The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-12-16
STIRRING TIMES IN ROSEBUD
COUNTY CAPITAL.
WALK ON CEYSER'S CRUST
Visitor Describes Situation as Decid-
eddy Strained and Serious Trou-
BILE Likely to Occur.

Possibly frightened Imagination
caused the situation to seem more
serious than it really is and that fear
is responsible for more or less ex-
ageration, still according to all &C.
counts matters down at Forsyth are
in a condition where but little effort
would be required to result in a stir
ring up of a rumpus of the biggest
kind. While the Forsythians cannot
be said to exist and live on the pro-
verbal "slumbering Volcano yet the
news brought from there makes it ap
parent that not much would be requir-
ed to cause al energetic geyser to
set itself up in business and hurt
somebody. ...-
A gentleman who arrived from the
Rosebud county capital this morning
said that things looked decidedly
squally' and that an incautious word
or act would undoubtedly p%recipitate
a row the consequences of which
would be serious. He declared that
for several days past men from the
outlying precincts have been arriving
in the town, and that they came for
a purpose other than to crafty idle
curiosity was apparent from the sus-
picious bulges that protruded from
the neighborhood of their coat tails,
while others, less secretive had open
ly carried rifles and belts of cart
ridges. AS the hunting season is clos
ed and the Cheyenes are unusually
~peaceable The Gazette's informant
was at a loss to know why so many
should find it advisable to go armed
unless it was because they believed
hat there might be something do
ing"
Although up to the time he left
nothing more serious than occasional
knockdowns and street fights had oc-
Cured, the gentleman quoted said ev-
erything vas ripe for a 'big row. in
which men might be injured worse
thar to merely get their eyes discol-
ored and a few teeth loosened. He
said feeling was running dangerously
high and that partisanship had reach
ed a stage where it had become I'M
safe to be outspoken in the expression
of political opinion.
The cause of this unusual condition
OF. affairs in a community noted for
it's love of law and order is the feel
ing engendered between the adher-
ents of the respective leaders of the
two factions at war there for political
supremacy. Ever since the recent
election the county has been in a
turmoil. At first only charges of cor
ruption were made and then follow
ed the arrests of men for illegal reg
istration, and on top of this came the
war between the county com
missioners and Justice McRea. The
commissioners possessed themselves
of the docket and records of the
squire and declared his Office va
He retaliated by flning the com
missioners and the county clerk for
contempt of court. A petition for a
writ of habeas corpus was submitted
to Judge Loud by the men in con-
tempt and the matter was heard at
Miles City yesterday, the judge re-
serving his decision. Not content
with permitting the courts to settle
the dispute, the followers of the diff
ferent men it seems have concluded
TO take a hand in the game them
selves and if report is to be relied
upon a condition more or less sug-
gestive of armed peace now prevails
down Forsyth way.