Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-01-25
GILT EDGE TROUBLES.
The Plant and Bullion Attached and q Lively
Chase for the Latter.

The Plant and Bullion Attached and . Lively
Chase for the Latter.
As we were going to press last week
excitement was running high over Gilt
Edge matters. At 5 o'clock on the
morning of the 18th Jack Parr had
left Gilt Edge in charge of about 800
pounds OF cyanide product valued at
about S25, 900, and had passed Lew
istown at 7:15 n. m, going toward
Great Falls. X. A. Ammon had left
Gilt Edge at the same hour in the
morning and before leaving had closed
the mill and in a measure evacuated
the camp. The day beforeT. c. Power,
Montana Hardware Co. and Geo. T.
Chambers had assigned their claims
against the Gilt Edge Mining COM
pany to Austin w. War; which
footed up to over $4,000. Attach
ment on this cyanide product "a to
be made the following day, but Frank
Moshner, who has a heavy claim
against the company, got wind of the
intention of the others and during
Tuesday night notified Mr.. Ammon,
which caused the sudden decampment
of bullion and "the gentleman from
New York"
A. a @f,I@nl- tn-o hot,t, n 81 ar fha I.,1-
lion had left. papers were in thehands
OF the sheriff for attachment, but it
was 10 O'Clock before a deputy was
started in pursuit and then four were
dispatched on different roads. At
tachment having also been made
against the plant Under Sheriff Scott
and Special Deputy Selvidge left for
Gilt Edge at noon and the latter at
this writing is still in charge of the
plant. Mr.. Ammon at 1920 p. m
gave a bill of sale to Frank Moshner
for the bullion and together they
started to overtake the product, which
had left town at Z a.. M, before Special
Deputy Lyons, who had left at 1O:1 o,
could serve his papers, Mr.. Ammon
evidently being familiar with the pres
ent service i'm the sheriff office. When
Mr.. Ammon left an attempt was
made to get a live deputy on the trail
to prevent the success of Ammon's
errand, but no sheriff or under sheriff
being in town, contrary to all law, the
attempt was fruitless. Other deputies
who started out one by one returned,
finding that Lyons was on the right
road and had a good start.
At Stanford Lyons, still behind the
bullion, was overtaken by Ammon
and Moshner, and Mr.. Ammon by a
flow of eloquence interspersed with
falsehoods, convinced Lyons that pur-
suit was useless and leaving the hyp-
Noticed deputy 'the gentleman from
New York" j~ourneyed onward. When
too late Lyons recovered conscious
ness and started in pursuit, only to
overtake the treasure beyond the
county line and after it had passed
into Moshner's possession. Lyons
turned back and in explanation of
his slackness it is said that he started
on a very poor horse. No excuse
whatever; it is an officers business to
be well mounted and certainly the peo-
pie are paying dear enough for it. He
was very reticent when an attempt
was made to interview him and well
he might be, as for slackness and
abominable uselesssness his action
lakes precedent.
A gentleman who has talked with
Deputy Lyons says that the deputy
told him that he remained at STAN
ford over night with Ammon, Parr
and the bullion and did not take the
latter in his possession. This seems
to contradict all other versions, but
we insert so as to give Lyons the ben
eft ~ OF the doubt.
In contrast to Lyons inertia is the
record made by Nichols. Returning
from Helena at 1870 p. m. Wednes-
day, he took duplicate papers and
well mounted, overlook Parr, Ammon
and the bullion at Rocky Ridge, not
more than twelve miles beyond where
Lyons had overtaken them. Nichols
had changed mounts twice. His
warrants were only good in Fergus
county, but at Arlington he took
possession OF the bullion by force and
held it thirteen hours, or until the
Cascade county sheriff took it from
him, Nichols not legally holding it.
Moshner then took the product to
Great Falls where it was sold to the
Cascade National Bank for $4,000.
JEFF Nichols ~telegraphed for Under
Sheriff Scott and the latter leaving
here at nonu Friday, a in Great
Falls Saturday morning at Z O'Clock.
Under Sheriff Scott returned Tues
day and cheerfully impaired the re-
suits of his trip. Arriving at Great
Falls and finding the bullion in the
possession of the Cascade bank, he
Immediately garnlshed that institu-
ton for indebtedness due either Mosh-
ner or the Gilt Edge company. The
bank made affidavit to the effect that
they held neither money or other
property belonging to either party,
w%hereupon Scott levied upon all real
estate in Cascade county belonging to
either Mr.. Collins or Mr.. Arlington,
When Mr.. Scott left bonds were being
prepared for the release of this prop
erty. Mr.. Scott said that Mr.. Collins
apI Mr. Arp,ipgto Nm sar;o,sly racratt,J