Fergus County argus., 1902-01-08
The Billings Jail Breaker Was Shot
to Death by Posse In Guy cou.
lee on Parrot Creek.
CURSED THE OFFICER AND DIED
kilby Pulled His Guns and Commen.
ced Firing When Called Upon
to Surrender.

Billings, Mont, Jan. 6.-Lon Kilby,
the Jail breaker, who was surrounded
by the sheriff's posse yesterday and
shot while resisting arrest, died from
lis wounds at 1890 last night on the
spot where he received the fatal bull
let.
Deputies Sayle and Harding. accom-.
panied by nine men, among whom
were Constable w. c. Grant of Mus.
selshell. Jim Buckley, Park Newton,
NJ. A. Earl and two men from the
Nj ranch, came upon Kilby and the
boy Huffman about 10 o'clock Sunday
forenoon. They we're secreted in Guy
coulee on Parrot creek Just below the
HX ranch. owned by John Chandler.
The officers called on them to sur
render and the Huffman boy threw up
bis hands. Kilby pulled his gun and
opened fire on the crowd 1t was re-
turned with vigor and he fell to the
ground mortally wounded.
Cursed His captors.
Huffman was Immediately secured
and ne gave information to the Off
GERS concerning another man who had
been mixed up In the stealing for
which Kilby was first arrested. In
the meantime Kilby was lying on the
ground cursing the posse with each
recurring breath. Three men were
left with him and the others started
in pursuit OF the man that had been
informed on.
The boy also told the officers that
kilby had said from the day of his
escape that he would never be taken
alive. The wounded man cursed his
captors until his last breath.
The Records Informant was OF the
opinion that tie body would be
brought to Billings, but Deputy Rob-
bins. who is in the city. thinks that
1t will not be, as Kilby's family lives
not far from the spot where he met
his death.
Coroner to the Scene.
Sheriff Hubbard and DIR. James
Chapel, county coroner, started for
the scene of the capture at 10 o'clock
last night. although at that time they
cid not know Kilby was dead. II the
body OF Kilby is brought here for the
purpose OF holding an inquest. the
party is expected to arrive in Billings
some time tonight. II not, they are
not expected before tomorrow night,
as the shooting took place over fifty
miles north Of this city. An officer
with the Huffman boy will probably
arrive tonight.
Lon Kilby Is well known In Fergus
county and in 1900 was arrested on a
charge Of grand larceny preferred by
Stock Inspector Bowmer, who accus.
ed him OF killing a beef steer, the
property of the Nj ranch on the Mus.
selshell. Kilby had hearing in the
justice court and was bound over to
the district court, being jailed here
on May %, 1900. On his trial coming
up II was found that the principal
witness for the state had left the
country and a dismissal was moved
for by the county attorney on the
grounds of insufficient evidence, and
Kilby was discharged in November of
the same year.
A few months later II came to the
knowledge of the sheriffs office here
that Kilby was running horses. from
the Musselshell to Valley county and
the officers OF that county were at
once notified. II was but a short
time after that Kilby was arrested on
a charge OF pillaging a sheep camp on
the Musselshell and taken to Billings
for trial. He contrived to escape
from Jail. stealing a horse as he went
and strict watch has been kept for
him with the result that he met his
death while resisting arrest in Guy
coulee. which is only a few miles
from his home at the mouth of Par.
rot creek.