Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1911-06-06
Sheriff Woods Returns From Cody,
Wyo., With the Girls and Mrs.
Harry Bowman in Custody.
Was WORKING AS A BOY
Wore Male Attire and Had Job Herd
ing Sheep-Her Employer, a Widow,
Wants to Keep Her.

Sheriff w. r. Woods returned home
from Cody, Wyoming, Saturday
night, bringing with him Maze Heagy
and Mrs. Harry Bowman. The Heagy
girl, it will be remembered, escaped
from local hotel several weeks ago
after she had been put in room for
the night, Judge E. K. Cheadle hav-
ing turned her over to the custody Of
Jake DeHart, agent of the state
bureau of child and animal protec-
ton. The officer intended to take her
to Helena the following morning, but
discovered that the bird had flown
during the night. For quite while
no trace of her could be found and
the search was given up. It would
never have been resumed but for the
action of the Bowmans, relatives OF
the girl, who commenced writing
smart letters guying the officers for
letting the prisoner escape, while one
letter, purporting to be from the girl
herself, announced that she had de
cided to kill herself and that her body
would be found in a certain spot that
was indicated This sort OF thing
brought on new investigation and
the officers soon learned that the girl
was near Cody. When arrested there
she was dressed as boy and was en-
gagged in herding sheep
Tells Her Story.
According to the girls story, she
simply left the hotel the night OF her
escape without trying to avoid being
seen, and on that account, probably,
she attracted no attention whatever
She made her way into the country
and was joined during the night by
her brother. An inaccurate report
not emanating from this city, said this
youth was one Of the Riddle boys, but
this was a mistake. In the morning
the brother and sister took the train
at Glengary and rode by rail to Bill
ings. There Mrs. Bowman was await
ing them with team and wagon and
they rode to Cody. When near that
place, the Heagy girl, who is nearly
sixteen years of age and rather large
donned male attire. She had no diff
ficulty in securing employment from
wealthy widow, who runs sheep, as
herder. The brother secured job
at another ranch and Mrs. Bowman
also got work on ranch.
The girl does not give any details
as to how Mrs Bowman came into
the affair, but it would appear on the
face of it that she was in the play all
the way through, as it was no mere
coincidence that she met the girl and
her brother at Billings.
The report referred to, published
elsewhere in the state, intimated
strongly that this was white slave
case. Sheriff Woods says there is not
the slightest element OF white
slavery" in it, and this does an in
justice to all the parties.
The girl and Mrs. Bowman came
back willingly enough. although the.
desired to remain where they were
The widow for whom Maze Heagy
was working has been informed al
about the case She has taken grea
liking to the girl and wishes to keel
her. 1t is quite likely that she viii
apply to the court to have the CIR
given over into her custody Thi:
would be happy solution of thu
whole trouble, so far as the girl il
concerned. and would be infinitel,
better for her than conilnement il
any sort of state institution.
She was committed by Judge
Cheadle the last time because OF he1
general surroundings and situation
being an orphan.
Agent DeHart will arrive here to
morrow, when the Heagy girl will b.
turned over to him.
The hearing of Mr., and Mrs. Bow
man for alleged completely i'll thu
girls escape is set for this afternoon
before Judge B. E. Foley.