davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22
Jones IS SENT TO PRISON
Young Man Who Tried to ExtOrt Money From
Banker Hobson Found Guilty and Given One
Year in the State Penitentiary

Judge Cheadle yesterday sentenced
Clet }. Jones to the state penitentiary
or one year and Under Sheriff Tullock
left with him this morning for Deer
Lodge where the black hand artist
will be turned over to the state prison
authorities.
Jury Finds Him Guilty.
The trial of Jones, who was charg-
ed with attempting to extort $1,000
from S. S. Hobson, president Of the
Bank Of Fergus County, was begun
Wednesday morning. County At
torney Ayers was assisted in the
prosecution by Oliver w. Belden and
II. F. Smith and J. G. Huntoon ap-
peared as counsel for the defendant.
The jury chosen to try the case COM
prised Joseph Benjamin, David Brick
er, G. H. Crowley. Joseph Folda, w.
E. Getchell, John Clancy, A. ]. Hauck,
Nels Juneau, Anton King, G. H.
Longman, George Shepard and H. P.
Welch.
The Testimony.
Sheriff Edward Martin and Deputy
Biglen testified to the facts relating
to the arrest of Jones and S. S. Hob
son told Of receiving the threatening
letters. nhe letters which have been
published in previous number of the
Democrat, were placed in evidence.
Another envelope containing some Of
Jones acknowledged handwriting.
was also placed in evidence and
Cashier A. w. War; of the Bank of
Fergus county, testified that, in his
opinion, the same person who ad-
dressed this envelope also addressed
the letters 10 Mr. Hobson.
Nick Welter, who has the Hobson
ranch leased and for whom Jones was
working at the time the attempted
extortion occurred, testified that on
the day of Jones arrest, the defendant
left the house with the expressed in
tention Of taking a bath in the irrigat-
ing ditch. The water in this ditch,
the witness stated was but a few
inches deep and muddy at the bottom
Welter had told Jones of the black
hand letters received by Hobson.
The state rested here and the de.
fense proceeded to put in testimony
to prove an alibi. Richard Lausch
and George Canon Tr., of the post
office. testified that the letters re.
ceived by Mr.. Hobson were mailed
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22
TO TRY Big Water CASE

in. 1t is estimated that four or five
months will be required for the trial
of the case.
Will Call Jury Soon.
1t is the intention of Judge Cheadle
to call local jury as early as pos
sible after the first Of the year to
clear up all of he business in this
county SO that he will have a clean
docket in case he goes to Bozeman.
Before the jury can be called, the
new jury list must be made up by the
jury commission which comprises
Chairman Petersen, of the board of
county commissioners, Treasurer E.
P. Chandler and Assessor Marshall.
This special commission are requirc ed
to meet the second Monday in Jan
uary which comes on the llth. 1t
will require two or three days for
them to make up the new lists. after
which Clerk Ritch will have to write
them out and deposit them in the re-
spective jury ballot boxes. 1t is the
intention of the court to hasten things
as rapidly as possible with the inten-
tios of getting the Jury in by Monday.
January Is.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22
Was HERE HALF A CENTURY
Rein Anderson Who Passed Away Last Week
One Of the Most Notable Trail Blazers
Of the Treasure State.

