Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-03-02
He Skipped Out of Hell
ena on the Sly.
The Latest Act in the Clark Cam.
paign Drama.
FOUND HIM CONCEALED IN A CAR.
But Even Colonel Sanders Could Not Stay
His Departure-He Stood Not On
the Order Of His Going.

ten men absent from the joint assembly OF
the legislature at moor today. One ofthess
ten absentees was Coder, representative
from Fergus county, whose name was first
brought prominently before the people OF
Montana one week ago Saturday, when he
outrageously deserted his party and his
colors in the crisis of a battle and walked
into the enemy's camp. Branded as a
traitor from that instant, a dvertised as a
deserter from his post all over the union,
and unable to endure the open scorn Of his
old friends and the secret contempt OF his
new allies, Cooler got on board a train to-
day and the general belief about town is
that he will not be seen at another session
of the legislature. He found himself unable
to summon nerve sufficient to again de-
liver his vote for Clark and he concluded
to abandon the field. Coder is paired with
George Ward, a Dixon Democrat. 1t came
about in this way. Mr.. Ward has received
urgent appeals for several days to return
home for a short time, both his wife and
daughter being seriously i'll. Ward looked
for a pair and was referred by several to
Cooler. Thu pair was made. Mr.. Ward un
d~erstanding that it would be for few days
only.
When announced at the joint assembly
yesterday the pair read until both appear
upon the foor OF the house." Immediately
after the adjournment OF theioint assembly
Ward hunted up Coder, finding him at his
room. Ward told him that he did not in
tend the pair should be for longer than
Thursday or Friday and insisted that it be
changed. Coder began to cry. Some men
weep easily, and Coder is one OF them. He
told Ward that he had received notice that
his child was dying and that he must re-
turn home. He thought he might get back
the last day or two Of the session, but not
before that. Ward insisted that the pair
should not extend later than Friday, Inc
it was understood that the change should
l.. ~,de when the house met in the after
noo.-
The house was in session all yesterday
afternoon and all last evening, but Coder
did not appear. Ward hunted high and
low for him, Republicans of high standing
searched everywhere, hoping to dissuade
him from abandoning the field at this criti-
cal juncture. The question ''Where is
Coder?" became the the usual query OF
greeting up and down the street last night,
but no one answered the query. Ward
tried to get his pair annulled at last nights
meeting, but was unable to do SO.
The joint assembly met at noon today.
Coder, though still in tow n, did not appear.
but leading Republicans in the city. who
&.I.o loo,x ,.&u-o.x =. a. III
been on the trail. All last evening. instead
OF attending to his duties of the legislative
session. Coder was skulking about the
secluded parts of town, like a fugitive. In
stead Of occupying his comfortable room
at the Helena, he slept at an obscure lodg-
ing house in the outskirts of town. Trains
had been watched and it was not believed
that he had yet left the city. Col. w. f.
Sander and a well known west side Re-
publican reached the Northern Pacific
depot early this afternoon to be on the
lookout for Coder in case he got on the
train. A policeman was enlisted in the
service. Colonel Sanders staIked up and
down the platform like an old soldier on
guard, while the Butte man vent through
| the train. The Butte man looked under
the seats, inspected the water closets, and
finally in the rear sleeper he found Coder.
The latter, rather than risk the publicity
of getting on the train at the depot, had
presumably walked up to the switch and
come down with the train. Quickly the
Butte man reported to Colonel Sanders
that the fugitive was found. The colonel
started for the car. Coder had taken the
alarm. He was trying to make a sneak
into another car when the colonel nailed
him in the vestibule.
Doubtless many readers OF the Standard
will recall a ~colloquy OF a pronounced type
which occurred in the lobby OF the Helena
hotel about a week ago between Sanders
and Coder. No reporter was present at
the scene between these men this afternoon,
but the trainmen say that the scene at the
Helena wasn't a marker to the tongue.
flashing administered in the vestibule of the
out. Those who know Colonel Sanders
well need not be assured that he rose to the
occasion.
Coder began his pitiful story about his
dying child but Colonel Sanders stopped
him short by flashing up this dispatch,
which was received this morning from a
leading attorney OF Lewistown:
mo sickness in Coder family. Informa'
tion positive"
Coder couldn't show a telegram or q
scrap OF paper telling OF any sickness in his
family. All efforts to induce him to return
| to his post and to his duty were, however
~unavailing. He did not cay that he would
not return; he thought he might return. II
is a three days trip from Helena to his
home and a three days trip back again, sc
that il Coder goes home it will be the END
OF the session before he can reappear on
| the floor of the house, If he decides to come
back.
There has been no end of comment about
town regarding the incident, and many are
OF the opinion that the odium which has
been cast on the Clark managers by this
base fight from duty will force them to
bring Coder back. Unless they do this OF
unless annulled by the house, the pair OF
| Ward and Coder will last to the end OF the
session.
The news received by Colonel Sanders
that there is no sicknes in the Coder
family is positive. Although Codsr had