Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-04-13
VISITORS.
Of the r1ud 0eyser on Some OF His
libeIIous Statements.

Wednesday afternoon of last week,
o. W. and &. NJ. Kelly, father and
brother OF former County Clerk w.
Kelly, called on the editor of the
Mud Geyser and u spirited interview
took place, ending in the drawing OF
a base ball bat by the editor and the
prompt response of Mr.. Z. Nj. Kelly
in drawing Il siX-shooter.
The events which led up to the
affair were as follows: On March
18th the Geyser published an edi-
torial in which the following
language was used:
Had the voters of Fergus County
refused w. ii. Kelly a third term In
the office of clerk and recorder the
county would have been saved
thousands of dollars which it los
through that gentleman becoming IA
deiaulter."
This statement was utterly false.
When Mr.. W. I'll. Kelly went out of
office, every dollar of shortage re.
ported by the examiner who checked
up his books, was returned and the
county was not n dollar loser
thereby. State Examiner Marony in
his report made last December, says:
Account Of W. II. Kelly, ex-county
clerk and recorder: Balance as re-
turned by w. d.. Dolliver, Sept. l,
1894, and all collections to expiration
of term of office, January l. 1895, all
paid to County Treasurer"
Soon after the publication of the
above falsehood in the Mud Geyser,
o. W. Kelly called ON the editor and
demanded a retraction, which Mr..
Johns promised to give. Several is
sues of the paper followed but no re.
traction appeared and Wednesday
Mr.. Kelly called again, accompanied
by his SON. Charles NJ. Mr.. o. W,
inquired why The retraction promis
ed had not been made and receiving
the reply that 1T was because
he 1.-THE editor) had been advised
that the allegation was correct
whereupon Mr.. Kelly told the editorh
was u deliberate falsifier and also the
possessor of several other attribute,
too numerous to mention. Th,
libeller responded that were 1t no,
for his accuser's gray hairs (sic) b,
would not take such words. where
upon Charles Kelly placed his slight
young form before the ponderou
figure of the CONSIDERABLY edito
and remarked that his hairs wer
not tinged with gray. A clinch fol
lowed and in the melee j Johns reache,
for a base ball bat, ~whereupon MI
Kelly presented a six-shooter In tn
editors face and the latter cowere
at once, stepping behind L. p. Slate
for protection. Mr.. Slater and tw,
employees of the office had beel
witnesses to the whole affair, as we
as Kelly senior. A general talk fol
lowed this climax, when the libelle
agreed to come to the court hous
the next day any investigate tn
charges made. But instead of doin,
this he has been principally engage,
i'm keeping out of sight. 1T being re
ported that he is in mortal lear G
some other of the many whom h
has traduced, facing him with "cor
vincing argument"
The editor secured warrants froI
Justice Gudgell for the arrest Of bot
gentlemen on the charge of assault
in the second degree and examine
ton was waived, bonds being a
once secured for their appearance
before the next term of the distric
court.
Mr.. Kelly is well known to nearl
every citizen who has had bushes
at the county clerks Office within I'll
past few years and il wheI
looked upon as a peaceable gentl
man with wonderful self contru
who could hardly be moved to IL
violation of the law. But Il
patience and liberation of the publ
with the continued and who'll
unwarranted abuse which Il
Geyser weekly heaps upon tho
who differ with its editor In polite
has about reached it's limit. Ere
dom of the press should never
confounded with libelling and blac
guarding.