went on visit to the states but the
call OF the new land was too insistent
to be resisted and he came back the
following year. On his return trip
one of is associates was James Nc
Williams, who resides out at the edge
OF this city on the Gilt Edge road.
Member Of the Vigilantes.
The decedent settled in Virginia
City, being one among the first to
locate there, and participated in the
highly exciting life Of that noted
frontier mining camp He was
prominent member OF the famous
comittee Of vigilantcs who found it
necessary to hang number Of des-
peratc characters in order to bring
the camp to a state of order. In
Virginia City, Mr.. Anderson conduct
cd blacksmith shop.
From that place, the dccedent went
back to the Deer Lodge valley where
he had charge of the big ranch owned
by the Stuart brothers. He remained
in that county until 1880 when he
came to Fergus county with bunch
of cattle for the old d. H. S. (pionecr)
cattle company, and located at the
place which he made his home until
the day Of his death.
In 1860, he was married to Mary
Lavatta, the daughter Of Thomas
Lavatta, next to Bridger, probably the
greatest scout this part Of the west
ever knew. Mrs Anderson's earlier
life was quite as thrilling as that of
her husband. With band of Indians
with which her father was on friendly
terms, She came to what is now Mon
tana in the very early iiftics, or sew
eral years before her husband-to-be
arrived.
The funeral was held from the
house last Wednesday, the Rev.
Albert Pfaus conducting the services.
The remains of the old pioneer were
then gently laid in their last resting
place in tho shadow Of the mountains
which he had loved SO well.
Together with the widow, the fol-
lowing children survive to mourn the
loss Of a most devoted father: Miss
Sallie Anderson, Mrs. ]. T.. Edwards,
of Forsyth; Mrs. M. L. Johnson. Mrs.
Sam Taylor, of Kendall; Mrs N. E.
Lee, of Washington; Mrs. Mamie
Calph, Of this city, and William and
George Anderson
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22

Montana lost another of her most
notable pioneers when Rein Ander-
son died last Tuesday morning at 10
o'clock at his ranch home near Ma
glnnis. Death was due to a compli-
cation OF disorders brought on chief
ly by advanced age. The news Of his
death was telephoned to the office OF
the Democrat Just as we were going
to press with our last issue. 1t was
then too late to give an adequate ac-
count Of the life Of this famous old
trail blazer in that issue.
Native of Kentucky.
Rezln Anderson was a native OF
Kentucky, having been born in tie
Blue Grass state in August, 1881
When scarcely more than child, he
moved to Iowa where he lived for a
few years and then, at the age Of 10
the young fellow succumbed to the
allurements of the gold fever and left
tor California with a party of ''forty-
miners" From that day until the
time Of his death, a span Of almos,
sixty years, Rein Anderson was a
part of the stirring life OF the frontier
Came to Montana in 81.
After mining in California for sew
eral years with rather Indifferent sue
cess, Anderson became a member OF
the Stuart party who came to Mon
tana in 1857. This was one of the
earliest bands Of pioneers to reach
the state and true story Of their ad-
ventures with the Indians and the Gle
ments would fill volumes.
This party included also James and
Granville Stuart Of whom the latter
still resides in Butte where he is city
librarian They spent the winter OF
'57S in the Big Hole country, going
over into the Deer Lodge valley the
following spring
First Gold Discovery.
TO this party properly belongs the
credit for first discovering gold in the
new territory, The subject Of this
sketch, Rein Anderson, helping to
whipsaw the lumber for the first
sluice box ever laid in what is now
the Treasure State. This was on
Gold creek, in Deer Lodge valley.
Mr.. Anderson later engaged in the
freighting business, hauling supplies
from Milk river to Helena and Deer
Lodge for number of years. In
1861, the intrepid young frontiersman
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22

Judge Cheadle, of this city, will
probably have the distinction OF pre-
siding over the biggest water right
case ever tried in the United States
during the coming year. There arc
some six hundred litigants interested
and the value of the water rights in
volved is probably worth not less than
one and half million dollars.
Gallatin County Case.
The case is that involving the water
rights along the West Gallatin river
and practically all of the famous Gal
latis valley will be effected by the
decision. About six hundred farmers
and companies who claim water rights
along the river have filed their COM
plants and it is believed that the case
will be ready for trial sometime the
latter part of February.
Judge Stewart, of that judicial dis
trict, is disqualified because of an in
terest which he has in one of the
water rights. Knowing that he has
had great deal of experience in try
ing water cases, the litigants have re.
quested that Judge Cheadle be called
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22

