The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-02-25
WALK INTO NEAT TRAP
Believed That the Three Men In Cue
tody Are Members Of Organized
Gang Of Chicken Thieves--No Faith
in tho Rabbits Foot.

". =. $OIOtA0I, CAIy 5uPeIAAICAlue
emit Of schools. it is believed that a
gang Of chicken thieves who have
been operating in and around Billings
for some time past is broken up.
The men were arrested by Sheriff
Under Sheriff Hubbard and
Sheriff Fallon Of Big Timber last Sun
day night shortly after they had
stolen and killed a hog on MI. Broth
er's ranch, four miles north Of the
city on the Billings bench.
The sheriff has received numerous
complaints recently of chickens being
stolen around the city, and has been
watching for. the culprits for several
weeks. Sunday night Webb, Hubbard
and Fallon went out to the Brothers
ranch and hid themselves in a straw
stack about 100 feet from the chicken
house and hog pen.
After patiently waiting for several
hours their vigilance vas rewarded by
hearing some one about the place. AS
it was moonlight the watchers could.
easily distinguish the forms Of three
men moving about. Soon they heard
the hog squeal, and then the sound Of
two blows when the men hit the hog
over the head with an axe.
Threw Rabbits Foot Away.
After knocking the hog IN the.
head the men cut its throat and
dragged the carcass up to the hay
stack. AS they approached the stack
one Of the men who had been watch
ing in order to warn the others Of dan
ger ran UP to them, and when all
three arrived at the stack they looked
up into the barrels Of three shotguns
in the hands Of the officers.
The prisoners were brought to Bill
'ings and yesterday complaints charg-
ing them with grand larceny were3is
sued by the county attorneys Office.
On the way to Billings one Of the
prisoners pulled a rabbits foot from
his pocket and threw II away, saying
As he did SO that he thought thar the
charm was the cause Of his being
caught. & @
The officers say that the three men
arrested have been committing numer-
GUS depredations around the city for
several weeks past, and claim that
they have stolen dozens Of chickens
and disposed Of them at the butcher
shops and Chinese restaurants.
Many Traps Laid.
DR.. Clark recently lost So fine Ply
mouth Rock pullets. Two men we're
seen breaking into q chicken house at
the Newman ranch, south Of the city,
but escaped after taking the hinges
OF the door. Roosts without number
in every part ct the city have been
robbed, and 1t is believed that the
mea under arrest are responsible for
most OF the thefts.
Traps were laid by the officers many
times and once after they watched at
q place the greater part Of tine night,
being forced to abandon their vigil
in the small hours Of the morning on
account Of the cold, the thieves Wis
tied the place soon after they left
and got away with some chickens.
AS the men were caught in the act
Of stealing q hog, which constitutes
a grand larceny charge. and the sacks
which they had with them to carry the
parts Of the animal back to this city
we're full Of feathers, the evidence
against them Is Of the most damaging
kind.
The three culprits were arraigned
before Justice Mendenhall yesterday
afternoon and after waving a prelim-
mary hearing we're bound over to
await the action Of the district court,
DIVIDEND is DECLARED.