The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-04-19
TOUGH KID IN JAIL.

JOOOJV NUO w OSO6s
Youthful lncorrigible Makes Start In
Criminal Career.
Among recent arrivals at the Chou.
teau county Jail is Dave Riddles boy
about eighteen years old, against
whom there are charges Of horse
stealing, robbing sheep camps and
other crimes. The prisoner was In the
custody OF local officials last fall az
IN iucorrigible, but At the urgent re.
quest of relatives who promised to
take care of him, and with pledges OF
good behavior or the part Of the de.
fonda ant himself, the latter was sur.
rendered to the care Of his parents 81
Roundup.
The boy, however, appears to have
been susceptible to the lure OF the
wild, and during the past few weeks
10 said to have been engaged 10 rob-
.bing sheep camps throughout the
country south of the Missouri river.
His partner In these raids 10 believed
to be another boy named W. Bowman.
who vat arrested Monday near Stan.
ford. and who will be transferred to
the Chouteau county authorities.
One of Riddles escspades is said to
be the theft of q horse, saddle and
bride from the Martin Connolly
ranch, about three miles east Of
town. He appeared at the ranch about
q week ago during Mr.. C~onnolly's
absence, and begged for something to
eat. He was given a square meal by
Mrs. Connolly, who did not regard
him as q desirable guest aud who in
timated that he had better move or
az soon as his hunger was appeased,
The visitor continued to travel, all
right, but next day it vas discovered
that one OF Mr.. Connolly's saddle
horses had also moved on, and it wal
at once concluded that the suspicious
looking stranger had something to dc
with its disappearance. The authors
ties were notified, and a search for tht
fugitive was at once undertaken.
Sheriff Btckle made an automobile
trip over the country south OF the Mil
souri, river and finally struck the trai
of the young desperado, who seemed
to be headed for the Musselshell coun
try. The trail was followed to Stan
ford and thence to Roundup, wher'
the fugitive was finally overtaken
placed under arrest and brought bacl
to this city.
An amusing incident of the search
for Riddle al the attempted capture
of the boy outlaw by a camp tender
who discovered him while secretet
with a stolen horse in a coulee. Tn
camp tender went down the coulee ant
engaged the fugitive in a pleasant con
versation, in the meantime watching
for an opportunity to catch him un
awares. The chance came when tn
boy turned his back to the visitor VIII
thereupon grabbed him in q vise-lik'
grip and informed him that he wa
under arrest. The boy struggled ant
d%emurred, but could not shake himsel
loose, and the camp tender hung Of
to his prize. After a few minutes o
this performance, however, the capto
suddenly realized that he could no
let go without mourning personal risk
as the boy had a gun in his from
pocket, and he proceeded to negotiat
q reciprocity agreement which contem
plated obedience and good conduct O
the part of Riddle, In return for hi
release from the condition of bond
age. The agreement was ratified b,
unanimous vote, but as soon as Rid
die was able to pull himself together
he whipped out his gun. covered hi
would-be captor with 1t and ordere
him to travel. Needless to say, tn
command was instantly obeyed.