Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-11-24

DAN RUTH FOUND
Continued from Page One.)
paratively speaking outlaws who were
carrying on heavy cattle stealing
business and that Cavanagh stood in
the way of their operations with the
result it was decided to get him" and
Ruth was selected as the instrument to
commit the foul deed.
INDUCED TO COME WEST.
Cavanagh had been induced to come
west from the east. He was an ex-
ceptionally we'll educated man. hav-
ing graduated from Yale, and an ath-
lete. He was also relative of the
Ruths. After HIS arrival in Idaho he
took up a homestead and by hard
work soon had a very creditable ranch,
we'll stocked and with growing and
profitable crops. He was unmarried
and lived alone. Last spring he mys-
teriously disappeared. Although the
authorities made an investigation he
could not be traced. Shortly after
wards certain of his checks appeared.
having been cashed at banks and in
dorsed by Ruth. The finger Of sus-
picion pointed at the latter. Detectives
were put on his trail. Later Ruth
came forward and disclosed the loca-
ton of Cavanagh's body under a pile
Of brush near the home OF Jim Elliott.
Ruths brother law. Dramatically
,@kk
he charged him with the murder Of
Cavanagh.
BOTH ARRESTED.
Ruth and Elliott were then ar
rested. Ruth claimed at first when
the authorities finally got him to talk.
that he knew Of Cavanaghs death and
that 1t was purely accidental, gun
having been discharged in the back of
his head by Ruth, who, fearing the
consequences and possible charge OF
murder, decided to hide the body. In
the dead Of night week later he took
the body away from Cavanagh's cabin
| to a distance Of three or four miles
and hid 1t under the brush.
REPUTATION AND CONFESSION
Later Ruth ,repudiated this state
ment and made a confession that hs
killed Cavanagh shooting him from
behind and then hitting him over the
head to make sure of his death. The
detective working on the case, aftel
making an investigation, came to thu
conclusion that the murderer he hat
to deal with was one of unusual in
telligence and to effect his conviction
his confidence would first have to b.
won. Following this theory he talked
frequently with Ruth. giving him t.
understand that he was only interested
in the case because he belonged to thu
same college fraternal organization a.
Cavanagh and was sworn to aveng'
his death.
RUTH BECOMES UNEASY.
After working on the case for SOM
time the detective finally went to Rutl
and asked him what he would say i
the detective told him he had fount
finger print blood stains on the raft
ers in Cavanagh's cabin. Ruth Is salt
to have turned pale. but. quickly re
covering his remarkable self-compo
sure, replied that he had killed cal
for Cavanagh and had, probably take'
|
was significant as the detective ha'
not found blood stains on the raftei
The sleuth then asked Ruth what h
would say II an analysis of the bloo
hhad proven 1t was that of human be
ing. Again Ruth was caught una
wares. and plainly showed his dis
comfiture. The detective did not at
tempt to make an arrest then, merel
,, telling Ruth that he was interests
in the case, that was all. 1t was no
until the state considered it had tn
evidence to convict that Ruth was ar
rested. His brother law Elliott VIII
was also arrested, was discharged. TIL
state believed 1t had the right man i
Ruth. The fight to convict him fol
lowed. Ruth finally agreed to make
confession, which he did, admitting h
killed Cavanagh and carried the bod
away in the dead of night. Later h
repudiated this confession. as he ha
the former statement, and tried t
blame Elliott for the crime.
. WAS RUTH A TOOL?
Prior to his death Cavanagh had is
sued repeated warnings, 1t is said, tina
4, attempts to steal his cattle would NEE
4 with forceful resistance. He knew c
: the operations of the gang and wa
o determined to defend his own prop
: erty. His attitude aroused the en-
= nifty of the gang, II Is claimed. Rut
was one of it's members. The generf
J, impression prevails here that he wa
: the tool Of the crowd of cattle thieve
= and they influenced him to get Cava
: nagh out of the day. warrant wa
sworn out for the arrest of the rim
leader, but he left the country and ha
not since been located. There has al
ways been q strong suspicion that n
! and others were as guilty as Ruth an
a that while they did not commit tn
: crime they planned and directed !
: For that reason Ruth has been show
v more or less sympathy. The gener;