The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-05
CHAPTER VII.

On arriving al Anaconda the men
We're Intercepted separately. Persing-
er declared he never saw the watch.
Dotson and Benson claimed Persinger
had bought it from man at their camp
at Helena for 81. All three men were
trapped in lies. Benson's nerves were
badly shaken. Persinger maintained
and still maintains an air of innocence,
while Dotson seemed resigned, but dog
gedly protested his innocence
Benson was retained in the county
Jail, while the other two We're taken to
the penitentiary a Deer Lodge for safe
keeping. Each was Intercepted fire.
quently. Persinger's memory proved
defective. He could recollect nothing of
his past life, he declared, and told tales
that varied greatly as to his connection
with Dotson and Benson.
Witnesses have now come forward
who saw him on the road with them to
and from the scene of the killing
Friday. Aug. rs, Benson's nerve gave
way and he made confession to Prose
cutting Attorney Duffy. In this confess
he declared the plot had been laid to
rob Cullinane. and for that purpose the
three had left Helena, Aug S in their rig
They had Travelled Is miles that day
and then camped. Starting again at
a. M. on Sunday the 9th, they had trav-
eled 10 miles, camped and continued
their journey at night. A little before
day on Monday, the 18th, they stopped
at Nevada creek, not far from Culin-
ane's place. They remained there all
that, day and night
Early on the morning of the Sth Ben
son swore, Persinger and Dotson took
their guns and left him in charge of the
outfit which was concealed in the
brush. At nightfall they returned.
They told, him they. had secured no
money.
Wen have to get out of this now
said Dotson to him, according to his
confession; SO they started. i
This is as close as Benson9wi come
to saying that the murder was com
mitted as the result, of the conspiracy.
He admitted knowledge of the watch,
saying the story that it had been
bought of a stranger at the Helena
camp had been agreed to by all three.
Benson described the escape, saying
they passed through Blackfoot at mid
night, Aug. 8, arrived at Helena on the
night of the 9th, and remained there tie
10th and 18th, and then started east
ward.
This confession was presented Mon
day, Aug. %, at the preliminary hear
ing of the three men before Justice
Frank Kennedy. The prisoners had
previously pleaded not guilty. This,
with the introduction of only portion
of the evidence the state has secured,
was sufficient. The defense offered no
testimony whatever. The men were
held without bail for murder In the first
degree. Their case comes up at the
criminal session of the district court,
opening tomorrow.
A strong case has been prepared, and
is in the hands of Prosecutor Duffy. All
the inanimate evidence necessary has
been secured, even to the tattered old
wagon, in which the men escaped. A
picture of the vehicle as it stands in the
Jail yard accompanies this article.
Possibly some of these days Deer
Lodge county may see triple hanging
If so, the people of Washington gulch
will feel the death of their loved friend
and neighbor has been revenged. Until
that hanging takes place they will be-
lieve the gallows has been cheated and
that the courts are mockery.