davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14
DEATH OF MRS.
NJ. STAFFORD
One of kendaII's Best Known and
Most Highly Respected Woman
is Called.
NEW OFFICERS OF THE X. OF p.
Strike in the Big Drake Property
Personal and Business
Notes.

Kendall, Dec. 13.-Ben Wiedeman,
of the Gilt Edge Mercantile company
store, was in town the first of the
week.
The Shaules bar is closed for the
time being, A. J. Smith and J.. II.
Hendricks, the proprietors, havin dis
solved partnership. MI. Smith has
gone into business again with William
Nader in the Rock saloon.
V. II. Mumbrue. of Wolcey. arrived
in Kendall asst week to reside.
In Justice to Lyman Wilson.
A most unaccOuntable error crept
into last weeks issue of the account
of a freighter named George Omar
being arrested for using profane Ian
guage On the street. The article read
that Lyman Wilson was the man ar.
rested when it should have read that
Lyman Wilson was the complaining
witness in the case.
D. o. Holt and little daughter, Anna
Leta, spent Sunday in Lewistown on
business connected with the placing
of the late Mrs. Hollis tomb stone.
Henry M. Rae, who returned to
Gilt Edge the first of the week, was
called back by phone a few days
since on business connected with the
big strike in the Santiago.
Judge James 2. Moore was called
away during the week on business,
but returned Tuesday.
Rev. Craven, the presiding elder OF
this district, was in town Thursday
preaching that evening at the school
house.
Miss Ruth Stafford, who taught the
public school near the Lindsay ranch
for the fall term, spent Saturday in
town visiting her old time Wisconsin
friend, Miss Elsie King. Miss Stafford
since the close of her term has start
ed a private school with a member
ship of nine pupils, using one of the
upper rooms in the Lindsay home fol
her school room.
T. w. Humphries, the jeweler, lef
Friday afternoon for LewistOwn, re
turning Saturday.
Mrs. E. p. Durnen who spent sever
al weeks visiting friends and relative.
at her old home in Winston, return
ed home Saturday looking and feelin.
fine.
Mrs. Charles Fletcher, who has beel
i'll at her home with the grip, i
slightly improved.
Mrs. A. J. Smith received sad new
this week, her brother at Chicago, Ill
having died very suddenly at tha
place.
Born, to the wife of Owen TabiI
Monday. December 10, son.
IN Death Of Mrs. Stafford.
The community was shocked Mol
day morning last, on hearing of th
death of Mrs. NJ. Stafford, at her HON
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14
AN ATTEMPT
AT SUICIDE
Mr.. Crawford Takes a Dose Of Strych
nine, But His Life is
Saved.
Parks Plant at the Maginnis Mine to
Operate ContinuousIy-vance-
Decker.

Gilt Edge, Dec. Thames Murphy
who was mine foreman at Whiskey
Gulch, returned from Idaho where he
had been working for some time Mr..
Murphy reports lots of work III
Idaho and in tie various camps of
Montana which he visited. He intends
to go to Arizona and Nevada soon.
+. w. Anderson left last week for
few weeks sojourn at Chico springs.
He will also visit his brother in Butte
before returning TO Gilt Edge.
A number OF Gilt Edge people have
been attending court in Lewistown
this week.
John Fisher, engineer at the Magin
mis- mine was here this week and say
that the water line of 1900 feet t(
convey water to the new plant is com
pleted and will furnish abundance o
water and Prof. Parks plant will nov
be in continuous operation.
F. Darcy, of Alpine. was a visitor
here this week.
John INLAND, of Cone Butte, was {
Lewistown visitor this week. Mr.. Nj
soon.
A grand masquerade ball is adver
tised for Christmas evening to be Civ
en- at Rafter's hall under the auspices
of the Judith Mountain Miners Union
The various committees will endeavol
to make it a success and see that all
enjoy a good time.
DIR. I.akey was called to Alpine to
Mr vyfn hn he fny
Fred France. The gentleman had been
drinking freely and took dose oi
strychnine. He was brought to town the
next morning and is now getting along
all right and will soon be around
again.
Miss Ada Meyersick, county super
intendent of schools, was here this
week and found them in good WORK
ing order.
w. w. Badger, of the Gold Reef, wa.
a business visitor to Lewistown thi:
week.
Fred Schmidt, who was employed b.
the Gold Reef Mining company, lef
for Lewistowr last week.
Perry Decker and Mrs. Clara Vanc
were united in the holy bonds of mat
rimony in Lewistown last Tuesda
about noon by Rev. Martin at tn
Methodist parsonage. Both are We
and favorably known. They returne
to Gilt Edge in the evening wher
they were duly serenaded. Mr.. an
: Mrs. Decker have gone to house keel
: ing up the gulch, where they will b
J at home to their many friends. The
have the best wishes of all for happ
, and pleasant married life.
2 Mrs John Sriell, N. E. Lee and /
. V. Johnson. Of Cone Butte. were bus
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14
THAT PRINTING
CONTRACT AWARD
Formal Opinion by Attorney General Albert j.
Galen-Lawyers Who Have Looked Into the
Subject do Not Agree With His Conclusions.

