Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1902-08-01
HOT P|STIC ARGUMENT
Thiel Greek Ranchers Come to Blows in
Red Lodge as Result Of
Range Dispute.
FROM COURT TO RING
William and Tony Thiel Double Team on
William 1tsen and q Pretty
Fight Ensues.

noon as finale to justice court case 10
which neighboring ranchers Of the Har-
ney and Thiel creek country were inter
ested. 1t was an impromptu pugilistlc
exhibition growing out Of the action OF
the two children of Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam Itzen in driving from their accus-
toned ranges cattle belonging to Will
liam Thiel, and the subsequent arrest Of
the children, girl and boy, aged res
pectively II and l3, on complaint Of. Mr..
,Thiel on charge OF having committed a
misdemeanor. The case was tried be-
fore Justice Hawthorne Wednesday af
ternoon and the evidence showed that
Mr.. Itzen, who has lease on q section
of school land, had instructed his chill
dren to drive Thiel's cattle off from the
premises. It appeared that these cattle
we're being ranged on government land
adjoining the state school section and
that the children not only herded the
cattle off the leased section, but also, in
violation Of sections 1855 and 1857 Of the
penal code, removed them from their
accustomed range and drove them past
the nearest corral, distance Of three
miles and half on the county road. At
the conclusion Of the evidence the court
imposed the minimum fine provided by
the last named section of 81 each on the
two children, whereupon Mr.. Itzen gave
notice Of appeal to the district court.
| Immediately after the trial Of the
cause William Thiel and his brother
Tony became involved in discussion on
the street, in front of the Golden Rule
store, with Maurice Powers and Charley
Bell over the merits Of the case. While
thus engaged Mr.. Itzen, accompanied
by his wife, came along and Joined il
the controversy. The lie was quickly
passed between Tony Thiel and Mr.
Itzen and then the fun began. After
the exchange Of a few harmless blows
Mr.. Itzen secured an opening and with
a terrific swing landed hard on Mr.
Thiel and sent him prostrate to the side
walk, whereupon William Thiel spranl
to the defense of his brother and crap
pied with Mr.. Itzen. The two mer
wrestled of the sidewalk into the street
and Mr.. Itzen, handicapped by having
been grabbed from behind, went dow1
on his back with his adversary squared,
on top of him. By this time Tony THE
had recovered his feet and the twt
brothers rained blow after blow in th'
upturned face of Mr.. Itzen, drawing
blood at every punch and creating |
great hubub in the street. Mrs. ltzen
seeing that her husband was being
double teamed on, loyalty and fearlessl.
! sprang to his assistance and dealt boil
! the Thiel brothers several hard upper
! cuts. She not only used her hands bu
her feet as we'll and did some great exc
! cution. Mr.. 1tzen then regained hi
feet and the fistic argument proceede,
between himself and William Thiel. Bot
men stood squarely up to the scratc
and the fight was waxing fast and ful
ious when Police Magistrate Sichler ar
peared hatless on the scene and place
all three men under arrest on a charg
of disturbing the peace.
| After the three ranchers had washe
the blood from their faces they appeare
before the magistrate and William This
pleaded guilty and was fined 1915, il
cluding costs, which he paid. The othe
two were discharged.