The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-10
SHERM[R'S RECORD BAD.
The Dead Robber Had Been Arrested
in the Teton Country In
July 1891.
He Was Wanted in Ohio for Rob-
bing the Postofnoe at Wen
Gerlawn.
Absonce Of an Important witness Saved
Him and Ho Returned to Nom
tana aud His Death.

Samuel shermer, the Northern Facihe
train robber who died nj kalispe!i on sun
dav from wounds received during the tight
with his oaptors, had previous experiences
With the law, one OF which he fought out
and lost In Helena. On July 20 1871
Hhermer was arrested in the Teton oouutry
BY Sher.f Ramsey. Of Yellowstone county.
aud Inspector 6ackett. Of the postethoe De-
partment, He was wanted for participation
In tho robbery OF the postofics at Wenger-
lawn, Ohio, on Fob. 6. 1891. Shernss was
. cowboy who had seen much Of western
life and who WAS visiting Ohio ostsnsibly to
see his relatives when the robbery occurred.
wagon load Of goods taken from the post
office waa found in the residences OF Shs'-
mer's sister at Wengerlawn. Frank Moore.
She man implicat,d with Shsrmer III the
robbery, was caught and convicted. Sher-
ner. who had also bosn indicted, had be-
some alarmed and left the state. He came
10 Montana, where he went to his old WORK
a. cowboy, at which occupation he was en-
gagged when arrested.
On his arrival In Helena, Shermer Sc
cured counsel and had an application ma 10
to Judge Knowles for a writ of habeas cor
pus. His purpose wal to get out of jail and
leave the country before the officer from
Ohio. who had been notified, could get
here. His release was asked on tbs grounds
OF iYrepu arity in the papers gotten out IN
Ahe east and of the proceedings generally.
When 4, arrested Sherms. was taken TO ~,
iinos for examination before the United
States commissioner there. and was turned
over 20 Marshal Furay. to b. held for the
Al uAk, ,&ioa At thu hearing AT Dill
hnas, il il claimed. Inspector sackets maue
ths complaint. but none OF tns Onl0
peopie were present or represented, and
thrre was nothing to snow nav
Shermsr was tho man wanted. OF tnst
any particular offsnse wa. ommistea o.
fvots In the proceedings we're such a. to
mako Shermel's detention Oh the Bllllngs
complaint illegal, and ordered his ais
charge. At tho same time recommending
that he be arrested and another complaint
sworn out here IN pfope' form. narsn"i
I..ay a onee placed shsI.s' s Snae' s com.
missioner Kinsisy. inspector saekest
svor, out another complaint before that
officer to hold the prisoner. About q week
later Deputy United States Marshal W. Il.
Williams, Of Cincinnati. arrived. and fully
identified She mel as the man wantel AZ .
hearing before Acting Commissioner New
w eku .
clients discharge on tho ground that ne
had not been identified - the man IA
in the indictD snt as Samuel Shlrmer."
Assistant District Attorney Mcdonald con-
tended that in the spelling of the two
names, Shirmer and Shermer. the diHor'
snos Of the one vowel made NO Inference in
tho pronunciation The commissioner
took the Same view Of the case as the as
sistspt district alto ney and ordered the
priyone- to be held for the Ohio authorities
in default Of $500 bail.
8hsrmer wanted to Be tried here. but
was told that il WAS impossible. as he must
stand trial at Cincinnati, the headquarters
OF the dist lot where the ofenss was Dom.
mitted. He was then taken back to Ohio
and tried, but tn ouQh the absence OF an
important witness he was acquitted. Then
be came back to Montana. went at his old
business as cowboy. AID thus fell In will.
the gang who got him into the Northern
Peoiho holdu j. which led to his death.
While in jail here he protested his limo.
csnce of the Wengerlawn robbery, but in
timated that he knew the parties who did it.
He told Marshal Furay that he would bs
able to prove his Innocence.
"fhen why don't you 90 back TO Ohio
and do SOP" asked the marshal.
But who'll pay my railroad fsreT' re-.
to: ted She prisoner.
"The government will attend to that"
was the marshal's rejoilder.
Eyes, but when l get off there who's 60
ing to pay my way back to Montsna?'
"Oh, that's quito another matter"
In the light of subsequent events IL would
appear that it had been better for Shermsr
had he never been able TO get back TO Mon
taaa.