Some surprise was caused this week
by the announcement of formal
opinion from Attorney General A. J
Galen in regard to the power of the
board of county commissioners to
award the contract for the county
printing, in which it is held that the
board Is without such authority. Whel
this question came up originally, a
short time ago, County Attorney
Ayers put in an opinion in which the
same conclusion announced by Mr.
Galen, was reached. The commission
ers at once took the matter up with
the attorney general by telephone,
and that official gave an informal, OF
hand opinion to the effect that the
board had the authority to make the
contract Mr.. Ayers later submitted
his opinion to the attorney general,
and the latter now sustains the local
official. These opinions, of course, are
purely advisory, and it may be said
in passing that many lawyers of high
standing disagree wholly with the at
torney general. One of the most prom
inent member of the bar of this coun-
ty, in discussing the matter says:
Board Has Authority.
Il cannot agree with the conclusions
reached by the county attorney and
attorney general, who hold that the
board of county commissioners has eX-
ceeded its authority in letting the con-
tract for the reason that such action
is against public policy.
my judgement of the matter is
that the board of county commission
els, as legal body, has authority to
enter into contracts binding the coun-
ty, including the printing contract,
for which the county is properly
chargeable. The board as board is
a continuous body, and while the per
sonnel of the board may be changed
the board itself, as a legal entity
does not change.
THE members of the board, except
when acting as a board, have no au
thority to make a contract binding Oh
the county. If the board has authority
to enter into a contract for the cOun
ty printing in January, then the board
acting as board, has authority to
make that contract in December.
g | do not see that a change in the
personnel of the board can make any
difference whatever in the authority
of the board, since all the members
have subscribed to the same oath, Civ
en- the same bond and have the same
authority. in law
1t is worth mentioning thai il
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14

town during the week on business.

town during the week on business.
Ed Edwards, Of Helena, arrived Fri
day, registering at the Shaules.
William Robertson, of Bozeman.
was business visitor in town Fri
day.
Chas. Slough, of Deerfield, was in
town Saturday.
j. E. Wits. of Lewistown. was up
Tuesday.
J. c. Byrd, of Lewistown, was in
Kendall on a brief business visit
Tuesday.
J. l.. Vanest, of Lewistown, came up
on Tuesdays coach
w. s. Smith visited the camp from
Lewistown Tuesday.
George Void, OF Missoula, paid a
visit to Kendall Tuesday.
F. Sullivan, of Lewistown, arrived
in town Tuesday on business.
E. Matthias came up from Lewis.
town this week On business.
J. w. Hyde, of Lewistown, arrived
in town Wednesday.
James Ralston was among the pay
day visitors from the county seat.
Mr.. and Mrs. H. N. Clingnan drove
in from their ranch on the Judith
Tuesday visiting with Mr.. and Mrs.
Archie Harrigan.
Mrs. William Pelley, of Maiden,
is visiting in camp for few days.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14

senger train was held at Ubet while
the incoming train stopped at Harlow
ton. The management pressed the
work with great vigor, and shoe fly
was built around the wreck so that
the delayed trains could pass, both be-
ing something like six hours late. The
railroad people treated the passengers
splendidly, doing everything possible
for them.
The heavy storm that prevailed
Wednesday and yesterday was the
cause Of the late arrival of the Great
Falls stage. 1t was due here in the
morning but did not arrive Wednes-
day until O'Clock. There are some
heavy drifts, and this trouble will pre-
vent the stage from making schedule
time for several days.
The snowfall has been very heavy
during this last storm, and while the
mercury stood at about below zero
in many places, there was very little
wind and the cold caused no suffering.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14

