The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10

| the next night another barn, this time adioln
| ing the jail. was set on hre there was no lopgo
any doubt In the minds Of the people Of Holen,
that Con Murphy was al work trying " roscu,
| the Edmonsona For month there oxistot
| veTitablo reign Of terror. Helena had beer
destroyed by fire once, many Of lie houses wer'
wooden, and all Of the barns and outhouscs wer,
Of the saeno material, and In the winter time IN,
| supply OF water with which 10 fight fires could
not be relied upon. The frenzy Of its people car
well be understood, when night after night incen
diary fires were discovered Most OF them wer,
set In tho early evening at the hours when people
would be on their way homo 10 dinner Tn,
Vigilance Committee that had lain dormant fol
10 many years was re-organiSod, and q patrol
was established throughout tho town. Every
one abroad after night was halted and compelled 70
give an account OF himself.
Every day Con Murphy was accused Of setting
these fires His wfo still lived In Helena, and al
though she was closely watched no trace OF
Mcrphy could be found. II was afterward found
that Murphy had several times ridden up the main
street OF Helena In broad daylight, always we'll
mounted and always wearing a short buffalo
robe coat and had been recognized by a number
Of people. The truth was every one was afraid
Of him He had never killed any one. but the
fact that he was a dead shot and known 70 DO
nizod him from attempting his arrest unless the
odds wero heavy against him.
The winter Of 1e84-s5 was a scvcro ono and
Murphy, after his escape in the fall Of 1884, lived
In tho woods by himself near Helena He would
60 down 70 the Edmonson farm at night and
got supply Of food and fuel and ammunition,
and II was through ono Of the supposed friends
that he was finally captured He had gone 10
the ranch for some food but was told that he
would have 10 return the next night tho supply
at the ranch had given out, but that new lot
was coming the next day from Helena This
friend Of Murphy's came to Helene ostensibly
for supplies, but really 10 betray his friend in
order to get tho 81, 600 reward.
The Sheriff was informed Of Murphy's where
abouta was agreed that whom Murphy came
TO the ranch that night for his supply Of food
he was 10 be induced TO stay all night, and that
when he was in bed and asleep the deputy shcrifs
were 10 be called Six deputy shcrifs went out TO
do the work and the plan was successful Muir
phys young brother had lust come to Montana,
from Minnesota, not knowing anything Of his
brothers business. and had gone TO the ranch
In accordance with Murphy's directions because
Of this visit and because he had been allowed
70 drink all the whiskey he could Murphy con-
sented TO stay at the ranch all night When
he was sound asleep the signal was given and
the room was instantly full Of deputy shcriffs
Two Of them jumped upon Murphy and pinned
him down. The chief Of these deputies, George
Bashaw, as brave and cool an ofacer ever lived,
afterward said that to his dying day he would
never forget the cry Of anguish that Murphy
gave as he awoke a prisoner Murphy could
not fight so in a few minutes he was sitting up
telling stories to his guards but he did not speak
OF or 10 his betrayer
,u.ll ~, I'll,
preparations were being made to 60 to town.
II was necessary to unlock Murphys handouts
in order 10 let him put on his fur coat As he
thrust his right arm into the sleeve Il noticed
that his arm seemed 10 catch and when his hand
finally came out Of tho sleeve il hold a revolver
they were six TO one, the deputies all
made "a break for tho door, except Bashaw, who
happened 20 be near the door As the others
bolted by him he drew his revolver, but he
raised his arm TO cover Murphy the latter fired
and the bullet struck Bashaw's pistol hand just
between the knuckles OF the frst and second fing,
ers His revolver dropped to the floor and he
too. ran. The deputies were armed with rifles az
well revolvers and. barricading themselves
behind piles Of logs they laid siege to the house
and kept up a continuous fire on Murphy for
about an hour II he had been alone Murphy
would not have surrendered, but his brother
After making the sherifs agree not TO harm his
brother and not To allow mob 10 take him Muir
ply surrendered He said that he had placed
the revolver in his ovcrcoat sleeve for Just such
an emergency.
Bashaw and another deputy came 70 town by
train and brought the news Of the capture Of Muir
ply. The news spread quickly and a large posse
was sworn in TO 90 and bring the prisoner toHelena
The Vigilance Committee at once held special
meeting. They held il in the courthouse Just
ACROSS the street from the jail and the sheriff must
have known that they were up 10 mischief. IL
was rumored that Murphy was TO be brought to
town by train and al about clock that afternoon
the viEilantes, composed Of well known citizens
who made no effort TO conceal their identity, came
out OF the courthouse A rope was thrown undet |
the seat Of the sleigh Of a well known merchant
whose name was painted on its side half dozen
mon piled into II and with a dozen or more large
sleighs full Of vigilantes the crowd drove quickly
and quietly through the streets Of Helena and to
The Northern Pacific station which is about mile
from the town proper Murphy and his captors |
did not come by train and the vigilantes started
out ON the road east OF Helena TO meet the shers
posse which had Murphy.
About two miles east OF Helena, on the main |
wagon road and near the Catholic Cemetery,
the sheriff posse and the vigilantes met.
The main body Of deputy shenIs, number |
ing about ten men all armed with rifles and |
revolvers rode in large sixhorse box sleigh as
guard for the two prisoners. Con Murphy lay |
upon the floor Of the sleigh wrapped about with |
ropes like bale OF hay, and quite as helpless |
The other deputies were in smaller sleighs and |
were also heavily armed The viglantes were |
not armed at all with rifles. and il they carried |
revolvers no one saw them The deputy sherifs |
Dc attav Mt dsfa Al.