The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1894-02-01
JUMPED THE JAILER.
Three Dcsperadoes at Billings
Make a Break for
Liberty.
One l. MortaIIy Wounded and tn. oth.i
Two Are Captured Alive aud
Returned To Jail.


o'clock this morning three prisoners. Ed
Moore. Bob Nestal and Martin Wilson
who some time ago held up Hugh Camp.
bell and \. NJ. Quivey in the latter store
at the Crow agency. getting away with
about $500. and who also robbed the
postoiiice there al the same time 81 a
small amount Of Uncle Sans funds,
made daring attempt to escape. They
were occupied in sweeping the corridor,
under the direction Of Charles Stoll. the
Jailer, who. happening To turn his head,
was jumped on 10y Moore. At the same
time he was struck on the head with a
slungshot, made Of the head Of a pipe
wrench. rolled up in cloth. On being
struck the jailer went down Ia a heap
and Moore snatched his gun and fired
two shots at him. which did no damage.
When the IaIler fell he managed To
throw the keys in coal box near by.
which occasIoued some delay in the plans
of the despcradoes However. they
found the keys. unlocked the door and
made rush Tor the stable yard. where
the sheriff keeps his horses. aud at
tempted tp saddle up. Meanwhile JaIlcr
Stull recovered hls consciousness. and
running To- his own room. procured a
Winchester. He then staggered outside
the Jail. where be- aud Moore fought q
duel. in which Moore came of second
best. ~ ne now lic@ with several Win
chester bullet holes IN his body. The
Iailcr escaped without injury ~ this
bout. although three bullets went very
close to him.
When Moore fell. mortally wounded.
Wilson picked up the revolver and ran
toward the fair ground. and Vestal hay.
ing got on one uf the horses bareback
struck out for the other side II the Vel
lowstuTc river.
Attracted Toy the shots at tn. jail
many citizens hurned there. among
whom were Prosecuting Attorney Her.
ford. Under Sheriff Will Ramsey. Depu.
y sheriff Harry Ramsey. Seeing what
had happened they rontscated horses
that had been ridden up To- the place.
and struck out after the fleeing thugs.
oycrtalang Wilson ~ lew minutes
Wilson threw away the gun and could
not hold his hands up high enough. -
abJeci WAS his fear uf his pursucrs.
Turning him over To- the deputy the
other two rode of in the direction taken
10y Nestal, who 10y this time was out Of
sight Taking up his trail IN the light
snow they soon crowded him ~ that he
found IT hard work IT, sit on his steed.
bareback as he was. So he took il afoot
through the hills. In the ceded reser.
walton near kennedy's sheen ranch.
while tracking Nes,al. another party.
consisting Of Frank Mccormick. Consta-
BILE TerrIll. County Commissioner Bond
and Alex Graham came up mounted and
armed. and proceeded at rapid pace in
the same direction. Riding up a coulee
they met man on foot carrying a horse
halter and who threw up his hands on
their reproach. This turned out to be
Nestal. who said he was returning to
Billings To give himself up Seeing es.
cape among the hills was impossible. he
may have heen making sneak for the
brush along the river side when he was
headed off.
y couple of rifle shots soon brought
the others Of the party back. and. having
caught the horse Vestal had beer riding
the posse soon had the remaining tough
back among his peers behind the bars
No blame is attached to the jailer who.
had his gun not caught in his scabbered
would have had no trouble in quelling
the revolt. He has proved his mettle to
the satisfaction Of his friends. He is
able to attend to his duties now, not
withstanding the terrible blow that laid
him out in the first Of the fight. Moore
is row unconscious and is not expected
TO live many hours