The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-12-08
WEEKS HAPPENINGS
NEWS or THE WEEK m a CON.
soENseo FORM.
For killing or 0arrctt-osso Eriok-
son Held withous Hail In Butte
County-wishout His Con fessios an
Innocent Man Might Have Hung.

A Lead special says: Otto Erickson
was held 60 the circuit court OF Butte
County without bail for the killing OF
James Garrett, near Belle Fourche.
William Erickson WAS held In S2.OOo
bonds as an accessory 60 the crime.
This case shows the worthlcssncss n
u~nrclIability OF purely circumstantial ev-
idence.
A stockman named Gus Matson, who
lived near CARROTS ranch, soon after
the disappearance OF Garrett several
weeks ago, was arrested on the charge
OF having murdered and hidden the body
of the missing man. Everything APP
reared for n time 10 point plainly 10
Matson rs the murderer OF his friend
aud former partner. -,
Matson. when first arrested, admitted
that Garrett had been at his ranch =
short time before his disappearance and
that they had drank together. From
this and the discovery Of n trail leading
across the prairie, commencing at q point
within n few miles OF Matson's home
and giving evidence that IL had been
made by the dragging OF a body along
the ground. together with other appar-
emily suspicious circumstances. led many
20 believe that Matson was responsible
for the disappearance and death or Gar
rett.
Had Il not been for the confession OF
Erickson, the state would have been
able TO present n strong chain of circum"
stantial evidence against Matson. and IL
was within the range Of possibilities that
he would have been convicted or the
crime.
Another circumstance which would
have strengthened the case against him
was the agitation shown by him when
informed In his cell that the body OF
Garrett had been found after q systemat-
ic search lasting for many days. When
told Of the finding Of the body Matson
exclaimed:
"My Godi Boys. you can kill me now.
but I am innocent"
His agitation was presumed 10 have
been evidence OF n guilty conscience, but
a Ia now apparent that Matson realized
the trying position he was In and that
although innocent he might be wholly
unable TO establish his innocence had
the case against him come 90 trial.
No firm was the belief in his guilt and
30 bitter the feeling against him that a
number Of the stockmen who were en-
gagged In the search for CARROTS body
loudly proclaimed their intention OF TAX
ing Matson from Jail for the purpose Of
lynching him.
Now hat Erickson has confessed hav-
ing committed the murder, Matson Is
again a free man and stands completely
indicated before his friends and ac-
auaintances. Because or the removal Of
suspicion from him he Is probably the
happiest man in South Dakota today.
Otto Erickson. the s~clf-confcssed muir
dercr or Garrett. for several years was
employed by The Homestake Mining
Company as a toolpacker. and left the
employ OF the company In order 10 go on
the ranch with his brothers. The Erick-
son ranch is situated near the scene OF
the murder.
Erickson Is described as a quiet. unas-
Stunning young man, who scarcely ever
had anything 90 say unless he was ad-
dressed. And yet. according 10 his con-
f~cssion. Il Is doubtful IL there Is IN the
whole OF South Dakota a more cold.
blooded fiend than he.