The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-29

him 10 death Renfro belonged 90 the
Clauton gang After the murder Renfro
took To the mountains and ran into Brigh-
ton and posse who were hunting for stolen
stock. Brighton ordered him 20 throw up
his hands, but Renfro Instead reached for
his six shooter, but before he got IL out
Brighton shot him through the heart
Clanton was killed by the detectives some
weeks before, Ike Clanton had been in
dicted for various felonies by the Apache
county grand jury and was lodging the Off
GERS in the mountains. Brighton still hunt
ed him and finally came up with him on
ranch on Eagle creek.
At sight Of the officers ClantOn pulled his
winchester from its fcabbard and tried to
gallop OF They ordered him 10 halt, but
his answer was TO bring his winchester TO
his shoulder Before he could fire Brighton
shot and the rustler fell dead on the trail
For months Brighton was member Of
the gang Of outlaws led by Frank and Jesse
James. He was in the employ Of the rail
roads that had suffered from the depreda-
tions Of the bandits, and eventually he led
them into "A trap that resulted in the ex-
termination Of the gang. This was after
the killing Of Jesse James by Bob Ford.
With such record, il is not surprising that
the Southern Pacific should engage Brigh-
ton TO play that dangerous game with Chris
Evans.
He was in Visalia when Evans and Son
tag were playing hide and seek with the
sheriffs in the mountains and was one Of
tine intimates Of the wife and children Of
the outlaw As modest man Of an work
with wife willing to do anything TO help
out a living, Brighton made his advent III
Visalia. lie went TO live near To Evans
house, and, as women will, Mrs. brighton
and Mrs. Evans became quite neighbory.
When Mrs. Evans asked Brighton 10 per
form small service for her husband, he
readily consented and thus entered the
wedge that enabled him to work into the
confidence Of the family. The two families
became quite intimate and Evans soon got
to regard Brighton as one Of his sincerest
friends These relations continued for
months before Evans capture, during his
imprisonment and after his escape, and
Brighton was never suspected Of treachery,
although lac was ina constant communica-
tion with the sheriff
Finally Brighton induced Evans and Nor
rell to visit his house i'm Nisalia. To do
this the detective worked upon Evans feel
ings as father. lie told him that one Of
his childreu-the youugest-was sick, and
that If he cared 90 see 10 alive he should Wis
IL his home. Evans WAS considerably
worked mp and promised TO make the trip.
He kept his word and fell into the trap that
means stripes and stone walls for the term
OF his natural life. After playing the part
Of host 90 perfection Brighton went out
and notified the sherfs posse, had himself
arrested as a blind, and the capture Of the
desperadoes was accomplished without DIFF
fculty
Brighton is the most unsophisticated
+ looking chapalive. lie is of medium height,
with a rolypoly shape "A twaug to his voice
/ that sounds like "A down east Yankees, a
+ slouchy hand-in-his-p ockets-and scrspe Ibis
( feet-on-the ground gait, threadbare suit of
/ clothes, large hands. ungsinly feet, shod in
/ muddy brogans. and the most innocent
] looking blue eyes. Ills wife looks like a III
+ mate for a hardy mountaineer and Is In
4 reality a very able assistant TO Brighton in
/ his detective work