The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-16
Hunting for the Hiding Place of
John Smith.
HE is A DESPERATE MAN
Has Declared That He VIII Not Be Taken
Alive and Knows How to Handle
a Gun-Has Played the
Bandit.

'Smithy,' who is wanted for highway
robbery and attempting to murder Pat
Hastings near Bernice about n week ago.
''Smithy'' is a desperate man, with a
reputation as a fighter and shooter. and
he has declared that he would not be
taken alive.
'Smithy'' owns a lot of ranch land near
Bernice, and laid claim to a great deal
more. Three or four years ago Hastings
located on some land and applied for a
patent. Although "Smithy'' had no right
to the land. he objected to Hastings taxi
ing it. and tried to run him off. and finally
threatened his life and has repeated the
threats during the last three years.
'Smithy' is a man about 80 years OF age,
but is as tough as a hickory nut. Hast
ings is a young man of 81 and has "a wife
and three children, who have lived on the
ranch with him. On Wednesday of last
week, "Smithy" and Hastings were both
in Bernice. and Hastings started to &c
home first on foot. "Smithy," in company
with Alex McLain, an employe of the
Lockhart ranch, left some time later on
horseback, and caught up with Hastings
about two miles out from Bernice.
"Smithy" had a Sharp's rifle with him.
and at once commanded Hastings to halt,
and he obeyed.
''Smithy" covered him with the rifle and
McLain protested against the action, but
"Smithy' told McLain to shut up or he'd
get killed. McLain was then compelled
to hold the rifle while 'Smithy" got off
his horse and went through Hastings
pockets. and took what little money he
had. About this time a man came up the
road and 'Smithy' stopped him and asked
him where he was going. The man re-
piled that he was on his way to the Ruby
mine to rustic work. "Smithy" took his
rifle and commanded the man to turn
about and keep going, and the man did so.
81 guess I'll go, too," said Hastings.
"Oh no, you DON'T replied "Smithy."
'Your time has come and / am going to
kill you"
He then compelled Hastings to walk
ahead up the road for about 20 yards to
| the bank of the North Boulder river.
Now, If you've got anything to say,
say it, for l am going to kill you," said
''Smithy."
Hastings begged, and McLain tried to
dissuade the old desperate, but the latter
threatened to kill also if he did
not keep his mouth shut.
Get down on your knees, you -,
and pray" said "Smithy," land when you
have said your prayers / am going TO Kill
you"
McLain again tried to interfere. and he
was again threatened and ordered to keep
back.
RAISE your hands" commanded
"Smithy," and Hastings hands went up
in the air in an appealing attitude.
Now pray, you -"
Hastings attempted to comply with the
old mans
Louder" ordered "%Smithy." Just then
Hastings noticed the proximity to the
river bank, and he quickly made up his
mind to make a jump for it, but he had
-. -of-zl hale mo frar,, htc Epocltp~ ~ M
sition when "Smithy'' pulled the trigger
of his rifle, while McLain, quick as a flash,
| struck the gun and knocked 1t to one side.
but Hastings fell backward into the river.
'fSmithy'' thought he had killed Hast
ings and got on his horse and rode away.
Hastings, however, soon came out of the
water, and 1t was found that he had not
been hit, the bullet having passed through
the left sleeve of his coat. McLain had
doubtless saved his life by knocking the
rife to one side.
Hastings proceeded to his home, and the
next morning reported the affair to Sher-
lift Sherlock The latter at once went to
"Smithy's'' ranch to make a search for
him, but found there only a young man,
who had been In "Smithy's" employ. The
young man said that "Smithy" had come
home the night before and told him he
had hot Hastings. and that the officers
would be after him, but he would never
be taken. He told the young man that
he would make him a present of the ranch
If he would assist him. He says that he
intended to go into the hills, where the
officers could not find him. He arranged
a code of whistles for signals with the
young man, and then started for the tim
| Der. That was the last trace the officers
had of him. The next day the young man
came to Butte with a team belonging to
"Smithy'' and offered the whole outfit for
sale for $50. Some parties in Boulder hap
pened to have a mortgage on the team,
and, hearing that the young fellow was
trying to sell 1t. they had him arrested.
and he was taken back to Boulder.
Hastings and his family were afraid to
| remain longer on their ranch so long as
"Smithy'' was at large, and they came to
| Butte and are now staying with the fam
lily of John Kane, near the Poulin mine,
and they will remain in the city until
"Smithy'' is disposed of. Sheriff Sherlock
and his deputies have been working hard
| on the case and AVE run down several
| clues. but "Smithy" is still at large. The
desperate is said to be a hard character,
| and has been in scores of shooting scrapes
and has cost Jefferson county thousands
of dollars in court expenses, but he has
never been convicted nor received his
dues. While Sheriff Halford was in Office
in jefferson county, "Smithy'' got into a
scrape and Deputy Sheriff J. II. Forbes
attempted to arrest him.. He took a shot
at the deputy, but missed him, and Forbes
returned the fire and shot "Smithy" in
the foot, from the effects of which he has
4 haan arfnnlad ever since