The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-31
BULLET HOLES N HIM
II Took Cold Lead to Stop a
Lumber Thief.
WAS CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Waterman BENJAMIN Baker Found Thos,
Brown Piiserina In the Yard. and
When He Resisted Arrest
Shot HIM.

As a result of being caught while
stealing lumber from the Carroll Lum-
Der company yesterday morning and an
unwillingness 10 be taken, Thomas
Brown is now In the county Jail with
a charge of larceny resting against him
The latter he received in a pretty lively
encounter with Benjamin Baker. the
Waterman at the yard. who caught him
in the act of pilfering that which did
not belong TO him.
For some time the officers of the j.
T. Carroll Lumber company. whose
yards are located on Lower Ohio street.
have been greatly annoyed by persons
carrying OFF lumber. mouldings. etc. AS
the thefts were usually of the petty
order and the lumber taken would usu-
ally be from loaded over night
for early morning delivery. the annoy
ance of having contractors complain
that certain things ordered mad not been
delivered was greater than the actual
loss. Something had TO be done TO put
a stop to 1t. and Waterman Baker was
given especial orders to pay particular
attention TO the wagon loads.
In pursuance of orders. Baker was
StdnulnH Inside the WdBOn sn'u ytStbh-
day morning at half-past 4 o'clock,
when a man came by muttering to
himself something which sounded like
I'll fix anyone who interferes with me
his morning." Baker concluded he had
at last got one of the thives and drew
back into the shadow and watched. The
man, who proved to be Brown, walked
direct up To one of the loaded wagons
and proceeded to help himself. Taking
half n dozen pieces of one by four dress
ed lumber. he started away. Baker
waited just long enough to make certain
of the mans intention and then stepped
out and ordered him TO drop the lum-
her. Brown paid no attention ana
Baker again demanded that he drop
the lumber. Still the fellow kept going
and Baker, drawing his gun. pointed II
at Brown and told him he would shoot
II he did not stop.
At sight OF Bakers gun Brown re-
marked: You've got a gun. have you?
Well. I've got one. too" and, dropping
the boards. he drew his own weapon.
Baker, not thinking Brown would shoot,
as the two were well acquainted. fired
a couple Of shots over Browns head,
thinking TO frighten him into submis-
sion. Browns reply was to snap his
gun three times. but IL failed to go on,
and Baker. realizing his danger. com
menced shooting i'm earnest He emptied
the three remaining snots in his gun
into Brown. one Of the bullets kim
effect In the left shoulder and the other
two in the left arm. The Waterman OF
the Northern Pacific. who was only "A
few rods away ran hurriedly TO the
scene on hearing the shots. Pointing
his gun at Browns heart. he stood over
him and threatened TO kill him If he
attempted to fire again. BY his time
w. c. Carroll. the Of the yard,
who rooms at the Office of the company.
and who was awakened by the rumpus,
came out with another gun. and hand
ing II to Baker. old him to cover
Brown while he disarmed him. Mr..
Carroll took the gun away from Brown,
who was then led into the office N
the police t~elephoned for. While await
ing the arrival of the officers Brown
pleaded to be allowed To go home. prom
ising to appear in court when wanted.
Captain Dawson and Sergeant Leyden
went at once to the lumber yard and
took Brown in custody. His gun,
which they took possession OF, was a
murderous looking piece OF immense
size. In its chambers were three shells
hich showed where the hammer had
struck them when Brown tried q" fire.
Brown was taken TO the county jail and
locked up and County Physician Shee-
ran called to attend to his wounds IL
was found he had escaped with rare
luck. as all three of the big 44-caliber
bullets from Bakers gun had gone
straight through the muscles OF the arm
and the flesh of the shoulder without
touching a bone and causing only flesh
wounds.
Brown Is a laborer n lives a few
doors from the office OF the lumber yard.
Hitherto he had not bee suspected OF
being one of the pilferers.