Fergus County argus., 1902-02-05
Pictures Taken Of Tyler After Death
Answer the Description OF
"slippery Sam
WILL APPEAR IN THE ARGUS
Bud Tyler's Picture Will be Published
for Identification as Soon as
Cut is Finished.

killed by Deputy Martin in the bad
lands a short time ago has been almost
positively identified as Sam Larson,
who is known throughout Montana as
desperate criminal.
Pictures were taken of the dead man
when he was brought into Gilt Edge
by Norman Poland and are now at the
ARGUS office; a cut has been order
ed and as soon as possible the photo
graph of Tyler, or Larson as 1t is
thought. will appear in the paper and
will no doubt lead to the conclusive
establishment of the horse thief's
identity.
In view Of the fact that he may
prove to be Larson, the following ac'
count of the latter's cafeer will no
doubt prove interesting:
Fort Benton, Jan. 3l.-As a study
in criminology the life OF Sam Lar
son. alias slippery Sam cattle and
horse thief jail breaker and fugitive
from justice, who. it is believed was
killed at Gilt Edge last week, pos
sessed more or less interest, partly
from the fact that he was a type Of
terminal peculiar to this and all cat.
tie countries, and partly because he
had so often escaped from custody,
and for such long time had eluded
the vigilance of the alert officers,
both in this state and Canada. He
had upset two traditions of the mount
ed police, namely, that when they
want a man they get him. and when
they get him they keep him. Sam
not only got away from them after
they had him safely in Jail at Maple
creek last October, but he had the
nerve to steal horses right under the
noses of the mounted police, and those
who know him don't think for a min
ute that the police were at fault. Dc.
casionally Larson appeared at ranch
in this county and got fresh horse
and a meal or two. or took shot al
some rider whom he suspected of be
ing an officer.
Only a short time ago Larson met
a sheepherdcr named Cunningham
down in the lower end of the county
In some way Cunningham got the best
Of him and pounded Larson up, took
his siX-shootcr and outfit away from
him and turned him adrift. But al
though Cunningham knew there was
a large reward out for Iarson's cap
ture he did not take him into custody
Cunningham. by the way is the mar
Who was shot at by the Wagner trair
robbers last July and hit in the leg
He has, II is said. great deal o
nerve.
Larson was a Dane and used to b,
a respectable young ranchman will
his brother Henry, on the Marias, no
: far from here. He began, il is said
in small way to maverick calye
, and down a beef" once in a while
: Then he got to running off horses il
the Northwest Territory. He got in
!. to trouble SO often that he soon los
all his start in the cattle business
and from that time he began to live
predatory life.
Last summer when the big poss
was down in the Landusky vicinity
a wild and desolate country fror
which no rustler ever returns with a
officer unless he wants to-Stock Ii
spector Lund and deputy ran acros
Larson and arrested him. The inspec
tor searched the prisoner well and ha
not the slightest idea that he woul
even attempt to escape. During tn
ride in the morning Larson kept con
planning to the officer that he wa
: suffering from a severe illness. Th
inspector allowed him to dismount o
ten, but watched him very closel
At noon they stopped for dinner at III
Putnam sheep ranch, which is sit
ated on the very edge OF the bad land
There was at that time a young ma
working for the company named Ba'
Davis or Elmer Bass. who was we
acquainted with Larson and was vel
|. friendly towards him, owing to Il
fact that Larson had kept him all wi
tor at hts cabin and nmsCd hi
7. through a severe illness, Ia some w