Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-06
- ANACONDA NEWS -

cccccccccccccccccccccocc Observation-Disclosures
took to make his escape out of VIM
down on the second story of the house
where he was in hiding, but one of the
officers leveled gun at his head and
warned him that if he made single
move he would get the contents of the
barrel aimed at him. Macarthur saw at
| once that he was foiled, being cut off
from his weapons and every avenue of
| escape being closed Their was but one
thing for him to do and that was to sur
| render.
| The prisoner was at Missoula this
morning in charge of his captors and
viii oe brought to Anaconda this even
| ing to be locked up in the county Jail in
| this city until the authorities of Powell
| county are better prepared to keep him
| in safety.
Deputy Sheriff Robinson took an active
| part in the capture of Macarthur. He
| followed up a clue which lead him to
| believe the man was somewhere in the
Bitter Root valley and Sheriff Mcmahon
| and the other officers in persuit were so
] advised.
| 1t was ascertaned that Macarthur had
| been at Everhall where he worked two
! days in a wood yard about the 22d of
! February, but had left and for a time
! all trace of him was lost. The search
continued, however and finally Deputy
Robinson learned that Macarthur had
friend in Rancher Miner Berry, near
Florence. Deputy Robinson, being SO
well known in the Bitter Root valley,
| realized that it would be necessary for
him to keep in the back ground until the
p4oper time came, so he employed
stranger to do a little detective work for
| him. The stranger, whose name could
not be learned located Macarthur at the
| Berry ranch ard a c.ose watch of his
movements was kept until Deputy Rob-
inson could summon his fellow officers
and made ready for the attack.
The skies were clear last night, the
moon shone brightly making an escape
into the darkness impossible.
The officers are to be congratulated
on the success they have attained in the
capture of the outlaw and Sheriff Nc
Mahoh deserves great credit for having
kept up the chase with such diligence
and care. Sheriff Mcmahon offered u
reward of $500 for the capture of Nc
| Arthur.
The first information of McArthur's
presence in the Bitter Root was received
from ex-Deputy Sheriff Chapman of Gal
Dotson. Barry, at whose ranch Nc
Arthur was arrested. is an ex-convict
and was in the pen with Macarthur.
The story of the finding of the body
of Oliver Dotson dead and with a bull
let hole in his head. is still fresh in
the minds of the public. The tragedy
happened at the old mans home. lit
tie cabin on ranch located fourteen
miles north of Avon. in Powell county.
The grewsome discovery was made on
February 20. Five days prior to that
time neighbors Of Dotson heard the re-
port of shots fired from gun in the
direction of his home. but thought
nothing of it at the time. Little did
they realize that in that lonely spot
one of the worst crimes, the foulest of
murders. had been committed. and that
their old and respected neighbor had
been singled out as the victim. Dotson
was not seen about his usual walks
after that time, but in the course of a
few days his neighbors became alarm
ed; no smoke was seen to issue from
the chimney of his cabin, and an In
spection of the premises showed the
place to be deserted. The cabin door
was opened and they were Mortified to
find the old mans form lying on the
floor, with his head lying in a pool of
frozen blood which had come from the
CHASTITY wound inflicted by the ,sunshot
fired by his assailant.
The murderer. in order to cover up
his tracks. hung the gun with which
he did the shooting upon the wall, with
the muzzle pointing in the direction OF
where Dotson fell, and string had
been attached to the trigger, suggesting
the theory of suicide.
The authorities at Deer Lodge were
advised of what had taken place and
they at once set to work on the case
and called on officers of surrounding
counties for assistance.
Sheriff Mcmahon of Powell county
had been advised a short time before
of a deep-laid plot, concocted behind
the walls of the penftentiary, to muir
der Oliver Dotson. In the penitentiary
is confined Clinton Dotson, son, serv-
ing a sentence of SO years for being
implicated in the Cullnane murder q
7 few years ago. Two others, Benson and
Persinger, also implicated in the Gull
linane tragedy. are each under a ter
, years sentence. These three men want
ed to gain their liberty, especially
Clinton Dotson, who was doomed te
remain in prison the rest of his natura
> days. So it was planned that James
Macarthur, who finished his sentence fol
, grand larceny, and escaping from pris
on in December, was to go to the home
of the father of Clinton Dotson and Kill
. hom. After doing so, he was to leave
forged confession in which it was t.
be made out that old man Dotson was
to take the blame of the Cullinane
murder upon himself and generating
his SON and his fellow prisoners from
any implication in the affair whatever
It is believed young Dotson represented
to Macarthur that his father had &
large sum of money concealed about his
place, which he was to get and retain
as his reward for getting Dotson ou
of the way.