American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-01-21
(RecOllections of VIM. Morgan.)

Hal
Another tragedy, and one felt Keen
ly by the residents of Neeley, was pro-
duced as result of the killing of
Wilson. Brigham Chase, a respected
young man of Neeley, a brother of
Mrs. Carl Suisted, who lost his life as
the result of the explosion of a lamp
at his home at the Warm creek reser-
voir, was the victim this time. Chase
was the states main witness. Stokes
was to be tried at Challis, and Chase
started for that place on horseback.
had been to town and on returning
met Chase at the ferry at Ferry Hol-
low. He was uneasy and had a pre-
sentiment that something would hap
pen to him. He wanted me to cross
the river with him, and expressed un-
easiness about crossing alone. as
sured him that the ferry was all right
and saw him lead his horse onto the
boat, securely tie the animal to the
boat and start across. / then drove on
home. 1t was not long until word came
that the cable had parted and Chase
had been drowned. We searched the
river for his body as far down as
Raft river, keeping up the search for
some time, but neither the body of
Chase nor that of his horse was ever
found. Neeley people strongly sus-
picioned that Chase had met with foul
u1av nj tho hands of friaudc of StoL 90
and his body either buried or secret
ed among the lavas. A circumstance
that gave color to this theory i'm our
minds was that the horse If left free,
would certainly have swan ashore and
nave been seen by soiyeonc. II not
ferry sank, as IL did In mid-river af-
ter going as far as the cable would let
IT 60 We examined the ferry and no
horse was tied to it. We were told
that Chase had been seen to leave the
boat by parties coming up on the other
side of the river, and start to swim
ashore. And that after swimming for
some distance he called to them that
unless they helped him he was gone
Not being able to render any aid Chase
was drowned We believed the cable
had been tampered with by friends of
Stokes to prevent the appearance OF
Chase at the trial, or, If he was killed,
as a blind to make ii appear that he
had been drowned. At the trial Stokes
was CONVICTED and sentenced to serve
ten years in the pen, but was pardoned
after serving a little more than a year
on condition that he leave the state
- Stokes was an all-round bad man.
One day he got i'm a game of cards
with another cowboy i'm saloon at
American Falls and won all the mon
ey the latter had. To get even with
him. the cowboy took Stokes horse
Stokes stopped at my place and asked
If anybody had gone by on horseba OK
] tCld him man had gone hy several
hours before. Stokes tien rode on. We
were living in a dugout and could
plainly hear anyone passing.
The next day Stokes came back. lead
ing the horse that had been stolen
from him. ! asked him where he had
found him and he said on Raft river
I asked him where the other fellow
was and ne said he found him in a
patch of willows asleep and quietly
taking his horse had left him that way
We who knew Stokes felt we knew the
kind of sleep he meant-the kind that
had TO waking.
Indian Scare.
Stokes was the cause of our only
Indian scare. One day when a number
of Indians were in town, Stokes went
into Danielson & Stevens store and
asked to buy some cartridges. The
clerk refused to sell him any. where
upon Stokes jumped over the counter
and got them. The clerk, fearing for
his life, ran out doors. Mr. Campbell,