Even old Silver Bow will trot out
county division scheme at this ses-
son, and unless it is opposed in Butte
it is believed it will be adopted.
Many citizens of Butte have come to
the conclusion that the dual system
of county and city control is expen-
sive and altogether too cumbersome,
and so the proposition has been ad-
vocated Of giving away about half of
the county to Madison and Beaver
head and administering the remain
der, including the city of Butte by a
county government. This plan has
been adopted in a number of other
states in counties where large cities
were situated and has given satisfac-
ton.
Judging by the efforts which will
be made to parcel up Yellowstone
county, that is one of the most de-
sirable counties in the state. The ad-
vocates of the creation of Saltwater
county with Columbus as its county
seat will be out again in force de.
manding that portions of Carbon,
Sweet Grass and Yellowstone coun-
ties be thrown together to make a
separate county. The strongest ar.
gument advanced for the creation oi
this county and, in fact, of nearly all
the county division schemes is the
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22
COUNTY ATTORNEY
SUBMITS REPORT
PHENOMENAL RECORD MADE
BY AYERS DURING FOUR
YEARS IN OFFICE,

At the last meeting of the board OF
county commissioners, County At
torney Ayers submitted his report for
the four years during which he has
served in the office. Mr. Ayers rec
ord tor the four years is probably the
most brilliant ever made by public
prosecutor IN the west.
OF the l2l informations filed dur
ing his tenure of office, there have
been but three acquittals. One hun
dred nine have been convicted, one
case is pending and eight cases were
dismissed before coming to trial.
The convictions included l9 for as
sault, l8 for burglary, S for forgery
% for gambling, 27 for grand larceny
2 for robbery, 4 for murder, for
perjury, for violation Of game law
| fo blackmail, for assaulting an Of
fcer and 2 for misdemeanor charges
Large Sum in Fines.
During the two terms of Mr.. Ayers
the enormous sum of $lO,olS45 has
been turned into the county treasury
in fines.
In conclusion, Mr. Ayers says: "In
submitting this, my final report, de.
sire to state that the relations be.
tween the board of commissioner
and county attorney have been, at al
times, pleasant and agreeable. Dur.
ing the past two years, we as officer.
of Fergus county, have been called
upon to perform greater variety o.
<han hal
feel sure that you members of ths
board have exerted your every effor
to do your duty as you saw it and a!
the law imposed it.
In the construction of the new cour
house, which is by far the creates
task ever undertaken by a Fergu:
county board, | am proud to say tha
you have thoroughly mastered every
detail and now have near completion
one of the finest buildings for thu
money in the northwest, and ont
which, if Investigated, should meet will
the hearty approval of every taxpay
er in Fergus county. In the building
Of the same and the furnishing there
of, your untiring efforts in behalf O
the people OF this county should b.
commended.
Praise for Successor.
"My career as your legal advises
will soon be ended and at this, the las
meeting OF the board during my ad
ministration, | desire to say that ! an
sorry to sever our pleasant relations
but in my successor. you will hav
the advice of an able and competen
man and ! trust your <elations wit
him will be as mutually pleasant a
ours have been. Respectfully sub
| mitted. Roy f. Ayers, County Al
torney."
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22
numerous SCHEMES
FOR new COUNTIES
AND BELT WOULD
SEGREGATE THE GREAT
INLAND EMPIRE.

Many county division schemes will
be presented for the consideration OF
the legislature which convenes in
Helena Monday, January 4, says the
Helena Record.
This time the various backers of
the county division schemes have be-
gun work considerably ahead of
time in order to be able to carry on
vigorous fight throughout the leg
islative session. There will be at
least FIVE county division schemes pre-.
sented at the session and those urg-
ing them have built up strong organi-
cations. Naturally, the opponents Of
division have not been idle and con-
sequently there likely will be some
sharp tilts in the house and senate.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22
WOOLGR0WERS TAKE Much Interest