ness visitors in town Wednesday and
Thursday.
Place & Harris are engaged in tho
coal business.
j. J. Lewis has the contract OF
furnishing coal to the Maginnis mine.
The Georgia Troubadour gave an
entertainment here two evenings last
week. The last evenings performance
was followed by dance. Louis Place
the liveryman, being the best looking
gent in the room was awarded the
first prize.
Mrs. oven Dunn received word that
her brother James Shierson who for
merly resided here met his death in
Providence, r. |. Mr.. ShiersOn was
standing on the rear platform of
street car and in rounding sharp
curve he was thrown to the pave
ment, his skull being fractured. He
had just gained possession of consid-
cradle property there and was pre-
pared to spend his days comfortably
He leaves several relatives here.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14
Big Jump in Diamonds.

New York, Dec. 13.-Returning
steamships have brought back the
past week many diamond importers
who went TO Europe to get supplies
for the holiday season, and they agree
that the gems are scarcer and higher
in price than ever before in their ex-
perience.
The present holiday trade in New
York is said to have called for the
greatest quantity and value of fine dia-
monds ever sold in any country in q
single season. With December's fig
ures still to be added, the imports of
precious stones at New York this year
exceed in value by $3,000,OOO the total
for all of last year. which was the
record up to that time.
The aggregate thus far in 1906 is
$40,500, 900, and December promises to
make large addition to that figure.
Some authorities estimated that New
York bought so per cent of the world's q
supply of stones.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14

numerous severe wounds about the
head and face. He was at once re.
moved to the Schroeded hospital, and
it was thought at first that he could
not possibly recover. He showed great
stamina, however, and soon com
menced to improve, and while still in
dangerous condition, the physicians
announce that he has a good chance
of pulling through. Hutteman is d
Finn, and came here a few weeks ago
from Red Lodge, where he was en-
ployed in the mines.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14

Beaverhead county, where the board
Of commissioners is situated just as
the board in this county is, except,
perhaps, that it may not be the same
politically, the contract for the coun-
ty printing was let this week, at the
last meeting of the present board, to
the Dillon Examiner the Democratic
organ.
The question submitted to Mr.. Galen
by County Attorney Ayers was as
follows;
Can retiring board of county COM
missioners enter into an agreement
or contract on the eve of their get
ting out of office for two years county
printing, and thus bind the hands OF
the incoming board?"
In response to this the attorney gen.
eral said:
1--WE have made a careful investi-
cation of the authorities upon this
question, and find that practically all
support the general rule, which is as
follows:
" The general rule is that contracts
extending beyond the term of the ex-
listing board and the employment Of
agents or servants of the county for
such period thus tying the hands of
the succeeding board and depriving
the latter of their proper powers, are
void as contrary to public policy.
There is certainly no necessity for
making contracts with county printers
for any great length of time. They
stand upon altogether different basis
than a contract for the erection of a
public building which might be enter
ed into by the old board, and from
the nature of the work. could not be
completed before the expiration of the
term of such board
Under section 1888, of the politi-
cal code. which provides for the let
ting of contracts for county printing,
the work is practically all piece work,
and ordered as needed by the county,
and there is no necessity whatever
Tor entering into long contracts ex-
tending beyond the period of the term
Of the retiring board.
We must hold that it Is against
public policy for the old board of COM
missioners, whose term of office i3
about to expire, to enter into a con-
tract for work of. the character Of
county printing which will be binding
upon the newly elected board of coun-
/ ty commissioners and thereby deprive
them of the discretion they are given
by the law in making such contracts.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14
ADDITIONAL LOCAL

