Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-03-07
JIM CALDER
RETRACTS
Will Testify That Billy Calder Killed
Both McRea and His Herder,
John Allen.
THIS WAS HIS ORIGINAL STORY
This Change Is Likely to Greatly
Weaken the States Case
and Save Fisher.

1t has been said that one must 20 away
from home to learn the news and il Is lit
orally so in this instance, for the Wabash
Plain Dealer, published at Wabash, Iu-
diana, brings to Lewistown news which has
heretofore been carefully guarded.
The announcement is TO the effect that
James Calder, one OF the three OF the Fang
OF youthful murderers who killed Farquhar
McRae and John Allen on the Musselshell
in 1898, and at the trial OF his brother
Billy and James Fisher gave evidence for
the state, has recanted and his story on
the second trial Of Fisher will be quite diff.
ferent from that at the former trial.
When first arrested by JEFF Sherman and
posse on Porcupine creek, Jim Calder and
Fisher said that Billy Calder had contriyed
the scheme and killed both McRae and
Allen. This story was reiterated in an afi-
davit sworn to by Jim Calder after his in
hHb Vblih N lfliIItI W III lHt
trial. Later, however, after being sepa.
rated from Fisher, young Calder gave out
what he represented to be the actual truth
and which he afterwards swore to on the
stand, successfully w~itbstanding IA rigid
cross examination. This was that Billy
Calder killed McRae and Fisher killed Allen.
Asked why he had not previously given
this account OF it he said that Fisher and
he had agreed to tell the former story and
while with Fisher the latter constantly
urged him to stand by il.
Now it is announced that Jimmy will re-
turn to his first account, holding that
Fisher did not kill either ofthe men. What
reason he will assign for giving a different
account on the previous trial is not made
public, but it presumably will be that the
attorneys for the state advised him to do
80 in order to mitigate his own punishment.
This change has doubtless been brought
about by the necessity Of putting Fisher.
condemned to death, and Jimmy Calder in
the same jail, aud il Fisher should go free
it could be chargeable to no other cause,
we believe, than that Fergus county had
notproperia il Accommodations. Previous
TO the arrest OF Howell. Billy Calder and
Fisher, both awaiting the result OF their
appeals from conviction, were kept in the
old Jail. which contains but two cells.
When Howell was brought in Sheriff Shaw
deemed it unsafe to put a man OF his char.
acter in the court house jail and so put
him with Billy Calder, since which Fisher
could at all times talk with Jimmy Calder
and thisla latest story has been agreed upon.
Attorney Blackford, representing Fisher,
claims that he will save the life OF Fisher
and possibly secure his acquittal IL Jimmy
Calder ~testifies as he now states, he hold
ing that aside from Jimmy's testimony the
state has not the evidence to establish
Fishers guilt.
On the contrary County Attorney Smith
says that he hardly believes that Calder
will iniure the states case, and adds that
he has no doubt Of a second conviction.
Cary 4. Cowgirl. OF Wabash, Indiana who
has interested himself in the case from the
first, has addressed a long communication
to the Wabash Plain Dealer, r~eciting the
history OF the case, Calder's change of
front, and asking additional contributions
OF $500 to meet the expenses OF the second
trial. Already the neighbors Of the elder
Fisher have given literally to the cause,
but Attorney Cowgirl wants them to con-
tinue until the fight is won and his appeal
is a strong one, though, Of course, the re.
cital is entirely from the viewpoint OF the
defendant, and some statements made are
hardly borne out by the facts. For in.
stance. Mr.. Cowgirl states that thesupreme
court, in reversing the lower court, held
that the evidence was unsatisfactory. This,
we think, Is n positive perversion. The
supreme court reversed the case because Of
errors in charging the jury, technica errors,
IL might be said, and to a layman a read.
ing OF the opinion gives theimpression that
the court had quite gone out Of it's way to
discourage the defense in one OF it's strong.
est points, the claim that IL Fisher did kill
Allen, or in fact participated in the killing
or acts subsequent thereto, edid 40 under
duress and through fear Of Billy Calder.
Which one OF the several stories told by
Jimmy Calder is believed by the jury in the
second trial OF Fisher will determine the
l%atter's chance OF continued existence.