an Irish woman,
and the girl-for ahe was only 20-had the
black eyes and hair of her father and the
beautiful complexion Of her mother. Her
passed as Peels wife was sufficient to deter
admirers from showing their feelings very
openly. She fairly worshiped 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,
Auu Wu0A uO vac w W0o AouAAy
frantic. The only name by which she is re-
membered is Belle.
johnny Bull also came to Helena from
Salt Lake, where he and Peel had had trou.
BILE. They had parted with the und erstsnd-
ing that whenever they met again they
faro one day in 1867 in the Exchange gam
bling house. corner Main and Wood streets.
when in walked Johnny Bull. Peel was
sitting facing the door and saw his old
enemy come in.
Are you heeled?" sang out Peel.
NO" replied Ball.
"Then You want to 90 and get hseled and
come back shooting"
Bull went out and Peel continued to play
rs though nothing unusual had occurred.
Finally he left the Exchange to go to lunch.
His supposed wife was dealing faro in
Chase's place. about three doors north OF
Wood street. Peel went in after her and
they came out together, the woman hold
ing his right arm. They started north on
Main street, and had only gone a little dis
tance when from behind a pile of dry goods
boxes q shot was fred, striking Peel in the
side. He reached dow to pull his CUR
from his hip pocket, but the woman. whe
was frightened. chung to his arm. and he
could not d,aw the weapon Another shot
from the ambuscade struck Peel in the
heart and he fell to the ground. Their
the man who had fred the first two shot
jumped from behind the boxes. and stand.
ing directly over Peel. fred again, the bull
let striking the fallen man in the head
Bull had concealed himself behind tn
boxes. waiting for Peel to make his appear
anoe. An examination was held and Bull
WAS released. the shooting being consilere,
justifnble. Peel was buried in the oil,
burying ground. back of the present higi
school, and his friends put up a head-board
After giving his age, place of birth and dat
of his death, il concluded: Love,
by his friends and feared BY hi
enemies" Aud the inscription WE
q tree one, because Peel was tn
idol of a certain class, ana it ia certain hi
enemies were afraid of him. When tn
workmen were digging a trench for til
b sewerage of the new high school. they un
earthed a number of bones. Among then
no doubt, were those of Farmer Peel.
H.. II. Nay. of Boston, who is to take charp