For rent: Furnished rooms. Mrs.
A. j. Noble, 4th avenue. 12-l4-1t
Hon. B. G. White is in Helena this
week, attending meeting of the
board of sheep commissioners.
The lecture that was to have been
delivered by Prof. Silloway at the high
school this evening for the benefit OF
the Athletic association, has been post
poned, owing to the weather condi-
tions, and will probably be delivered
right after the holidays.
Deputy Sheriff Firman Tullock re-
turned yesterday from Chouteau,
bringing with him man named Net
tleton, who is charged with removing
mOrtgaged property out of the county.
1t is alleged that after securing loan
on some stock, Nettleton drove the an
imals out of Fergus. The case will be
heard in a day or two.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pfaus entertained a
few friends on Wednesday evening
last at venison supper, the venison
being cooked to turn by the little
minister himself, who proved to be an
adept in the art. After fine sup
, per, cards were played and music and
! social chat filled out pleasant eve
ming. Those invited were Mr.. and Mrs
B. c. White, Mr.. and Mrs. Vrooman,
Judge and Mrs. Cheadle and Mr.. and
Mrs. Geo. Bach.
! Mrs. H. G. Philips entertained q
small company of ladies yesterday y
afternoon in honor Of Mrs. w. A. Long
Euchre was played and Mrs. w. W
White made the highest score and re
ceived bunch of carnations as a
prize. A delicious lunch was served
and the afternoon was delightfully."- y
spent. Those present were Mesdames
w. w. White, Brown, Vrooman
Symmes, w. d. Symmes, Wagner
HuntOOn and Long.
The last regular meeting OF the
Women of Woodcraft was held las
Wednesday evening. There was {
| gOOdly attendance and a number O
candidates were initiated. At the close
of the meeting a delicious lunch con
sisting of sandwiches, pickles, cheese
cake and coffee was served by Mes
DANES Suprenant, Hogl, Decker, Da.
and Vehawn, and was followed BY
some very fancy step dancing by some
of the older women of that circle. A
the next meeting there will be five
more limitations.
Charles Johnson, who was arrested
here short time ago on charge o
gambling, has apparently skipped out
Johnson gave a bond in the sum o
$3.50 to secure his appearance, ant
was released. This week Sheriff Slate
learned that the man had taken tn
train, and was according to repor
bound for the Nevada gold fields II
was heard of at Butte, and the sherii
promptly wired down there TO hav
him apprehended but Mr.. Johnso
had already departed. The case wa
i one OF small importance and the cour
" is probably the gamer.
Adolf Hutteman, young miner en-
ployed at the spring creek coal mines
7 was terribly injured Tuesday mornin
I, by the explosion of a missed shot.
appears that the night before. Hutt'
D man had placed charge which faile
4 TO explode, and in the morning he a
a tempted to drill out the charge. Will
+ thus engaged, the blast went off, an
pieces of coal and debris struck tn
7. man with terrific force, one hand b.
+ ing badly mutilated. while he receive
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14

high school fund, $6,51S.5S; district
school library fund $433.64; state
fund, S2O,796.50; state bounty fund
s45.25; stock inspection fund, $l,912
80, stock indemnity fund, $12S.O6;
sheep inspection fund $37s.77; state
stock bounty fund, $l2,555.40; game
warden fund, $.32; fire fund, $500;
estates fund, $25.65. Total $25S,279. go
The receipts during the month
amounted to 173 ,830.76, and came from
the following sources: taxes, $171 .O63
21; licenses, $905; county officers
fees, 221.S0, other sources $1,64O.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14
Postm aster Generals Report.

Washington, Dec. 13.-The annual
report of Postmaster General was
made public today. and a most inter-
esting document it is, reviewing as it
does, the work of the department for
the past year, giving in detail the pos
tai receipts and expenditures, discuss.
es important changes that have been
made in organization and makes num-
erOus suggestions and recommenla-
tions.
The receipts from ordinary revenues
and money order business in 1906
amounted to sl67, ,932,7S as against
1852 1926, ,5s5.10 in 1905, while the ex-
penditures were $17S,449,77S.S9 in
1906, as against Sl67 ,399, 1923, max
ing the deficit for the year $10,516,995.
81 as compared with S14,572, ,5S4.13 III
1905.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14

