Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-04-26
Indiana Sympathizers Raising
Money to Strengthen the
Defense.
Billy Calder Is Weakening as the
Date for His Execution Ap>
breaches and There Ap>
pears No Hope.

Attorney W. NJ. Blackford is going
to make a determined fight for the
life OF James Eli Fisher, now await
ing execution on the charge OF the
murder Of James Allen, and is secur-
ing valuable help from the prisoners
friends and relatives in his former
Indiana home.
The Daily Plain Dealer OF Wabash,
Ind, is manifesting much interest in
the matter and under date OF Aprlll4
published a long article, which in
cluded the folio wing:
Bent with age. haggard with grief. and care,
with despair stamped upon every feature of his
countenance. Calvin Fisher of Treaty came to
Wabash yesterday to seek aid to enable his
son. James Eli, convicted of murder in the first
degree at Lewistown. Mont, to secure an APP
peal to the supreme court.
Calvin Fisher is a poor man and earns by the
hardest toll a scanty livelihood on a little farm
in Liberty township, but he is an honest man
and is respected by all his n~eighbors, who are
disposed to assist him as far as lies in their
power.
The story of the crime and the trial OF young
Fisher, who is but u. has been briefly related,
but the story of young Fisher, now immured in
a Montana Jail. which has not been published,
bears the impress of truth, and If it is true then
it is clear that he is innocent and that the ven
geance of the law will strike down a man guilt
less of the a~trocious crime of which the western
jury has convicted him.
Under date of April 1, and just after the jury
had agreed upon a verdict of murder in the
first degree. and before his sentence. Eli wrote
his venerable father here as follows:
Dear Father 1t is with grief that ! graspthe
pen to inform you that my trial is over. ] told
the truth from beginning to end, but rs am a
stranger here and have no friends. my word
was discarded by the jury and they believed
one whose statement was false, because he
knew most of the prosecuting witnesses. They
swore to lies to favor him. Jim Calder, the
youngest of the brothers. swure that killedtht
sheep herder and his brother Bill killed the
owner OF the sheep. He said on the witness
stand that he saw his brother kill the owner, but
he said hc did not See mt Kill the herder, hui
saw me take his brothers gun and go in the di-
rection of the herder. and in a shorttime came
back and told him | had killed the hcrder
whose name was Jim Allen. | will moi write
you all of the evidence, as the ARGUS has it
and ] will see the editor today and If he has no
sent you a copy, | will do SO. The jury in my
case was out 81 hours before reaching a verdict
agreeing last night about 10 O'Clock. when il
pronounced me guilty of murder in the first
degree. Now, father. don't worry about me
for | am not guilty of this terrible crime. My
sentence will be passed at 1880 tonight. My
lawyer, Mr.. Blackford, will move for a new
trial. | am satisfied that he has done all that IL
in his power for me. and will do more. Now
father. as | told you. rest as easily as you pos
sibly can, as | am not guilty of the crime ] am
charged with, and am in as good cheer as ! was
before the trial, because ! know that | I'm
cent, and that If I am misjudged here on this
earth ! know that | will be judged right when
We are all judged according to our deeds
Don't think I have forgotten that | have an
angel mother. who is watching over me, and,
knowing that, would take part in such wrong
doing as | am charged with.
But have not yet banished all hope. !
don't think ! will get a new hearing from the
court | was tried by, but Mr.. Blackford says il
won't take such an amount to carry it to the
supreme court. He said he would write you
to try and see what could be done. ] received
a letter from Aunt Ann yesterday saying they
would be willing to aid me. but didn't say how
much. but I think they and Uncle Charley will
do a good part. ! am going to write them and