Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-08-10
Murderer of Constable Conee in
Jail at MissouIa.


Helena, Aug. 4-This afternoon about
4:&0 o'clock Sheriff Mclaughlin and
Deputies Curran, Corbett and Pickette
came into Missouia from Lo 10 bring
ing with them a. J. Symes, who is
wanted in Adams county, Wash, for
the murder of Lew Conlee, d constable,
June "a, of this year, and for whose ar
rest large rewards have been offered.
Symes has for the past three weeks
been working ON the ranch of Dave Nc
Clay about Il miles from Missoula,
and for the past week has been herding
sheep for Mr.. McClay on Harvey creek,
about two and a half miles from the
ranch, across the Bitter Root river.
While coming to Missoula yesterday
Mr. McClay saw at 10 10 the notices
of reward for the arrest of Symes, to
which was attached his photograph,
and Immediately recognized it as his
shepherd, who had given his name as
Frank Davis. The officers at MissOula
were at once notified, and Mr.. McClay
was appointed as a deputy sheriff.
When the sheriff reached Mr.. McClay's
ranch this morning Symes had brought
the sheep down to the river to water,
but was in rather thick timber and it
was decided unWise to attempt to make
the arrest, SO Mr.. McClay went across
the river where Symes was and tried
to induce him to 60 to the house and
get a team to do some hauling, but
Symes was suspicious and refused to
go and as he was armed to the teeth
Mr. McClay did not try to enforce
obedience, but picked up piece OF
scautling that was lying near at hand
and sitting down began to white upon
il.
Presently Symes turned away. Mr..
McClay jumped up suddenly and struck
him across the head with the scantllng,
knocking him down, and disarmed him
before he could make any resistance.
He insists that his name is Frank Da-
Wis, but on his way to Missoula when
ever the sheriff addressed him as
Symes he always replied, and the otf-
GERS are sure that they have captured
the right man. The sheriff of Adams
county, Wash, has been notified OF the
arrest and is expected in Missoula to-
morrow evening.
Missoula, Mont, Aug. at late
hour tonight Symes admitted that ne
was the man wanted for the murder OF
COnlee. He is a tall, slender man about
26 years of age, with short sandy
beard which he has grown since the
murder was committed. lie was lying
on his couch and was too weak to talk
at great length. He does not deny Kill
ing COnlee, but says he did 1t III self
defense.
His story is that he took up some
stray hogs which came to his ranch IN
June. The owner claimed them, but he
refused to surrender them until pald
for taking them up. He states that
conspiracy was formed by Constable
Conlee and several others, with whom
Symes had trouble at various times, to
have him arrested for larceny. Conlee
made the arrest and took a 44-caliber
gun from Symes, but overlooked 3S-
caliber gun which was concealed IN a
shot pocket.
Going down the road" said Symes,
"ConIee abused me, called me hard
names and said: Now, c. d you,
I've got you where l want you AT the
same time he stuck a gun in my face.
l had a good horse, and said: Pull II
you want to. Why don't you pull?
causing my horse to rear at the same
time. He pulled and missed me. Then
/ got my gun and said: Now, old man,
it's my turn to pump, and l began to
pump, and l kept pumpin' it into him
till he fell.
Yes, l guess he died right away. He
couldn't live long after l got done with
him"
A CLEAN of satisfaction shone in the
prisoners face as he told the story His
eyes fairly glittered as he related how
he had pumped" lead into the con-