Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-04-26

as you get tnlb. FROM your lONluk Sou' /
JAMES FISHER"
When Mr.. Fisher received this letter, con-
firming his worst fears, he was almost crushed
by the awful blow, All the none he had or
could obtain was SIS. and this amount he hasti-
ly sent the unfortunate boy. and he is now
bending every effort to raise more. He Is
firmly convinced that his son is not guilty, and
points to the list of jurors in the case published
in the local paper. which gives the names and
occupations, as proof that his son was convict
ed by the ranchmen, who are prejudiced
against him.
There are included portions OF a
letter from Attorney Blackford, ex-
planning the statutes in the cas- and
asking prompt assistance from
friends. Continuing, the Plain Dealer
says:
Young Fisher. whose life will probably end
on the gallows in less than a month, left here
last fall for the state of Washington to take a
claim. On his way west he fell in with Bill and
Thomas Calder. who, Calvin Fisher says, are
hardened criminals, and at their suggestion the
murder of the sheep owner and herder was
planned. Fisher has repeatedly claimed that
he harmed not a hair of the victims. and that
after the Calders committed the crime they
would not permit him to leave forfear he would
report TO the authorities.
Eli stood high in this community when he
left, and in Howard county, where his boyhood
was spent, he was regarded as a model youth.
The following day the Plain Dealer
said:
The publication in the Plain Dealer last even
ing of the letter of Eli Fisher, the Treaty young
man now awaiting death by the hangman in
Montana, to his father, Calvin Fisher, has
stirred the sympathies of a number of Wabash
citizens, who are disposed seriously To doubt
the Justice of the sentence imposed by the
western jury.
The letter, on its face. is not such an one as a
man guilty of cold FLOODED murder would in
dite to an old father whose life is clouded over
with poverty, unbroken toll and all the unhap-
piness which usually falls to the lot of man.
kind. Rather would the son, conscious OF
culpability. refrain from adding to the cup OF
misery of a parent, filled already to overflow
ing.
vi llN ybibin VIZ ''f'' ~ . AN"N'
eleven are herders. stockraisers or woolgrow-
ers. The murdered men were herders, So il
may he readily seen that the jury, composed OF
the same class. was peculiarly susceptible &c
prejudice. The very fact that the jurors re-
pcatedly notified the court they could not agree
in Fishers case and returned a verdict only
after being out "a hours, denotes the tiimsy
character of the evidence.
II the case is carried To the supreme court the
weakness in the chain of testimony will be re.
vealed by an impartial tribunal, and Fisher IL
almost sure to be released. but in case money
is not available to meet the expense Fisher is
certain to die-an innocent man may be sacri.
feed to save the neck OF a despicable villain.
In response to these appeals public
sentiment was awakened and C.. L,
Cogwill, IA leading attorney and chic
counsel for the Cleveland, Cincinnati,
Chicago 4 st. Louis railway, headed
a subscription list with $50 and went
among the business men of Wabash
i'm company with the aged father, al
a result of which 81 persons sub.
scribed amounts varying from $50 to
81, and Attorney Blackford Monday
evening received a draft for $225, with
the assurance that nor would he
sent should it be deemed necessary.
Mr.. Blackford will secure a promi-
nent lawyer of the state to appear
before the supreme court in the argu.
ment for a new trial, and should he
be successful, of which he appears
very confident. the second trial will
be altogether different from the first,
Every cent subscribed by friends oi
the prisoner will be devoted to the
strengthening OF the case. Mr.. Black
ford being entirely satisfied with the
minimum fee allowed him as an at.
torney appointed by the state.
In conversation with the prisoner
Monday he expressed himself as much
encouraged, confident of his own in
nocence and that I'm the end he would
secure a reversal of the judgment
now hanging over him.
Billy Calder, the other prisoner
awaiting execution, has altogether
changed in demeanor and become
morose and vindictive, frequently
showering naledictions upon his fel-
fow-prisoner, Fisher; cursing his
brother Jimmy with all the hatred
imaginable, and not even sparing his
aged mother from insults. While
two weeks ago he was gay and talk
ative, today he retires to a corner OF
his cell when visitors enter and hard
ly replies to salutations. He is quite
insistent that Fisher should change
his story 80 as to agree with that
ridiculous fabric of palpable false
hoods related by Billy Calder.
Jimmy Calder, the brother who
turned states evidence, is doing nice
ly and quite satisfied to remain In
iail for n apOson.