The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-17
Western Montana News

and handed me the warrant. / asked
him to read n. telling him / was too
busy and couldn't keep the boys wait
ing below. He was so scared that he
trembled and couldn't read It. So
called down to the boys and stopped
work to read 1t. When l. had read 1t.
Burr said, Bill, you've got to CO.
I'VE can't do it. 1 said. We are
so busy that we have no time for law
suits. We can't CO.
well. I'll have to get men enough
to take you was the sheriff's next
break.
"'You can't find enough on Bear
said /.
Then he wanted to know IL one of us
wouldn't go. / called ND the boys and
we decided that nobody could be
spared. We told Burr to tell the judge
how busy we were and he started back
to Deer Lodge. As he went he asked:
VIII one of you go If the judge makes
a fuss? We told him to walt and see
II there was anv fuss.
Then we went back to work. l told
the boys that. at ] o'clock the next
day we would see Burr coming down
the hill on the gallon. And so we did.
His horse was all foam and almost be-
fore he stopped. he shouted:
For Gods sake. Bilr get ready. l
got hell from the Judge
ct knew you would said I. Get
your horses ready. and we'll start with
YOU
while we were getting our place in
shape, Burr went uD to the camp. 1t
happened that Tobacco George was
there that day with his train and Burr
hired six cayuses from him. We were
to ride to the Mouth of Bear and get
a team there to drive to Deer Lodge.
But we couldn't find team and we
rode the cayuses through to Deer
Lodge 1t cost the sheriff $50. Tobac-
co George had put the horses in my
charge and. as soon as we got to Deer
Lodge, Burr paid me the $50.
1--WE went over to the court house
in the morning. IT was a little log
building, and when l was In Deer
Lodge last. 1t was still standing oppo-
site the present court house, and was
used as a law Office. We were all in
our shirt sleeves. our arms bare to the
elbows, and every one of us had
big "A revolver dangling from his belt.
The judge hadn't sense enough to or
der our guns taken from us, so we
kept them on.
Jim Brown was one of our lawyers.
We had no defense except that l told
the court that / didn't think we were
in contempt as we didn't consider the
document in question to be an injunc-
ton. L have seen iniunctions, l said,
and have served them. but / never
saw the like of this emanate from any
court.
Their attorney said. Didn't you see
the county seal on it?'
Yes. / replied but 1 thought you
had forged it,
THE matter was discussed at length
and Judge Wllliston finally said: This
is the first time in my experience that
/ ever knew a man or a body of men
to set themselves up against a court.
/ am disposed to be lenient. / shall
fine you $50 and costs apiece for con-
tempt The costs were SAC apiece.
Mr.. Sheriff. continued the judge,
you will commit the prisoners to jail
until the fines are paid
1--WE got up and walked out. We
mounted Tobacco Georges cayuses
and rode back to Bear gulch. We paid
no fine and were not thrown into jail
There was no iail in the territory.
That is how l am still on record as
an inmate of the penitentiary.
1--WE worked all that season on the
claim and the next June were sum-
moned to appear to answer to suit
for the claim. We went and the suit
came to trial before a jury. They
weren't particular about jury in
those DAYS and the sheriff brought in
the first eight men that he found He
rounded up seven loafers from around
town ana n man from silver Row, Al
Irishman. Well. that Irishman hung
the jury. We learned afterward that
he had had a similar case himself and
had settled 1t with shot gun.
Another jury was selected, greater
care being used. and this time a ver-
dict was found in our favor in 10 min
utes. The judge was so wrathy that
he couldn't SIT still. He didn't stay
long in this country after that. 1t
was too rough for him.
1.-The claim? Oh. we worked II that
season. but We had spoiled IL. We
! knew the suit was coming and so just
gouged the mine of its best dirt. We
made from an ounce to $50 day and
I presume that IL 1t has been sluiced
since them, the paw has been big"