Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-08-17
MADE A DESPERATE
BREAK FOR LIBERTY
Isaac Gravee First Convicted in Fergus County, On
Trial Before Judge Cheadle at Helena, Shoots
Deputy Sheriff and Finally Kills Himself.

ed the corner of Breckenridge street.
he ran over TO the Jail. Jailer Jones
having come To- the door and shouted.
But Frank Latta had also heard the
shots and he also rushed over to the
Jail Jailer Jones by this time, had
brought out shot gun that is kept
In the jail and Latta grabbed IL and
ran after Gravelle.
While this was goins on scores of
people were putting after Gravelle.
The leader in this chase was Hank
Monroe and fired. Monroe dropped
keeper at Cascade, and one of the
witnesses in the trial Of Gravelle.
Mr.. Monroe did not have a gun, but
ne kept closely after Gravelle. The
latter ran up Breckinriuge street past
the Murray stable. Near the corner
of Rodney horse was tied. Gravelle
started to unite the animal when he
noticed that Monroe was not to ex-
ceed 10 feet behind him. Gravelle
quickly turned. leveled his gun at
Monroe and fired. oMnroe dropped
TO the ground and Gravelle gave up
the horse and ran around Rodney
street. He ran down Rodney 10 an
alley, half way 10 Fifth avenue. As
he ran on Rodney. John Raab saw
him with the guns and he ran into a
saloon and got a revolver Mean
while Major KeOwn was also hot on
the trail. He started early in the
chase and Witnessed Grayelle when
he turned into Rodney street. Gra-
yellc ran down the alley to a lot in
the rear of the Bikenfcld residence
and then to Fifth avenue. He cross
ed Fifth and made an attempt 10
jump fence, but failed.
ltaab by this time reached the cor
ner Oi Firth. and so had Major Nc
kc0wn. They both fired at Gravelle
and he returned the fire. Hesitating
for just n second. Gravelle then ran
west on Firth avenue to Brecken-
ridge, past the residence of Governor
Toole. As he ran down Fifth avenue
he passed a lady who was right In
the range OF Keown and Raab. First
kcUwn shot at GrayeiIe Just as he
turned the corner and the fleeing
man went down as though he had
been hit The lady ran up the en-
trance of Governor ToOle's house and
was admitted by Mrs. Toole. While
NcOwn and Raab and others were
pursuing Grayellc on Rodney and
Fifth avenue, others were closing in
on him from Breckenridge street. Po-
lice Sergeant Surzem was in the
sherfs office when Gravelle first
emerged from the Jail and he imme-
diately took after him. X. A. Glenn.
ents had run into the sheriff's Office
and got a gun and he also started in
the chase. SpurZem and Clements
and Monroe ran down Ewing street
and saw Gravelle turn In TO that
street from Fifth avenue, and Frank
latta also took that course. Gravelle
got three shots at his pursuers on
Ewing street. but none took effect,
though they whistled over to the court
house. Raab met Spurzem and Glenn
ents at the Toole house, Gravelle ran
around the house TO the alley on the
north side He ran east on IL TO an
other alley, between the Toole resi-
dence and the one east He saw
keown and others coming down Fifth
and he returned To the alley on the
north side OF Governor ToOle's house.
He ran down that a few steps and got
behind a row of sweet pea vines.
Clements and SuprZem were standing
at the entrance TO tn, alley, behind
the stone that surrounds the house.
Behind the stone post at the entrance
to the walk in front OF the governors
house Raab was posted. Raab shot
across the yard at Gravelle and the
latter returned the fire. Meanwhile
Clements took shot at Gravelle, and
II is thought that this is the one that
struck in the arm. After Clements
had taken one shot he gave his re-
yolyer 10 Spurzem. The latter stood
straight up and was about TO take
deliberate aim when Gravelle said:
Get down. Joe, or | will shoot YOU"
Spurzem was deputy sheriff when
Grayelle was tried on the dynamiting
charge and acted as his guard during
the trial. Spurzem diu not heed the
admonition but fired. Gravelle, evil
dently believing that the end had
come, then turned and started down
the steps leading to the basement.
He had gone down but a few steps
when a shot was heard.
BY this time Frank Latta arrived
on the scene with the shotgun. He
looked into the windows of the base
ment thinking that perhaps Gravelle
had gone into II. Theh ne cautiously
approached the steps and, looking
down saw Gravelle lying with his
head towards the door and his right
arm bent under him. The blood was
flowing from Gravelles head.
1t is all over, boys" called Latta,
and the crowd came. The body Of
Gravelle was brought up and IL was
found that he was dead. having shot
himself through the head. The bull
let entered on the right side. little
in front of the ear and came out on
the opposite side.
The body was taken first to the
morgue in the court house and after
ward to the F7aherty undertaking es-
tablishment. Coroner Yaeger was on
the ground and he will hold an in-
quest tomorrow evening.
Isaac Gravelle was the most des-
perate criminal that has been before
the courts in Lewis and Clarke coun-
ty. He was horse thief, a dyna-
inter and a burglar, and II Tony
Korizek dies he will also be a MUIR
derer. He was the first man In the
annals OF the state who deliberately
planned to wreck tram carrying 200
innocent passengers and throw the
train into the river, his sole object In
that attempt being to force the Nor