The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-06-20
HELD UP "BAtDy' seAlLY
Committed ROBBERY for Which limo
cent Man Was convicted-His
One Honorable Act.

state, it was only because fortune
favored him that Harry Tracey, one
of the escaped convicts from the Ore
gon ~penitentiary, never formed the
acquaintance of the inside Of the
penitentiary at Deer Lodge, for he
has a record in Montana, and it was
made right here in Billings. This
fact has become known only during
the past few days, although the crime
which he committed is still well re-
membered. It took place almost four
years ago and in it's commission
Tracey displayed the same reckless
daring and desperate determination
which has characterized almost every
one of his evil deeds.
"Baldy" Scally, now dead, was at
that time employed as night bartend-
er for Vale & Potter in their present
establishment. Late n night Scally
was sitting in a chair behind the
counter, almost asleep. Suddenly he
found himself confronted by a man
who pushed a revolver into his face
and commanded him to "throw UP"
his hands. Scally could do nothing
except obey, and after relieving the
bartender of his watch n some
money he had on his person the hold
up emptied the till and then backed
out of the place, keeping Scally Gov
cred with his murderous looking wea-
pom. The man was masked and Seal
ly was unable to obtain a glimpse OF
his features, but recognized the
clothes the robber WORE. They belong
ed to a man named Frank Blank, a
piano player. Blank was arrested for
the ~offense, but succeeded in estab-
fishing his innocence and was releas-
ed from custody, as it developed that
during his absence his room had been
entered and a number of articles
stolen, among other things a suit OF
ic1othes and a shotgun. The thief who
robbed Blanks room was also the one
who held up Scally.
The usual search was made for the
double robber, but he was never cap
tured, although subsequently Scally
recovered his watch and a fellow
known as Ed Kelly, In habitue of the
lava fields, was arrested for the rob-
berry, convicted and sentenced to the
p%enitentiary. Kelly protested his in
nocence and claimed that the watch
had been given to him to be returned
to it's owner. Of course, his story
was not believed, as it had been too
often told by men in his position.
The watch was returned to Scally
by Kelly in the Sideboard saloon,
where they happened to meet one
day, shortly after the holdup. Scally
was deploring the loss Of his time
piece, as it had been given to him by
his father. Kelly smilingly told him
that if he treated to a bottle of wine
he would get his watch back. AL
though incredulous and believing the
thing to be a joke, Scally ordered the
wine and as he did so Kelly handed
him the watch. Scally was almost as
much a%stonished as when it was tax
en- from him, but glad to ecover his
; property. It became known how the
, watch had been recovered and Kelly's
| arrest followed. The fact that the
accused bore a somewhat shady repu
tation himself initiated against hin
on his trial and several witnesses il
behalf of the state gave him a hare
name for honesty and t~ruthfulness
) He stoutly maintained that he had re
ceived the watch from a man VIII
r was leaving town and who had told
5 him that he had robbed Scally and dit
not want the watch and had entrusted
it to him for return to it's owner.
il Kelly had been in the penitentiar.
for sometime, when a letter was re
ceived by the warden from a con
vict in the Oregon prison in which i
q was stated that the writer had jus
learned of Kelly's conviction and i'm
r prisonment and that it was all a mis-
8 take; that he and not Kelly had rob
q bed Scally. Kelly had often asserte'
8 that if ever he should see the ma
who gave him the watch, or even
picture Of him, he would instantly
recognize him. Remembering this
the warden, after the receipt of tn
letter, took Kelly into his Office an
showed him a number of photograph
) and after looking them owe for
few minutes suddenly uttered an e,
y clamation of surprise and pointing t
one Of the pictures declared that
: was that of the mar from whom h
had received the watch. It harper
ed that the picture was that
y Tracey.