Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-03-21
IHE AWFUL CRlMt.
CONTINUED from Sixth Page,l

~
own testimony, when they might
have got away, but when asked why
they did not each replied, as 10 slmi-
lar questions concerning the matters
of the previous day, that they were
afraid OF Billy.
BiIiy a the wager aud the three
went TO where the bodies Wtre' the
sheep having been placed III tle q
raj The night before. Wrapper III II
blanket ana IA tarpaulin secured ron
Nj Rea's cabin the bodies were lohu-
ed Ia the wagon, Mcltca's cabin was
rified Tor food and everything oi
value taken. One oi the murderer 5
drove the wagon and two drove the
sheep, taking n southe1Sterly course
toward Miles city, Billy having in
formed the Others that they would
take the sheep to Miles ana sell them
anI skip with the money, or failing
in this, take the sheep east.
Meantime Sam Smith had become
Suspicious aud leaving his home after
the boys had gone, followed them.
When he curhe mp with them Bllly
was driving the team, aud upon be
ing questioned told Smith that Me
Rra had hired them Ia drlyr the Sheep
to the railroad. In explanation oi
Mcliru also taking lilllrhrhHdts
sheep. when he had had un shares,
Bilh said Mclica intended to steal
them and get away with the pro-
ce,pis, hc hnvi Z agreed 10 give BILLY
n portion of the profits for standing
in with the Job. When asked where
Mclt,a was Billy Told Smith he was
- l.. al. ...Y.F4.V $40 la sltl MT
want tn bc seen leaving the country.
This story did not sntiNly Smith and
he rode 10 Lewis ranch. who accom-
panied him 10 Mclira's. They found
the house cmpticl ui its ]yaluablrs
and nearby n suspicious pool oi
bluud, Night coming upon them,
they postponed further Investigation
until morning. Nhrn thchluudy trails
were found aud also the place where
the bodies had been laid over night.
Smith AT once made I'M attempt at
notifying the sheriff, j. ID. Waite, but
his letter was so contradictory that
when IL reached tie shcri1's office
fnrts easily procurahlc cuntrAdicIed
salient features and Waite deemed
SMITHS suspicious grOundlcss, Why
he did nut inform the sheriff Of allthr
facts NJ Hscrrtainrd 10y him has never
been satisfactorily explained, and
this feature is the only one In any
way pointing to Smith rs an rcom
p,ice. Other features. however. to-
tally Gispruve the possibility that
Smith was concerned, AMI the only
possible explanation of Ills laXiIy is
that he Is an ignorant man md did
uDr raHlizn \ ha lpIrTntt 4 al flA ..riYn.
or the necessity uf impnrting all the
particulars to the officers.
Smith did not pursue the boys, nor
did Lewis, both saying that they de.
pended upon the officers.
Two days after, however, the re-
port having reached Flatwillow and
nothing having been heard nor oil,
GERS having arrived, JEFF sherman
together with Others, organized pur
suit and finally effected the captur,
of the criminals.
But Ia return tn the progress a
the boys and the bodies. The cross
ing of the Mussrlshell river, at Tho
point known rs the Hudc ranch. OF
the old trail from Miles City to For
MaginniS. was reached Monday after
noon. Tint night driftwood was
gathered from the banks of til,
stream and n great fire built. upon
which the bodies were placed. each ~
the murderers taking their tnrn IL
watching the sheep aud rckindlin!
the fire. Late in the evening al wen
to bed, but early in the mornin,
some slight noise awaking them
Billy aTOse and thereafter until day
Hight one remained constantly al
guard. After breakfast had beer
cooked and eaten II was found tina.
the bodies had been almost entirel,
consumed. The remnants Of bones
buckles, etc, together with the coal
were rakcd into the stream. and nj
eddy catching them. Jimmy wnde,
into the stream and started the tloa
into the current. Here they left tell
tale evidence Of the awful destruc
tion. A point brought out was tina
possibly the same fire which burne,
the bodies cooked the breakfast. bu
the idea il almost too revolving [,
entertain.
The sheep were rounded mp and tn
Tourney continued toward Miles, bu
In some u getting off the direc
road, the party went down Big POI
cunine creek In the direction Of Fol-
syth.
sherman and his posse left Flntwi
low on Monday and Tuesday nigh
reaclled the river. where they foun
the remnants NJ n fresh camp fir,
Knowing they were close upon thei
prev thu rested and made II yer
early start, coming upon the hoy
about . a. m. Wednesday,. Jimm
and Fisher had In the mrantim
agreed upon u story, claiming after
ward they expected 10 he overtnkeI
Leaving part OF the posse with thps
boys. sherman, Smith and Wilkorso
newis was also one Of the posse
rode to where Billy was with III
sheep and held him ur, though I'll
murderer was unarmed. The shcr
were left In charge Of ono man nm
the boys taken to Forsyth. ~ mile
distant, where they We're lodged |
Jail. sherman wired Sheriff Wait,
but that officer had already take
the trail.
In smiths letter to Sheriff Walt
the matter of stealing the sheep ha
been so stated that Waite had COZ
cluded the sheep referred to wei
some which hnd been driven thrOug
Lewistown n few days before on III
way TO Miles City. COMMISSIONS
SlnytOn. who lives on the Musse
shell. being then In town In attenC
ance upon u meeting 81 the commi,
sipnrrs. said thar McI,pa's absenc
was easily accounted for. ~ he kne,
McRra had an appointment wit
Elisha Clark 10 exchange sOmeshepI
aud be believed that at about th
time stated MrRrh would be frot
home. The county commissioners "a
pa-sed upOn the matter nnd cOnclut
ell the statement ~ Smith did no
give fncts sufficient 20 Justify the lon
frfp by fhe sheriff Further. Sheri