The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-10-14
MONTANA .BRIEFLETS.
SHORT ITEMS OF NEWS FROM
ALL OVER THE STATE.
What Has Happened in Montana Dur.
ing the Past Few Days.

DILLON Oct. S.-Wm. Smith, aged
IS, a we'll known pioneer of southern
Montana, and one of the wealthiest
men Of this portion of the state, is
dead. Mr.. Smith came overland dur
ing the days of the early gold excite.
ment. He was the owner of one of
the biggest ranches in Beaverhead
county.
HELENA, Oct. Slater information
received by Coroner Bennett i~nclines
him to the belief that Hans Peters son,
who was supposed to have killed him.
self Sunday on the Whitcomb ranch,
may possibly have been murdered.
On the body S14 and q gold watch
were found, while it has been learned
that last Friday, when he left Lewis.
town with q man named Oscar j.
johnson, he carried $3.50 in cash, q
draft for S140 and a $1,000 note.
Johnson is now being looked for, and
the case will be further investigated.
HELENA, Oct. S.-With q record OF
three holdups in "a hours, the net re-
suit being 50, Alvin Robinson and
Leo Besaw are in the county Jail and
have confessed. Two of the holdrps |
took place in the country and one in
the city. Robinson was formerly o
soldier and recently got a judgment
against the local railway company
for $40, 600 in a personal damage suit.
The company appealed and the case
is nov in the supreme court. Besaw
has lived In Helena two or three
months.
HAMILTON, Oct. S.-Fire of incen-
diary origin early this morning prac-
tically wiped out the restricted dis.
trict Of this city. Only n shack was
left standing, half a dozen others be-
ing in ruins. The fire followed the
calling of a special meeting of the
council to establish the removal of
the redlight district to a point outside
Of the city limits. No GIorum was
present, and following the failure of
the meeting the Gre was discovered.
The removal Of the district has been
agita.ing Hamilton for a namb er of
months.
HELENA, Oct. 9.-The Billings &
Northern will be opened from Judith
Gap to Laurel Junction on October Is
for the handling of grain and lumber
only. The date for the receiving of
~perishable freight 1ill be announced
later.
BETTE, Oct. 9.-Eert Boyd, a cattle
bayer, has been ARE sted on Ee'eharge
of stealing fourteen head of cattle out
of 3 pasture near Silver Bow, The
cattle were sold to aad killed by the
Montana Packing company. Boyd
alleges he bought the cattle rom a
man named Lebeaa. Otto Stroh,
manager OF the packing company, said
he had bought the cattle from Bert
Boyd for SlSS, had paid him 5000 in
cash and gave him a check FOR the
balance.
HELENA, Oct. 9.--Erank -inguist
last night reported the loss OF a large
part of the buildings on his ranch,
nine miles north east of this city, near
Hauserlake. About 1000 tons of hay,
barns, cabins and other buildings
were destroyed. How the fire started
is not known by Mr.. Lingerist, but
he thinks it was caused by hunters.
He has no knowledge that such is the
case, but has always kept open house
and oftentimes il the past hunters
have entered the cabin, helped them
selves and left the lire burning.
BUTTE, Oct. 9.--Two suits for dam
ages aggregating SS5, $50 were brought
in the district court yesterday against
the Butte Electric Railway company.
Wilfred II Flaherty, aged . years and
10 months, is plaintiff in one suit for
S5o, 900, the suit being brough, through
his mother and guardian. The second
suit is brought by Richard NJ. Flaherty
father of the child, who demands 49,.
900 as damages for himself on account
" ~ 1uJuKN w Ills CuAANs ouu Vow Us
reimbursement for surgical, medical
and hospital fees.
ANACONDA, Oct. o. The county
commissioners this afternoon began
an action in the district court a against
County Treasurer Nadeau and the
United States Fidelity Bonding com.
pauy to money alleged to have
been taken by Deputy Johnston, who Is
waiting trial on a charge OF embezzle.
ment. Judgment is asked for SO, 1925,
the mount alleged to have been taken
by the deputy treasurer. Johnston's
shortage was discovered not long ago
and he was arrested and will be re.
Quired to defend himself later. The
money is said to have been taken
from the funds collected for licenses.