Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-03-29
Billy Calder Convicted Of Numbering Far
quar- McRea and Will Pay the Penalty.
FISCER'S FATE IN A JURY'S HANDS
Trials Attended By Immense Crowds~>>Jury Settles Calder's
Fate in SeventyFive Minutes>>>ySentenc Will
be Passed Friday Morning.

the search for traces Of the bodies, as
well as his finding of the bloody
trails over which the bodies of Nc
Rea and John Allen, McRea's herder,
had been dragged. By this witness
there was placed in evidenceasketch,
drawn by witness, of the scene of the
crime and surroundingcountry which
subsequently figured prominently in
other testimony.
The next witness called was James
Calder, the youngest n Of the trio,
being hut 10 years old, a bright-look-
ing lad and one whose features are
not those Of a criminal, though little
intelligence is depicted in his counte-
nance. This testimony included the
entire history of the awful crime for
which William Calder and Eli Fisher
were to be tried for their lives. Jas.
Calder proved "a most excellent wit
ness, his answers being given clearly,
without restraint, yet not eagerly,
and his n was such that it is
safe to say not one Of the throng
which listened doubted for a moment
but that every word was the truth.
He made no attempt to hide his par
ticipation in the fiendish enactments,
alleging in mitigation, however, that
he feared his brother and was COM
PEELED by the latter to perform his as
signed part.
Connecting his many answers, the
following is the story:
James lived with his mother and
step-fathcr, the Smiths, prior to Sept.
n last. A short time previous he
had made a trip to Billings at his
brothers request and brought out to
the ranch James Eli Fisher, whom he
then met for the first time, though
his brother and Fisher had been pre-
viously acquainted. Returning from
Billings about the 10th of September,
he remained home for Il few days and
meanwhile plans We're laid by the
three boys for Il hunting trip, in view
of which witness had purchased in
Billings a new gun, as directed by his
brother. Saturday, the 24th, the
three boys went up the Musselshell
river toward the McRca place from
the Smith ranch, but did not see any
game. Returning home, they started
out again in the afternoon, witness
and Fisher carrying guns (which
were offered in evidence and identi-
fed, and when about a half mile out
"Billy," as he was Familiarity known,
said that he had a scheme to make
some money, and upon being ques-
toned by his companions, said: 1--WE
will kill this here man, McRea, and
John Allen, and run away with the
sheep" To this witness says hepro-
tested, but Fisher said little-nothing
that he could remember. Billy told
witness he would have to do it, and
his older brother being Of a quick.
dominating disposition, and witness
being afraid of him. he reluctantly
took part. They went on tn a point
opposite Lewis ranch, a hali-brother
to Sam Smith, and across from the
Mcltea cabin, and returning met Nc
Rea on the prairie, about "A mile from
the cabin. At this time witness and
Fisher had the guns and had been
told by Billy to kill McRea. When
the party met McRea they talked
with him for about 70 minutes, Billy
being the principal speaker aud the
subject being the fine condition of the
sheep. While this conversation was
going on Billy kept signalling the
other boys by motions of his head,
but presently, snatching the gun
from Fishers hand, raisedit and shot
Mcliea in the forehead, the latter in
stantly dropping dead. The only
conversation which passed between
the boys, according to witness, was
the remark by Billy: ''You were aw-
ful slow; tits no more than killing the
dogs to kill him" After searching
the body witness was told to fasten
n rope which was ON the saddle OF
the murdered mans horse and drag
the body by the horn of the saddle
down to near the cabin. After TAX
ing ii II short distance they halted
and went to the point Of the hill,
from where Fisher was directed by
Billy To take the gun and go around
the point Of the hill to where Allen
was herdlng the sheep and kill him.
Fisher went as directed and a few
moments after witness heard a shot
fired, Fisher returning soon after
with the remark, "She's off," Then