The Butte inter mountain., 1903-12-29
SHERIFF POTTER'S
TRIO OF BAD MEN
TERROR OF THE EVlLDOER IN THE
WYOMING LINE COUNTRY is
IN THE CITY TODAY.
ABOUT THE BRIDGER ROBBERY
Sheriff Potter Tells OF Lootnp OF Bank
and Other Incidents Connected
With His Prisoners.

Sheriff Potter Of Carbon county. who
was in town last night with three prison.
ers bound for Deer Lodge, tells all inter
estinp story Of the Bridger bank robbery.
The sheriff stopped of here owing to
the fact that he was i'll and did not like
TO take a chance with the three men while
unable TO cope with them.
Sheriff Potter's name is terror to the
Iawless element OH the Wyoming border,
and il has been the fate OF many wrong
docrs TO fall into the hands OF the official
just when they thought they were sale.
The sheriff knows every foot OF the ter
ritory in which he operates and also knows
the haunis OF the gang Of horse and cattle
thieves that infest that portion Of Carbon
county
Joe Was in It.
When the Bridgcr bank robbery oc-
eurrcd, Lonesome" Joe, the man taken 10
the pcnitentiary Sunday night aided the
robbers in securing mounts on Which to
escape. For this he was arrested and
placed on trial with the rest
Pat Murray. Jess Lindsey and Will
Countryman, the other bandits had ar
ranged 10 place all the blame on Lone
some" and he was informed Of the fact.
He Immediately turned states evidence
and told all he knew Of the affair. For
this he was released. 1t did not take him
long TO butt into the law again. and for
this he will do time at Deer Lodge.
After looting the Bridger bank, the
bandits went TO a small town and there
one OF them traded his horse Tor noted
runner, and explained that he was going
out to round up some cattle. The horse
became unruly in a canyon and injured
its shoulder. and it became necessary 10
kill it. II was shot and the head and one
foot removed as was also the brand. The
foot was aftcrward found in the river, but
the head was never discovered.
Fears Violence.
Lonesome" Joe has his doubts about
his safety at Deer Lodge aud fears trouble
at the hands OF the three men on whom
he "squealed." The sheriff took Al Smith
down to the pen last night and will take
the other men today.
When Lonesome" Joe was arrested the
last time for horse stealing he was in his
cabin. He was asked that he be allowed
TO take a shot OF dope" but after rolling
I'D his sleeves he made a dash ont OF the
back door and escaped in the brush. Pre-
yiously Zoe had stolen the sheriff swift
horse and secreted it in another corral, so
that he could secure it at night. The horse
got away and Joe was run TO earth.
The sheriff will take Countryman from
Deer Lodge 10 Carbon county, where he
will be tried on charge OF shooting at
the officers.
Hung Up the Jury.
When the case OF the bank robbers was
before the jury one juryman held out Tor
acquittal for Countryman. lie first wanted
10 have the others given IS years, and
after that agreed that ii Countryman was
given one year and the others eight years
he would not hang the jury.
Alter considering the cost OF the prose.
cution, the jurymcn submitted rather than
have a misral. The case cost the county
about $4,000, and when the jury came into
court and the facts became known about
the juryman who had effected the COM
promise, the judge delivered a lecture tc
him that was redhot.
1t was then decided to try Countrymar
on the other charge, and his case vii
come up soon in the same county.