Hon. R. B. Thompson, president OF
the Empire Bank and Trust company,
returned Saturday from Grass Range,
where, last Saturday, he attended a
meeting of the woolgrowers living in
that section of the county, held to
discuss the Chicago wool warehouse
proposition.
Plan Is Favored.
Joseph L. Asbridge, sheep commits
sioner for Fergus county, and Mr..
Thompson, explained the plans and
objects of the proposed association to
the woolgrowers, of whom there were
large number present, and all sides
of the proposition were thoroughly
gone into by the speakers and grow
ers 1t was the unanimous opinion of
those present that the plan is feasible
and a good idea from the viewpoint
of the grower whether his operation
be on large or small scale.
Stock Is Subscribed.
A number of the growers. present at
the Grass Range meeting manifesto
their interest in the matter by taking
stock in the new association and 9TH
ers expressed their desire to do SO as
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22

time it takes for residents OF these
portions to reach the present county
seats.
Residents Of Roundup, Fergus
county, on the line of the St. Paul
feel that their town is entitled TO the
honor of being county seat and so
they want the county OF Musselshell
created from portions OF Fergus and
Yellowstone. The same argument of
remoteness from the present county
seat is advanced as the reason why
a new county is desirable
Some residents OF the northwestern
part of Flathead county feel that
the present county is entirely too
large for the needs of every part to
be adequately looked after and so
they have come forward with the
proposition Of creating new county
OF the northwestern portion with
Eureka as its county seat
Residents of Havre and the north
ern part of Choteau county will likely
make one of the sharpest fights in
the session for the division of Choteau
county, Fort Benton 10 be the county
seat Of the southern half and Havre
the county seat of the northern half.
This will be opposed by Fort Benton
as it would curtail the finances of
Choteau, the greater part Of the prop
erty being in the Milk river valley
which would be embraced in the new
northern county.
Another contemplated division, and
one which will be resisted BY three
counties, is that providing for the
creation of new county taking
portions of Cascade, Fergus and
Meagher Belt desires to be the
county seat of the projected county
and residents of that vicinity will
try to prevail upon the legislators to
see things their way.
So far as known at present there is
no legislation coming up at this ses-
sion in which Lewis and Clark coun-
ty is particularly interested. The ma
jority in the house will be demo-
cratic and there are only two demo-
cratic members from this county,
Owen Byrnes of Gould, and H. L.
Clayberg Of Helena Friends of Mr..
Byrnes are advocating his selection
for the chairanship Of the committee
on mines and mining. He is recog-
nized as one Of the largest operators
and best mining men in the state
and it is argued that the chairman
ship of such an important committee
should be given to a man who has
had practical experience in every
phase of mining work.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22
Gillis-Green.

Walter M. Green and Miss Allyn
M. ellis were married Saturday even
ing, December 18th, at the residence
OF Mr. and Mrs. c. c. Williamson
by the Rev. Ernest w. Wright of til.
Presbyterian church The groom Is
one of the proprietors of the news
depot on the corner Of Fifth avenue
and Main street. He has been a resi-
dent of Lewistown for about three
years and is deservedly popular
among a large circle of acquaintances
The bride is from Hamilton, Mon
tana, and one of western Montana S
fairest daughters. The Democrat
takes pleasure in felicitating Mr. and
Mrs. Green upon this happy event in
their lives.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22

between tn hours of o:54 and 10 a. m
on the End OF August. Will Carver
and Nick Welter testified that, to the
best of their belief, Jones was at
home all of that day.
Harry Yaeger, assistant cashier OF
the First National Bank, testified that
in his opinion, the black hand letters
were not written by the same per-
son who addressed the envelope
acknowledged by Jones to be written
by himself
Defendant On the Stand.
The defendant, G. J. Jones, next
took the stand in his own behalf. He
testified that he is % years Of age and
came to Lewistown last May from
Iowa, short while later taking a
place on Welter's ranch. Said he was
at the Welter ranch when the black
hand letters were alleged to have been
posted in Lewistown, that the pistol
and slung shot which were found
among his effects were purchase ed
once when he was working as a
telegrapher in rather tough place
He emphatically denied having writ
ten or sent the black hand letters to
Mr.. Hobson.
The taking Of testimony was com
pleted Wednesday afternoon and the
arguments were headr Thursday. The
case went to the jury at 5 o'clock in
the afternoon and it was o'clock the
next morning before they reported
their verdict Of guilty and fixing the
penalty at one year in the state peni-
tentiary
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22
BRIDGES Completed
and ALL ACCEPTED
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
WORTH OF CROSSINGS BY
COUNTY.

