The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-14
A Cowboys Diamond Ring.


the old world; his marriage with Bertha
Won Hoffman. the New York he.ress; his
ambition for erecting and owning the lars-
est packing house IN the west, in the hope
of driving Armour, Swift and Morris out OF
the fed, how he built and attempted to
maintain such an institution at Medora. N
D., and how he failed, losing nearly $780,
CO. IS newspaper history in the last ten
years. The great plant on the banks OF
the Little Missouri river today stands with
but a single Waterman to guard that which
was once the sole ambition Of the marquis.
Among the marquis most trusted friends
was Tom Wagner, the cowboy. Wagner
was known far and near as one OF the best
cattlemen between Montana and Texas He
was neverout of employment and he had
worked with many Of the big outfits He
vas in the employ Of the Marquis de Mores
when that unfortunate Frenchman made
his unsuccessful attempt to estaoiisn the
immense packing plant at Medora- when
the marquis failed his employs became scat
tered through out the northwest.
Wagner once did the marquis part.cu-
larry valuable service and was presented
with a diamond ring valued al $780,
For q time Wagner remain in and
around Medora, working along the ranges
companies. In March, 1894, he went TO
Great Falls. Mont, where he had been offer
ed position on range of one Of the big
cattle companies owning stock IN Cascade
county.
While waiting for the manager who had
sent for him, Wagner used up his money.
He had friends, but did not like to ask for
a loan, as he expected a remittance that
for some reason was being delayed. He
knew a paw nbroker named Hezokiv.tch
and to him he went with his ring. Wagner
wanted only SIS and was accommodated.
few days afterward the remittance came
and he went to the pawnbroker and offered
to redeem the ring. Herzokivitch only laugh
ed at him and told him he would keep the
ring This the Indignant cowboy did no.
like and protested, to no avail: the pawn
broker told him If he did not keep still he
would have him arrested. He said that
.'cow-punchers' were not in the habit OF
wearing diamond rings and he would bet
ter keep still about 1t. Hot words follow
ed, but it ended In the pawnbroker keeping
the ring. Wagner went away, determined
10 return the next day, and he did. In
letter to "Boney' Earnest Of Ferris. Wyo.,
Wagner tells the story of his arrest:
'In March. 1894. I was in Great Falls,
Mont. I was waiting for party to come
to town to whom had hired out for an
outfit on the British line and was waiting
for orders in regard to moving bunch OF
cattle On the 18th was short Of money,
so went TO a pawnbroker I was slightly ac-
ouainted with and said: Sam, give me
little money until tomorrow The ring was
a fine one with three large stones and was
a present from the Marquis de Mores and
I priced it very highly. The Jew looked at
It and asked:
"'How much do you want for It?
ct said it was not for sale, as it was
keepsake. He then offered me so and then
sss All Of which refused. Then he asked
me how much I wanted on ii. l said SIS,
and he handed 1t out and told me to come
hack If I wanted more. He had an idea
had stolen 1t, as 1T was too valuable
ring for q cow-puncher to own. The nth
was ready to go to the line with my string
of horses. I went to the Jew with the money
to redeem my ring. He tried to make me
believe 1 had sold 1t to him and said I was
afraid to make a fuss about it, as IT was
crooked. This made me mad. was I'M
armed and the Jew had no guns around the
house than Sherman had wen he went
marching through Georgia. I went to the
livery stable and got my horse and went to
the chief Of the fire department. friend
Of mine, and got my gun. I then rode up
the street I met Sam In the street. 1 got
of my horse as he was wild cuss. and
asked a man to hold him.
Sam. have little business with you
I said.
He replied: You can get anything you
Want out OF me-
II said: Here is your money and I want
my ring
He made q run for a gun and I called
him down. He threw up both hands and be-
gan to yell. told him to stop yelling. give
me my ring and would not harm him. By
this time the street was filled with people
and then Sheriff Hamilton came in and
was arrested.
John Lepley. the banker vas wild over
my arrest and wanted me released. so
could take care of the cattle. but he did me
more harm than good. You know Great
Falls is a smelling town. made up of for
eigners, and q cow-hand stood no shown
fact. any man that helped to blaze the
trails OF civilization was rufian in their
eyes. At the examination I was tried for
alleged robbery. 1 was not permitted to
testify nor was the man who held my horse.
The Jew had money and pull and-well.
I was convicted and sentenced to fifteen
years Imprisonment at Deer Lodge. One
of the boys afterward secured the ring but
got scared and gave 1t up. / guess / Will
never see it again. The prosecuting attor-
ney wanted me 10 plead guilty and he said
he would get me of with two years on
charge Of burglary. I told him in very plain
English I was not guilty OF any wrongdo-
ing except in trying to recover my own
property"
The remainder Of the letter bears on per-
sonal matters and ends with an appeal for
his friends to try TO secure his pardon.
"Boney' Earnest Immediately wrote 70
Colonel j. H. Wood OF Chicago. one Of the
best known stockmen in the west, who be-
came very much interested, as he knew
many of the circumstances relative TO the
Marquis de Mores and Wagner. Colonel
Wood enlisted the assistance Of William p.
Anderson, live stock agent, and together
they set about to secure waxner's pardon.
Colonel j. NJ Daueherty Of Texas was ap-
pesled TO and in short time the most prom
inent cattiemen all over the west knew
Wagners story and were working hand-sa-
hand together for his liberation. X was
also ascertsinei that Wagner was on the
verge Of the grave with consumption which
made hurried work necessary.
How Well they succeeded IL tod IN the
following letter. just received from Deer
Lodge. Mont:
Deer Lodge. Mont. May :. 1877.
Colonel J. II. Wood:-Dear Friend,
Thank God / am again free man. Free.
and through your able efforts How car !;
ever thank you enough for the service you
have done me and nine7 How ! wish
could say 70 every one VINO has personally
assisted il securing my release. 'Gc6 b!sks
YOU. Perhaps / can I've BIZ; a shor; time.
but. or, how sweet 70 1--we that short time
free, under the hrinzht eius canopy % hez-
ven Governor Smith has psr33aed me-