The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-12
SHE BETRAYED HIM
B. h. C0VingtOn Arrested at His ISo-
lated Home.
A CASE OF CATTLE STEALING
lie Left the Soene of His Opera
lions and Came to Montana,
Where lie Met a Woman
Who Gave Him Away.

h. II. Covington. alias John Holt,
was arrested yesterday in Bear gulch,
Jefferson county, by Detective Collins,
and brought 70 Butte to await the ar
rival Of an officer from Cheyenne, where
he is wanted for stealing and selling rs
head of cattle about a year ago. Cow
ington was employed by some stock
men and stole the cattle from Laramie
and Natrona counties. After he dis
posed OF them he left the county leav-
ing behind young wife and 1-year-old
child. lie came to Montana and loca-
ted near Boulder and about four
months later his wife shipped her
household goods from Cheyenne to Elk
Park in the name of John Holt, and
soon followed. one day some months
ago CoVingtOn came TO Butte, and I'M
fortunately for him met a woman who
had known him in Cheyenne. The wo-
man, a widow named Mrs. A. T.. Sha-
fer who lives on South Wyoming
street, knew Of the cattle stealing, and
she had an idea that there was a big
reward for the thief. so she lost no time
in betraying him and wrote to Sheriff
Ira J.. Fredendall at Cheyenne asking
about the reward.
Fredendall did not put any faith in
the writer Of the letter, as he thought
lnt person was n man ana not a WO-
man. as pretended so he sent the letter
to Sheriff Reynolds. who put the case
in the hands of Detective Collins. The
latter had been working on the case
only n short time when he received a
letter, through the mail signed Mr.. II.
*. Bell" and inquired about the re-
ward offered for Covington. The writer
of the letter said he knew where the
man could be found. Mr.. Collins an
swered the letter and said he would say
nothing about the reward until he saw
the inquirer. Another letter came from
Mr.. ii. x. Bell" making a date for
meeting Mr. Collins. but again ending
with a question as to the amount of the
reward offered for Covington. Mr.. Col
Inns become somewhat suspicious of
MIR. II. X. Bell" so he wrote another
letter and then employed a man to
watch the poSt0fice window for the
person who called for the letter After
watching the Office three or four days
young man finally called for III. X
Bells" mail, on Monday evening, and
Mr.. Collins who happened to be pres
ent himself, placed the young man un-
der arrest on the charge OF receiving
and opening letters addressed TO an
other. The young man gave his name
as William Shafer, and said he was
the son Of Mrs. e. A. Shafer. The
young man was taken to the county
jail WftIt he Is now tDllIlTeu. lie WAS
very much frightened when arrested.
and told considerable Of what he knew
about Covineton and whore he could
be found.
Mr. Collins lost no time in making
the trip to Rear Culch, where he found
his man living in a little one-ro0m iso-
lated cabin, with his wife and child
He asked the man If his name was
CoVingtOn, and the latter replied that
his name was John Holt He was
placed under arrest and brought to
Butte. his poor wife and child being
left alone out I'm the Culch with no one
near but a lot Of Finlander woodchop-
pcrs. The woman IS said to be hand
some and intelligent and the little .
year-old boy a bright lad, who cried
when his father was taken from home !
The Wyoming authorities were notified
last night Of the arrest and will prob |
ably come after him Tomorrow There |
Is no reward offered for the mans ar
rest and Mrs. Shafer who thought !
there was $500 in IL for her, will doubt |
less be disappointed.