Chairman Julius Petersen and Com
missioner w. T. Neill went out to
Arrow creek last Friday to inspect the
new 65-foot steel bridge recently con-
structed across that creek by the Sc
curity Bridge company, Of Mime
apois. They found that the work
has been completed as required By
the contract and it was, accordingly,
accepted. This bridge is a connect
ing link between Fergus and Choteau
counties and they will divide the cost
between them.
The Security Bridge company have
now completed their contract with the
county which called for six steel
bridges costing ten thousand dollars.
In addition to the Arrow creek bridge
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22
Will Dance All Night.

The Democrat office this week
printed some big bills advertising a
grand ball to be given at Shell &
Erickson hall, in Garneill, by the
Knights of Pythias of that place, on
the night of December 3lst, New
Years eve.
The people OF Garneill are noted
far and wide for their hospitality and
intend to make the coming ball one
of the grandest occasions of the year
Excellent music has been secured and
a record breaking crowd is expected.
A number of Lewistown people ex-
pect to take in the ba.,
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22

one crosses Casino creek on the
Castle Butte road, about one mile
from this city; one crosses Spring
creek near the brewery; one crosses
Spring creek near the poor farm; one
crosses the mouth of East Fork and
one has been put across Beaver creek
on the Great Falls road. These
bridges, although somewhat costly to
the county, are pcrmanet fixtures and
really economical in the long run.
They vary in length from l8 feet to
65 feet, their aggregate length being
22l feet.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22
Another Pioneer Dead.

Helena, Dec. 2O-nhomas O'Con-
nor, 60 years old, one of the early
pioneers of the state, died at his
home in this city today. He was a
member Of Company ID, First Wis
consin cavalry, but received an honor
able discharge owing to i'll health.
after serving short time. He soon
afterward came to Montana, where he
has held a number Of Offices. At the
time of his death he was baiiiff in the
federal court. He was also COM
mander of the Helena post of the
Grand Army of the Republic.
Show card ink. All colors. Dem
ocrat Supply Department.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-12-22

quickly as the arrangements can be
made Mr.. Asbridgc and others who
are working on the proposition are
desirous of getting as many subscrip-
tions as possible from Fergus county
and it now looks as if the banner
woolgrowing county in the United
States will be literally represented
among the stockholders in the new
association.
The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1908-09-11

The company shall have a right on
meter rates TO charge such consumer
minimum of one dollar and fifty
cents (S1.50) per month. 1t being
understood that such minimum charge
applies only where consumer does
not use one dollar and fifty cents
(Si.50D worth CT water per month.
Consumers shall furnish and install
their own meters.
The daily consumption of water to
be fixed by averaging meter reading at
end of each month or quarter Cwheth.
er readings shall be monthly or quar-
terly TO be at option of company.
The company shall have the right
to require from each consumer an
advance deposit flor the month or
quarter according TO the plan of read
ling meters which may be adopted by
the company not to exceed a sufi-
.cient amount to cover the minimum
quantity of consumption provided in
this Schedule for maximum rates.
RATES OR ELECTRICITY FOR
LIGHTING PURPOSES.
The rates for electricity for lighting
purposes shall be eleven cents O1c)
per one thousand watts, provided that
discounts on consumption exceeding
five ($5.00) dollars per month shall be
allowed as follows: