The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-20
SMUGGLE In THE AIR
BrOome Is Acquitted, But Something
More's to Be Done.
BENTON POLITICAL TALE
The Magnificent Bridge Across the
Head of Navigation to Be : old
BY the Sheriff - Pointers
and Brief Notes.

Special Correspondence of the Standard
Fort Benton, May 1S.-Collector
Browne of the customs department re-
turned from Glasgow yesterday morn
ing, where he has been in connection
with the arrest of one Broome on a
charge of smuggling. The prisoner was
turned loose after several witnesses
had been examined. The collector re-
fuses to discuss the case in any way.
but an impression exists among those
familiar with affairs down there, that
good deal of influence was brought
to bear, where it would do the most
good, and that the result would have
been practically the same under any
and all circumstances. There is be-
lieved to be a chance for the secret ser
vice men of the treasury department to
do some very clever work in uneai tn
ing a conspiracy in which well-hnown
residents of Glasgow. Kalispell, Great
Falls, Helena and Butte are implicated
When the combine is finally broken it
is thought there will be a stampede On
the part of quite number for Texas,
Alaska or some other distant and safe
retreat. 1t is generally believed that
the parties that are putting up money
to retain counsel for Broome, in the
bank robbery case are not contributing
$3.50 and costs" for each trip of law
yer from Great Falls to Glasgow for
the fun of squandering that sum.
Broome's bondsmen in the bank case
are Manager Harrison of the Nm Cat
tie company, for whom he works, and
DR.. Hoyt, now in st. Paul. The bond
is perfectly good, but glance at the
assessment rolls of Valley county
shows that Hoyt, who qualified for
$500, only pays taxes on one little lot,
worth at the most $3.50. The secret of
the matter is that there is another
bond signed by several other residents
of Valley county and given to the men
or man upon whose bond the defendant
enjoys his liberty. 1t is curious con-
dition of affairs down there, but time
and hard work in this particular case
will develop strange combinations.
Tom Cummings and Jerry Sullivan
Indignantly deny that they wear any
mans collar. and yet when the "old
man" or his Benton representative
pulls the string both of 'em jump, and
jump in the right direction, too. A
long time ago, during Harrison's ad-
ministration, Tom and Jerry were rival
candidates for collector of customs.
There was a good deal of ill-feeling over
the matter, but finally the seator had
Jerry appointed and Tom sulxed in his
tent for while. Finally the statesman
Toms ear and yanked him into line
again, since which time there has been
a sharp rivalry between Tom and Jerry
as to which could jump the quickest
when the "old man" squeaked.
The magnificent iron bridge across
the Missouri river at TINS point will be
sold by Sheriff Mclaughlin on Friday
May 20, to satisfy judgment in favor
of Alex c. Johnson, trustee. Johnson is
cashier of Powers bank at Helena
The bridge was built during the boom
days of Benton by company or corpo-
ration composed largely of residents of
Benton. 1t is said to have cost in the
neighborhood of $4,000 and is a splen-
did structure. 1t is tall bridge and
is not a paying proposition. Efforts
will probably be made again to sell the
bridge to the county for a good round
sum.
The wool shipments from Benton this
year will be heavier than ever before.
The flocks are in good condition and
the scab has been driven out.
The fight over the sheriffs Office this
year will be a repetition of that of two
years ago. Mclaughlin. the present in
cumbent, a good officer and a popular
man, will be nominated by the repub-
licans and Tom Clary will be selected
to make the fight on the democratic
ticket. 1t will be a close contest, but
history. in this particular case, is like
ly to repeat itself.
There is likely to be something of a
scramble for the office of county treas
urer. There are any number of good
men available, among whom can be
mentioned Tom Cummings, Mike Flan-
nagan, Jerry Sullivan. Cash Lanning,
f. ID. Kingsbury and others, any of
which would fill the position accept
ably.
County Attorney Powers will prob
ably succeed himself. There are no
candidates in Benton at least for the
place and unless someone hobs up from
Havre or Chinook Powers will have
easy sailing.
Benton is likely to have a candidate
for the nomination of attorney general
on the democratic ticket. The friends
of Judge Tattan will urge his claims
for the position. He has an admirable
record as a prosecuting officer and is
a sound lawyer and a clever gentle
man.
The business houses report a good
trade for the season and there is prob
ably more money in circulation in Ben
ton. that is according to the population,
than in any town in the state. Every
body has little and ii circulates freely
among all classes.