Mr.. Huntoon stated that it was not
MS understanding at all, when the
matter was under discussion Friday
morning, that it had been positively
agreed that the trial should proceed
In the afternoon. He wished. he said
TO hle affidavits on that matter.
The Court: All the affidavits you
could sign or get signed, could not
affect my understanding OF what &C.
tually occurred in my presence.
The selection Of jury was pro.
ceeded with, but it was late in the af-
ternoOn before the twelve men were
secured, both sides, exercising chal-
lenges freely.
The talesmen finally accepted to try
the case were 0. W. Ellis, Frank
Partridge, Ed. Foster, E. r. Thomas,
G. G. Jeffries, John w. Luton, Sam
Tyler, W. A. Stingley, Sam Bowman,
E. A. Long, ]. l.. Stuart and Fred
Johnson.
As in the Hedican case, che state
was represented by County Attorney
Ayers and o. w. Belden, while J. G.
HuntOon and WOrden & Scott appear
ed for the defense. Every point in
the trial was contested and it is safe
~ soy lhoI III pOlAL tudI COuIu pOS-
sibly count was overlooked by either
side. Very little was done Tuesday
owing to the absence of a material
witness for the state, whose inability
to appear, however. existed when he
was served. Three continuances were
granted on this account, and Wednes-
day morning the state proceeded with
out the witness, an agreement hav-
ing been reached as to what he would
testify to- The testimony was practi-
cally the same for the state as in the
Hedlcan case. 1t was shown by some
Witnesses that Hedican was seen
driving the stolen Rooney horses to
LewistoWn near the middle of August;
that he sold the horses to Ed. Nc
Donald, who soon concluded that there
was something wrong, and refused to
accept them, turning them back to
Hedican, who refunded his money !;
that Ryan then took them from He'd
lean and put them in a pasture out
toward Gilt Edge, afterwards denying
to Sheriff Slater that he knew where
the animals were. The state made a
strong effort to show that when Ryan
bougth the horses from Hedican, he
knew perfectly well that they had
been stolen.
The defense insisted that the tran.
(CoctinuQ1 IN Dopo Qovon
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14
OVER QUARTER OF MILLION In FUNDS

The report of County Treasurer E.
P. Chandler for November shows that
on Nov. 80, at the close of business,
there was on hand in cash in the var
ious funds total of $25S,279.69, dis
tributed as follows:
General fund, 50,016.31; contingent
fund, $23,655.3O; road fund, $16,7SS.-
&c; poor fund, $12,S51.57; protest fund,
$1,S93.54; sinking f,nid,s435,S ,SS1.45 III,
stitute fund, $161.45; general school
fund, $1S,376.13; district fund, $780,
1924; city Of Lewistown, $16,64477; /;
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14
Extreme.

Graft in San Francisco" exclaimed
the Californian. Say, you effete east
erners don't know anything about our
graft. 1t permeates commercial as
well as political life. Why, I'll bet
that If the citizens undertake to hang
the bOodlers they'll get stuck on the
price of rope."-Pt iladelphia Ledger
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14

The Argus Job department. has tlso
finest lines Of program and lnvltatlom
folders ever brought 10 levsloee~n.
The most beautiful ereatleno Soe N.
vats Or public dances o. PARTIES g
reasonable rotoa ordoe oosly.
Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14

Continued On Page Seven.)
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-04-12
SETTLE ALL CONTESTS

Attorneys for the c. & NJ. Co. Reach
Agreement With Racine County Men
A telegram from Racine states that
the attorneys for the Chicago and
Milwaukee Railway company have
arranged settlement to purchase the
right of way from the farmers in Ra-
cine county and that there will be no
contest in court. It is stated that the
average price paid for the land de-
sired by the company was $500. Some
of the farmers were demanding a
higher price but after several meet
ings they decided to accept this offer
rather than to employ attorneys for
long contest in court. The company
now has possession of the right Of
way to the north end of Racine county.
It is expected that the work of build
ing the line in Racine county will be
started next week.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-04-12
1900 90
1000 90
STATION NOW ASSURED
Chicago and Milwaukee Co. Will Bui1d
in Racine County

Chicago and Milwaukee Co. Will Bui1d
in Racine County
The Chicago and Milwaukee E1ec-
trio Railway Co. Thursday purchased
the farm adjoining the land on which
the Taylor Orphan asylum on Asylum
avenue, Racine, is located. The farm
lies to the south and is as fine a piece
of land as there is in the county. The
owner resides in Milwaukee, but the
place has been leased by Fred johnson
for many years. On this land the
company will locate its transmitting
station and repair shop, which is to be
included in the same building.
The above fact was learned def
nite1y this morning when it was as
certained that the plans for the pro-
posed structure we're brought to Ra-
cine Thursday by Theodore J. Boett-
ger, mason contractor of Chicapo.
He was in Racine Thursday noon
to secure figures from local carpenter
and mason contractors
The building will be entirely of red
brick and constructed in the most
modern manner. The estimated cost
is 5000 and the bids are to be handed
in not later than next Tuesday. The
specifications place the location of the
structure two and one-ha1f miles
southwest of Racine.