The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-11
NOT A MONTANA SOLDIER
Frank Comyns Did Not Fight
With Montana Volunteers.
IS ARRESTED IN SEATTLE.
Says He Was in the Philippines With
Boys From This State-A Butte
Medal Found on His Person.
Is Not Known.

On Tuesday the Seattle Post-Intelligen-
Ger published story about a man named
Frank Comyns being arrested for house.
breaking and threatening to kill. That
paper stated that Comyns had alleged he
was member of the Montana regiment
and had served in the Philippines A
Montana medal, similar to those pre-
sented to the volunteers in Butte, was
found in Comyns' possession.
1t seems from what can be learned in
Anaconda that Comyns lied when he told
the Seattle officers that he was men,
Der of the Montana regiment, for no
such name as Frank Comyns appears on
the roster and none of the volunteers
ever heard of him.
Il knew nearly everybody in the regi-
ment and I can almost positively state
that there was no man named Frank
Comyns.' said Captain Dillon last even
ing. "There We're no badges sent to
any place in the state of Washington eX-
cept to Bruce F. Belknap in Valley, and
he is an excellent fellow. l think that
fellow Comyns is an impostor and he
must have stolen the medal somewhere"
The story as published in the Seattle
Post-lntelligencer is as follows:
Frank Comyns. an alleged desperate
burglar and a veteran of the Philippine
war, was captured yesterday afternoon
about l o'clock after an exciting chase
that lasted from the corner of Jefferson
street and Ninth avenue to the corner
of Terry avenue and University street
Twice. once before the chase started,
and again during the course of it, Co.
myns pulled a gun. which afterwards
proved to be unloaded. and threatened to
kill people who blocked his progress. G.
G. Mills finally captured him.
"COmyns attempted to burglarize the
house of Mrs. A. Y. Stein, at SIS Jefferson
street. Mrs. Stein and a lady friend had
been down town during the parade. and
when they returned home Mrs. Stein
went up stairs. There she found the al
legged burglar. When he saw her he pull
ed a gun out of his pocket and told her
if she made move towards him he
would kill her. Mrs. Stein held up her
hands and the burglar ran down stairs.
"In the meantime Mrs STEMS lady
friend had heard the mans command to
Mrs. Stein, and she ran screaming out
the back door. calling for help. Lee Hart.
who lives just across the street, ran to
her assistance. and just as he reached
the front door the burglar came running
out.
g Let me pass or I'll kill you, the bur-
glar yelled. at the same time pressing his
revolver against Harris forehead.
" i concluded not to go up against the
gun said Hart in explaining the matter
afterwards, because | didn't have one
myself so I let him pass and started af-
ter him, yelling to people to stop him. ]
chased him about six blocks and then my
wind gave out.
THE alleged burglar turned up Marion
street to Terry avenue and, ran rapidly in
the direction of Pike street Mills. the
colored man, was walking along Terry
avenue. and saw that the supposed burg
lar was being pursued. He apparently
paid no attention to him, but just as the
man passed he threw out his arm and
caught him around the neck The al
legged burglar pulled his gun out of his
pocket and pressed the muzZle of it
against Mills stomach. Mills promptly
seized it, and running his thumb under
the hammer. allowed 1t to fall on that
member when the alleged burglar pulled
the trigger. By this time Hart had come
up, and he and Mills escorted the man
with the gun to police headquarters.
when searched at police headquarters
$1o in money and silver watch, which
Mrs. Stein identified as belonging to her,
We're found on the mans person. col
lection of coins. which was afterwards
identified by G. w Hummer of S24 AL
der street as his property, was also
found on him. Mr. RUNNERS house was
robbed shortly before the alleged burg
lar was discovered in Mrs. STEMS resi-
dence. Comyns left gold-headed cane
belonging to, Mr. Hummer at Mrs. STEMS
in his flight.
"Comyns stated that he served with the
Montana regiment in the Philippines, and
a medal in his possession would indicate
that he told the truth. He pretended to
be intoxicated when arrested, but Mr..
Hart is authority for the statement thar
he was sober at the time he fled from
Mrs. STEMS house. He will be charged
with burglary to-day. Both houses which
were entered had to be broken into, for
which purpose the burglar used small
chiSel.'