The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1920-12-31
LONG GEORGE"
FRANCIS DEAD
Famous Cow Puncher of North
Country Meets Tragic End
on Prairie North of
HaVre.
CUTS THROAT TO END PAIN
Fate, Riding in Auto Takes Queer
Hand in Career of Convicted Man
His Nervy Battle Against
Heavy Odds is Lost When
Strength Wanes.

| Going out on Christmas eve to carry
Gifts to woman friend, a school
teacher near the Canadian border.
"Lonp" George Francis of Havre, who
was to report Tuesday to start serv-
in" q prison term for horse stealing,
cut his throat to avoid freezing to
death. after his automobile was
wrecked ard his leg broken. His body
wa~ found late SUNDAY bv ranchers
and he's been brought to Havre.
CANDY. apn'es and other presents
he was carrying We're scattered on
the ice Of the Milk River "a miles
"orth of Havrn. near the wrecked car.
| Frorn the arnln bov hn had fashioned
a sulnt and after binding up his leg
with nje"es Of overallS. crawled
mile in at+emntin~ TO reach the near
est farm, thron miles farther on.
The Francis Case.
Francis. one of Montana's most
famous COWBOYS. w"S convicted in
MARCH 1913 of e+oalin~ ho"-n ha-
lonoinp TO Phil Clack of Haze. Fol-
lowing his conviction he mado sen
sational escape and was in hidin" in
the Bear Pow rourt~i0s for
seventeen months. He suddenly de-
cided to surrender and rnoaive
his sentence ard ore dav IN Juy
! 1919 he walked into the distric+ court
room in Havre and was sentenced bv
the district JUDGE. He was remanded to
the CUSTODY of The sheriff a,d was
placed in Jail. His attorneys. however,
cave notice of an appeal TO tho state
supreme court. The court fixed the
bond at $4,000 ard several of Havre's
most prominent business men became
sureties for Francis The state su-
preme court decided his appeal against
him J. days ago and it was reported
bv the countv attorev of Hill county,
who was in Helena when the decision
was rendered, that a bench warrant
had been issued for Francis and that
the sheriff's deputies were unable to
locate him. 1t was feared by the coun-
ty attorney that Francis would not
serve his term in prison because of
the alleged boasts by him and several
of his friends that he would never go
to prison. Later. Francis read in the
newspapers of the report that he was
planning to leave the country and he
wrote letter to the Great Falls Tri-
bune saying that he would be in the
sheriff's hands on the 18th day follow
ing the decision of the supreme court
A Wild West Performer.
George Francis was an early day
cowboy. His headquarters have been
at Havre for 25 years. He is said to
have been a close friend and pal of
Kid Curry. the famous outlaw. and
up to the time of his death carried the
revolver formerly used by Kid Curry.
He was the owner of a COW horse which
was known throughout the country as
the trick horse. With his horse some
years ago Francis toured the entire
United States and Canada, taking
part in all of the largest wild west
shows and winning many thousands of
ollars in prizes. In fact, it is reported
that one year Francis was the lead
inp prize winner at all of the larger
wild west shows of the country. At
times he worked with partner in
his wild west performances and was
the leading character in the Havre
Stampede which was staged for sew
eral years. Francis has accumulated
something of a fortune prior to his
conviction of the horse stealing charge,
but this is said to have been spent in
his defense and living since the charge
was filed against him.
Had Many Friends.
Despite any criminal inclinations
George Francis may have had he had
hundreds of warm friends in Montana.
Almost everyone in the city of Havre
and northern Montana knew George
Francis personally and MANY were his
very close friends who stood ready to
go the limit for "Long George This
was evidenced at the time of his re-
turn from hiding in the Bear Paw
mountains. More than IS business men
and bankers of Havre were present
in the court room upon his return and
asked the privilege of going his bond.
Was Unlucky in Love.
Francis was said to have been dis
appointed in love in his early car
eer. When he first started out in
Montana he formed partnership
with a man who is now prominent
and rich cattleman of the northern
end of the state. Both Francis and
his partner We're in love with the
same girl. "Long George" was in
favor with the young lady, but, as
the story goes among Georges
friends. the parents of the girl pre-
ferred his partner as the husband
of their daughter. "Long George"
was an adventurer and his Bartner
was thrifty and soon had "a good
amount of this worlds goods. His
first sweetheart, therefore, was guild
ed by her parents to accept the
most prosperous of the two lovers. The
partners then become bitter enemies
and have remained so until the last Of
"Long George" 1t is told in Havre by
many of the old timers of how Francis
and his former friend and partner
would meet on the street of the Hill
county seat and engage in a fist fight
the equal Of which is seldom seen.
They are said to have fought until they
both became exhausted and after rest
would resume fighting.
With but four days of liberty left
him and knowing that he might never
| 800 Lor op~ Coor~~o ~,