The Anaconda standard., 1898-01-25

early on the morning of Sept |, 1896,
the officers were quickly on the spot, a
constable being there within three min
utes Of the time the shot was fired, and
before Denny fell to the sidewalk from
the effect of his wound. But Beld dis
| appeared completely, and though A. +.
Gillian, who was sheriff of this county
at that time, made every effort to find
him, the murderer succeeded in getting.
out of the country.
The murder was a cold -blooded one.
Beld and Denny had been working to-
gether at d sawmill In Perry canyon,
and although Beld was a painter he
was not working at his trade at that
time. They came to whitehall and
both We're drinking some in the saloon
of Thomas Fox. In the progress of IA
game of pool they quarreled and start
ed to fight, but Fox stopped them. Bcld
then went outside and told Denny to
come out and he would give him what
he needed. Soon Denny wenI out and
BeId was waiting for him. He had a
| revolver and Immediately fired shot
which caused Dennys death inside of
"a hours A companion of Beld's was
outside and saw the shot fired, and as
Beld was preparing to shoot a second
time the friend interposed and told him
not to do it. but Beld told him to get
out of the way or he would shoot him.
Constable Dobyns of Whitehall was
soon there, but in the darkness the
murderer disappeared. 1t was rainy
and unusually dark night, which as
sisted in his escape.
a reward was at once offered for his
capture, 500 by the state and 800 by
the sheriff of the county. Circulars
announcing this reward with a descrip
tion of the fugitive, were widely scat
tered.
Several reports have been made by
officers in different parts of the country
that they had the man wanted. Once
Sheriff Gillian made trip to Wash
ington and Oregon. but found the party
held was not the one wanted. Another
time in November, 1896, on information
coming from officers in Colorado, he
made a very hard trip TO some remote
point in that state. taking with him
Thomas Fox of Whitehall for the pur-
pose of identifying the prisoner. Al
though he answered the description
fairly WELL yet it was decided that he
was not the man wanted.
Caught in Washington.
a few weeks ago a telegram was re-
ceiyed by Henry Sherlock, present
sheriff. from J, F. Millet, sheriff of ska
git county, Washington, stating that
he thought he had Beld. wanted in this
county. A correspondence was at once
opened up. Millet stated that the man
referred to was held there on charge
scription, said he had been in New
Mexico and Arizona and could talk
Spanish fiuently. The sheriff here tel
egraphed to have the mans picture
taken at the expense of this county.
This was DONE and when the picture
arrived w. NJ. Fergus of Whitehall
happened to be here attending a ses-
sion of the board of county commits
sioners. The picture was shown to
him and without any information be-
ing given as to the circumstance he was
asked if he had ever seen the man be-
fore. He was positive that he had, but
could not recall the name nor recollect
exactly where. He was then told that
II might be man wanted for murder,
and he at once said. 1T is the picture
of Beld." On this point he was quite
positive. OF course, the picture was
somewhat deceptive. as nearly IA year
and half had elapsed since the mur-
derer left Whitehall, and there he wore
a moustache, while in the picture he
appeared without one Under Sheriff
Sherlock took the photograph and went
TO Whitehall to inquire into further
identification. a wide divergence of
opinion prevailed there. some claiming
that it was Beld and some that it was
not. That there should be such va
riety of opinion is not to be wondered
at, from the fact that he had not been
around Whitehall very long, and there
no less than five tramp or stray paint
ers Constable Dobyns is not quite
certain in the matter, but sees a re-
Semblance.
With this uncertainty the sheriff here
telegraphed to the sheriff in Washing
ton to turn the party loose. Mr.. Millett
was. however, quite firm in his opinion
that he had the right man, and made
little experiment that tended to verify
his opinion as much as anything relat-
ing to the description or to the fact
that the prisoner could talk Spanish.
He found out that his prisoner was
painter, and for the purpose of proving
it he tried the plan as outlined in his
letter given below. He also said that
he would hold the prisoner a little while
longer, and urged the officers here to
look further into the matter. The let
ter is as follows:
Acting on the suggestion contained
in your favor of Dec. 20 with regard to
the man | hold as being sign painter,
| beg to inform you that he has admit
ted to the prisoners confined with him
in the Jail that he is a painter. and
brags of an accident wherein he fell
from a platform that was suspended
very high from the ground without re-
ceiving any injury. He has also orna-
mented his cell by pencil drawings of
men and women in various positions.
But to draw him out further in this
L
whom I could depend, ask for piece
of lumber with which to make
checker board. Upon the request |
procured piece of board three or four
feet long, together with paint and
brushes, and sent it to them. The plan
was that he should make a checker
board on one end and paint a motto on
the other end.
well, he made a beautiful checker
board on one end and spaced the bal
ance of the board to paint the motto:
God Bless Our Home. but after he had
the board spaced he became suspicious
and refuses to touch the brush any
more. and spends his days now in abus-
ing me and making all kinds of threats
against me.
Il am satisfied that he can paint
signs: the ear-marks of his profession
are plain to be seen from the way he
spaced the board for his letters. |
will have to turn him loose in a few
days as 7 have no charge against him