The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-12-27
BILL GAY IS HERE.
The Castle Desperate Arrives In Holcnl
From California In Charge Of Sheriff
James OMAR.
or FoRWHITt SULPHUR To.MoRsoW
Story Of The Capture Of the Man Who Has
Been Hunted Tor Nineteen
Months.

Bui Gay. ono ~ the noted dcspo-
rudocs, of Castle. slept last night IN Tho
Lewis and Clarke county jail Hlo win
sleep there again TO Night, and to-mor-
row viii start for White Sulphur
Springs 10 stand trial ON an indictment
charging him with The murder 1f James
Mackey Gay got here last night. I'm
charge of Sheriff James J. OMAR, ot
Meagher county. Sheriff OMAR left
The NecdlOH. Cal. last Friday with his
prieJner They came by way ~ Sacra-
mento. where u was necessary to 10 Ia
order % get the requiSitlon papers sign
ed They travelled from Sacramento by
way of the Southern Pacific 10 Albu-
querque. where they stopped from Sat
urday morning until the same evening.
Then they took the train for Denver.
arriving there Sunday night They
ieft Denver early Tuesday morning. ar
rived IN Butte yesterday. stopped there
one hour ana got here between ana
Z O'Clock last night. Al the Montana
Central depot Sheriff OMAR bundled
his prisoner into a hack and drove 10
lhe county jail. where Gay was se-
curely locked Up. Gay seemed talka-
tive, but very much depressed at his
capture and the prospects Of going back
to Meagher county 10 stand trial lie
VIII try for a change OF venue on the
ground that he cannot get a fair trial
there.
on all his long trip Sheriff OMAR
had no assistance Ia guarding his pris-
onrr, and he never rested except last
Saturday IN Albuquerque and during
the time they We're la Denver. la the
cars Gay was handeuned and wure an
oregon boot. He was also chained TO
the seat and the sheriff sat behind him
to as 90 watch any one who might Try
10 speak to him or pass him "a weipon.
lie knew he had a desperate man 10 deal
with and he took no chances. Thnt he
was right was shown by what he found
on Gay during the journey. II was
piece of steel wire, bent on the end to
the shape OF a key. With this Gay EVIL
IDENTIFY expected TO unlock the hand
cufts, and then attack the sheriff. This
eontrivance was found In the lining of
Gays coat. IL Is now in the sheriff's
possession. From here Sheriff OMAR
win 90 with his prisoner to Townsend.
over the Northern Pacific. and thence
across country 10 White Sulphur
Springs. AZ Townsend he will talse
some one with him 10 assist IN guarding
the prisoner.
Gay says hc Is 80 years old, though a
viii he made thirty-fpur years ago
shows that II he gave his age correctly
at that time he cannot De- over 46 now.
tie Is about FIVE feet six and half
inches in height. and weighs about 1850
pounds lie usually Wore only a nous
| tache and goatec. but when captured he
had a weeks growth OF beard on his
face.
The story of Gays life is one OF crime.
but stu II is interesting To read OF IL.
He was scout for Gen. Custer many
years before that unfortunate officer
met his death. and had lived most OF his
life In the west and for many years
among the Indians. His first wife was
a squaw. When the Black Hills excite
ment broke out Gay went to that section
and at one time had accumulated $50
600 IN cash and $4,000 In real estate.
He killed man at Deadwood. and was
tried and convicted and sentenced 60
the penitentary for eight years After
serving two years OF his sentence he
was pardoned. on his return 10 Dead
wood he was met at the depot by all
the tough element OF the place, with
brass band. and escorted up town.
The trial and the successful efforts
for pardon had left Gay practically
pcnnless lie went To Wyoming where
he engaged In stealing cattle. He has
said since that IL was n wonder he was
not killed there. He took unusual pre-
cautions In Wyoming to avoid arrest
Around his house he had a hig stone
wall. and from the dwelling to the
stable there WAS tunnel SO thui whom
pressed too close be- might escape. II
was the robbery of "A st1rr by Gay and
Gross and another man that caused tho
two first named Ia lClvc Wyoming and
come Ca Montana, They located az
Cnstic. \ number OF robherics com-
miItcd there were laid 10 their door but
lt WAS an attempt to arrest them that
led nrst 10 the killing 0f Deputy sheriff
William RAIDER and lntcr to the killing
of Jim MIckcy, and made Gay ana
Grbss outlaws.
RAIDER was shot and Killed May ..
1898. while attempting tu arrest Gay
and Gmss for the Wyoming robbery,
Mackcy WAS one OF the posse which took
lup the chase Of the 'uru, aud he was
Killed May A. The two men Then got
into the Musselshcll company ana es-
capped. The story OF his wanderlngs
since then are tnld 10y Gay himself,
| Gay SAYS that after travelling awhile
he and Gross doubled on their twill and
I'm seven days after leaving castle they
| wore hack there After getting what
relief they could from their friends and
4 staN-inR around lu the hills several days
thsy struck out toward Livingston.
They parted on the way, Gross going To
Livingston and Gay toward lozeman.
lie stopped In that vicinity for several
days and then trampcd on toward
Dittc. He says he suffered terribly
from the cold all this time, not having
any cont IIr had left his after the last
nvht with the posse, Al Butte he sold
IDS gun for S. and with tins money In
his uDCk,,t went IA silver Bow Junction,
where he took freight train and went
10 Pocatclo. Being wet and cold, he
walked into the station there To- warm
himself and q few minutes later Gfuss
walked In.
Fnm Uocatello Gay aud Gross went
10 Ogden, where they again separated
since then Gay says he has nut seen or
heard OF Gross Gay went tu Bingham.
"A mining camp OF Utah. There ne
worked al mining awhile, and locntcd
SOME good prospects lie succeeded I've
Interesting some capital tu work MS
claims aud had himself made manaRcr
uf the company lie arrived ~ llnS
ham iu July. 1898, ana reWAlh'u 'h'i'
until September last
| III was whO, lu bingham thnt Gay
laid The foundation fpr hia capture. NC
became Interested with two brptnerH
naned uutchcr Ina some mining claims,
and subscduently got tho better OF one
~ his PARTNERS. While ON "a drunk some
time previous Gay had told this man ot
the fact nf there being % reward Tor nun
ln Montana After Gay had gotten The
better OF him on The mining itihmcu"n
thc man remembered Gays talk ana
furnished the information that mbHe-
auently led 10 the dcspCrado't hrfrHL