Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-12-10
FEAR BOOZE BUYER
MAY HAVE MET FOUL
PLAY OUT Of HAVRE
Had $500 on His PersOn-Aban-
dOned Automobile and Bloody
Cap Found on Road.
,ecial To The Daily Tribune.

Special to The Daily Tribune.
Havre, Dec. 9.-Havre has a very
mysterious disappearance case on her
hands at present-one that is battling
the local police force as well as the
sheriffs office of Hill county. As well
as could be learned this morning man
named Jack Armstrong and wife reglst-
cred at the Havre hotel in this city
Sunday. Late that day Mr.. Armstrong
took his car and started north supposed
to be on a cattle buying trip as he had
considerable money with him. He took
the road north from Pacific Junction,
about six miles west of Havre. Later
his car was found abandoned about eight
miles out of Havre, Monday, and In the
car were found the blood stained cap
identified by Armstrong; wife as one
he wore in starting out on what per-
haps proved his fatal journey.
Going back TO events preceding fhe
start north by Armstrong, It was learned
that before coming over to Havre, Arm
strong had met a man in Canada whose
name could not be learned and this fell
low wrote to Armstrong that he had
several cases of liquor that he would
sell to Armstrong for reasonable price
and it was to secure the booze that the
missing man started north instead of a
cattle buying trip as he stated to parties
in Hayre.
Before starting, Armstrong confided to
friend in Hayre that he would get q
part of the stock and on his return let
him In on the deal. Just before starting
Armstrong is known TO have cashed a
check for $500 and had this money with
him. He secured car at local garage
and Sunday morning with the non return
of the car the owner became alarmed
and went out in search along the road
as stated above, near the county poor
farm. In the car beside the bloody cap
was found Armstrong; check book. The
car was in good working condition and
could not have been abandoned on ac-
count of motor trouble.
Last night at late hour Chief Of Po-
lice McKinnon and a local stock inspec-
tor arrested on suspicion Frederick
Luche, as the chief overheard d conver-
sation regarding the disappearance.
There is q story to the effect that this
same Armstrong was kidnapped two or
three years ago and held prisoner by
unknown captors, he finally effecting his
escape by untying the rope with which
be had been bound and escaping while his
captors we're indulging in liquor. Whether
this had any connection with anything
" uu WIN PANSCAs NtSotpSt+NNN 80
unknown.
No satisfactory theory of the case
has been advanced If he met with fou'
play with robbery as the motive, it has
been suggested that the blow proved
too heavy and that what was meant OILY
to stun the victim might have killed him.
The difficulties of travel with car in
zero weather could make it almost I'M
possible for the assailants to make q
getaway across the snow to Canada and
they may have boarded train at Burn
ham, west Of Havre. 1t is very mysteri-
Gus affair and the wife Of Armstrong at
the hotel here is very anxious.
Tuesday morning a farmer coming in
from the north reports having found a
place in the snow showing Indication of
struggle between persons and that be
saw bloood stains on the snow. This is
all that has developed to date although
the sheriff's forces are still on the
north trail.
Although Luche refuses to talk about
the case Chief of Police McKinnon is
of the opinion that he is innocent. How
ever he is still being held. Sheriff Nc
Lain has three persons securing the
country north of Havre in an effort TO
find the missing man. The Northwest
Mounted police heve been notified and
are on the lookout for the man supposed
TO have left Canada with the liquor fer
Armstronp