Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1905-12-19
James Sherman Nineteen Year Old Boy Arrested and Consses That
lie all Alone the Murder of Samuel StudznSk and the Num-
erous Burg|drieS Which Have Occurred in the City,
YOUNG MAN OF MANY CONFESSIONS

Having accumulated this strong
chain of circumstances, the officers
decided that it was time that the
young man be made explain some Of
them Accordingly, he was sent up to
the office Of the shelff in the county
Jail Saturday morning at 1880 O'Clock
and there found Sheriff Slater. Under
Sheriff Martin and Deputies Silver
thorne and Tullock, County Attorney
Roy e. Ayers. Stenographer H. b.
Gibson and H. r. Watson of the Aa-
gus.
Mr.. Watson started the conversa.
tion by informing Sherman that they
had been investigating the entire af-
fair and there were certain circum-
stances which apparently connected
Sherman with the hiding Of the goods
under the Argus which demanded an
explanation. Right here it must be
said that the great number and vari-
ETY. Of stories told by Sherman begin
ming at this point, has been one re-
markable phase of the whole affair.
He first denied having made the $50
payment as related above. Upon be-
ing shown the figures, he calmly said
that he was lying as to that point. He
said that he got the bride from Nc
Coy, the colored man who does the
janitoN work around the Argus Office.
He also said that he got the watch
from Mccoy. This was a new tack, as
the watch was an unknown factor un-
til Sherman let it out himself 1t was
soon discovered that Sherman had
given the watch to Hugh Wagner, the
jeweer with instructions to sell it.
AT numerous points in this recital did
the young man contradict himself as
to material points and when the in
QUESTION was abandoned, shortly af-
ternoOn, all present felt that they
We're very close to the right man or
men at last.
Sherman was not permitted to leave
the jail but Mccoy was taken from
his home, having been confined to his
bed for several days with an attack of
rheumatism, placed before young
Sherman in the county Jail. The negro
vehemently protested his innocence.
So earnest was his manner that the
hat ha
speaking the truth and, in fact, knew
nothing of the cache under the build
in which he worked
The news of young Shermans in
elimination was broken to his parents,
jeff Sherman and wife, Friday even-
ing: Needless to say it was terri
BILE blow to them as they had almost
idolized the lad. The father went to
the Jail that afternoon after he quit
work and tried to get the lads story
but he sullenly refused to give out
any material facts. He could not hide
from his father. however, the horrible
fact that he was in some manner con-
nected with the terrible acts which
had been committed A most affect
ing scene was enacted when the de-
voted mother Of the boy went to see
him. Jamie" as the young man has
always been affectionately called, is
yet little more than lad. He has not
yet reached his twentieth milestone
Although for many years, he had vol
unfairly shouldered the responsible
ties of man, he still possessed many
of the traits of a boy. He is the old
est boy and naturally his mothers de-
pendence. Grief, only such as can be
suffered by mother whose son
stands in the shadow of deaths grim
form. shook the frame of the good
woman. With her mothers love ever
| uppermost she pleaded with her boy
TO tell her all the details of the mis-
| cradle affair. but with eyes in which
never tear appeared he gazed into
| the eafe-seamed face of his mother
| and told story which. not five hours
| later he denied in full.
saturday morning the accused boys
father went back and again pleaded
with the boy to give up the secret. He
made few admissions. among them
being that the negro, Mccoy. was not