The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-03-27

1.-THE &cene OF ~ murder early yeSter
day morning, driving the dead sherin's
horse. Baby" Badly had carried his
dead master thousands Of miles, and
sherln Webb slways spoke highly OF
the horses stayino qualities. He ire.
qnently declared that he was the best
In the country.
After TeFrill's departure another
posse consisting Of Charles New.
man. chairman Of the board Of county
commissioners and a pioneer Of this
section Of the country; Jack B. Her.
ford. an exscowDoy, who is familiar
with every inch Of the country, and
James Lavelle, Z member Of the local
police force, left in an automobile
driven BY Earl Morse, and arrived
neal, the scene Of the murder
Yesterday afternoon shortly befors i
O'Clock. There they were provided
with good saddle horses and immedi-
ately Joined the pursuit.
Flsco strikes Trait.
Deputy Sheriff Lew Fisco Of Lavina,
who headed ne nrst posse which.
started out n pursuit Of Bickfourd,
found the tran Q fthe murderer on the
north side Of the Musselshell river,
near Horse Thief creek. He sent to
Lavina for additional men yesterday
afternoon aid another posse was sent
out Immediately.
Walter Lee and several other COW.
boys. who are thoroughly familiar
with the country, also started for the
scene Of the murder. They were wen
armed and mounted.
Mayor Foster. Alderman John stat.
fek and Chief Of Police Bert Talgo left
in q double rig to Join in the man.
hunt. Mayor Foster and Alderman
staffek were members of the sherin's
force in the early days in this county;
COMMISSIONER Offer Reward.
Soon after the news Of the murder
reached this city NJ. W. Cramer and.
Gwen r. Brrla. as members Of the
board Of county. commissioners, ofer-
ed a reward Of $500 for the capture
Of the murderer, dead or alive. It IS
understood that there is a movement
on foot among the bushes men Of the
city to offer q like amount.
Sheriff Webb was notified that Bick-
tourd was wanted for stealing four
horses in Carbon county, wyo., on
January %, by 2 postal giving the
description Of the four horses and the
man. T was signed by Sheriff Horton
Of Carbon county: The description!
Of Bicktourd furnished BY the wyo-
ming sheriff is as follows:
Description OF Murderer.
William @. Bickfourd IL S feet s
inches IN height, 80 years old, has"
black hair. brown eyes and sandy
beard. He has 4 quantity Of gold
work In his upper teeth
Under Sheriff Hubbard received
word yesterday that Bickfourd wa
wearing q brown duck suit and black
cap when he killed Webb. The de-
scription Of the criminal has been
sent throughout the state and to every
ranch along the Musselshell in this
section where they have telephone
connections.
Bicktourd was In this city 4 few
weeks ago and was picked up BY the
police on complaint Of Charles Nc.
Bride another sheepherder, who al
legged that Bickfourd had stolen q gun
from him.
Fought Ii Police once.
The two men had two fights over
the alleged theft, one Of which oc-
CURED in the jail once. After the
county attorney investigated the case
and found that Bickfourd could not be
prosecuted for theft. both Of the men
were fined $40 for disturbing the
peace. They paid their lines and were
released before Sheriff Webb learned
that Bickfourd was wanted In Wyo-
ming for horse stealing. During his
stay in the city Bickfourd stayed at
the Moore & Ennis livery barn, and
the description Of the man furnished
By the members Of the frm and their
employees tallies exactly with the de-
scription sent out from Wyoming.
no doubt but that .Bickfourd
is known here. After leaving Billings
Bickfourd went to the Voolfolk &
Richardson ranch, where he secured
9 Job herding sheep.
intense Feeling.
The feeling in this community over
the murder is intense. Groups Of men
stood on the street corners all day
yesterday discussing the crime, and
the sherif's Office was besieged all
day with a throng Of anxious ones
waiting to hear more news.
Scores Of men living on ranches
came into the city Immediately on re
ceipt Of the news and offered their
services for the nan hunt. Several
A..-A-.n .S.A~s ~. ~ .-lASn