davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-05-20
OLD-TIME SHERIFF
TAKES LONG TRAIL
A.. B. HAMILTON, NOTED PIONEER
AND INDIAN TRADER, is
NO MORE
Was Peace Officer of Virginia City in
1864, an Early Day Legislator, and
First Sheriff of Chouteau County;
Associate of Joe Kipp and John
Healy.

A. B. Hamilton, who was one of
the first peace officers of Virginia
City, and whose name is closely asso-
ciated with the history of Montana,
is dead. He was 80 years of age and
spent his declining days at the home
of his daughter, Mrs. w. M. Clark,
on Cat Greek, near Browning. He
was born in New Haven, Conn, and
moved west soon after reaching his
majority, finally arriving at West
port, Mo-, where he resided for a
short time. Leaving there, he went
to Colorado, but did not longer there
very long and soon anne to Montana
arriving in the state in 1868.
In 1864 he was appointed constable
at Virginia City when this state was
still a part of the territory of Idaho
He served five or six terms in the
territorial assembly and state legis-
~lature, was the first sheriff of Chou
teau county when that county con-
sisted of practically all of Northern
Montana from the Rocky mountains
to a point within a few miles of what
is now the town of Malta; was county
assessor, county commissioner and
held umerou other public offices of
trust and honor.
He it was, in conjunction with Joe
Kipp and Johnny Healy, who first
went to Canada and disputed the
Hudson Bay company's trading mo-
nopoly, building Fort Whoop-up, but
later retiring from that position, as
the red coats did not seem to appre-
ciate their enterprise.
In later years he was interested
with 1. G.. Baker & Co., n of the
old-time Montana trading concerns,
but severed his connection with them
and, going to Choteau; he and I. N.
Hazlett laid out that town and start
ed a trading post there.
It seems that in going over his his
tory, he has been all yer Montana,
always busy and always doing his
utmost to make the state a civilized
community, but at all times being on
the border of civilization. After dis
posing of his trading interests at
Choteau, he assisted in the forma-
ton of Teton county and was chosen
as one of the first of the new ~county's
officials.
Later he moved to Browning where
he again established a trading post
ana began the Du1lulnB up Ol a SIOUX
ranch, but the wanderlust was in
him and he soon was on his way to
Alaska, where he and Johnny Healy
began to repeat their story in Mon
tana. Trading posts among the In
dams and the gold miners of Alaska
were established in that far northern
country. He was o an old man
and, thinking to end his life in peace
and comfort with the members of his
family, disposed of his interests in
Alaska after a few years residence
there and moved back to civilization,
spending his days with his two
daughters in Tacoma, Wash, and
Browning.
His death at this time is a loss to
the entire state. He came here be-
fore the state was formed, took a
very active interest in the formation
and the government of the new state,
saw it grow not only in population
but also in wealth and honor. His
life has spanned the day of the pros
pector and the present time.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-05-20

Montana shall never build VI
manufacturing industries in Yellow
stone national park if George BYRD
Grinnell, professional conservation
list and writer of New York, can pre-
vent. That Montana capital is get
ting ready to exploit Yellowstone
park and turn it into n vast fac
tory is Grinnell's latest nightmare,
as set forth in an article by him print
ed in a we'll known magazine.
His attack is prompted by his de-
termination to prevent the passage
of the Smith bill before the house
proposing to permit the building of
a storage reservoir in the northwest
corner of Yellowstone park to afford
ample water to 5000 settlers in the
Snake river country of Idaho. Grin
nell is a former editor of Forest and
Stream, and author of numerous
dime novels under titles of "Jack,
the Young Ranchman," "Jack in the
Rockies" "Jack, the Young Cow
boy" etc.
Integrity Threatened
Grinnell says the Smith bill
ALARMS all conservationists because
it threatens the integrity of Yellow
stone park" Should this bill pass,
he says, within a few years we will
see "all pleasure grounds of the peo-
pie given over to projects for irriga-
ton, numbering, grazing of live
stock" etc.
After telling of the activity of the
eastern faddists to kill recreation
ground for money-making purposes
for commercial interests in Idaho,
Grinnell launches into his main as
sault, saying: "The Idaho bill seems
to have been brought out as a finger
on the public pulse to test public
opinion on this matter, and it is rec
ognized everywhere in the states
about Yellowstone park that if on
gress grants the right to use the
Falls river district for this purpose a
demand will at once be made to use
Yellowstone lake for like purposes.
Destroy Geysers
I'm Montana surveys have been
made and plans drawn for damming
the Yellowstone river at the outlet
of the lake and raising the lake any
where from 10 to rs feet. This will
flood a considerable area and will
destroy a number of geysers and hot
springs which have long been attrac-
lions in the park. 1t will kill some
timber and generally will be destruc-
tive. 1t will tend to use Yellowstone
park as a sort of factory where are
to be manufactured various things
which may be sold for money. In
some Montana towns it is reported
night schools of o~ratory have been
started to instruct spellbinders who
are to be sent over the state to pre-
sent in each town and county aIgu-
ments advocating the issue OF bonds
to pay the cost of damming and
ditching about Yellowstone lake"
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-05-20
SOME EARLY DAY TRIALS AS TOLD BY THE
LATE JUDGE FRANK WOODY OF M0SS0UlA

way scary, and said, you can't do it,
Charley; your boys are scattered and
we are together, and we shall give
you - if you try it," The party
made a go mile drive the first day,
and thus escaped molestation. Char
ley had correspondent with the press,
some articles on the state and pros
poets of the territory having appear
ed in the California papers, and were
very we'll written. He was acquitted
by a nearly unanimous vote. Judge
Smith burst into tears, fell on his
neck and kissed him, exclaiming, my
boy, my boy" Hundreds pressed
around him, shaking hands and
cheering, till it seemed to strike
them all at once that there were two
men to hang, which was even more
exciting, and the crowd "broke" for
the Jail.
A wagon was drawn up by the peo-
pie to the door, in which the GRIM
inals were to ride to the gallows.
They were then ordered to get into
the wagon, which they did, several
of their friends climbing in with
them.
a LILO JQhOtQAO dd6O olAASh "ND
called for, and then, amidst tremen-
dous excitement and confusion, Haze
Lyons crying and imploring mercy, a
number of women, much affected,
begged earnestly to ''save the poor
boys lives" The ladies declared
that they wept in the interest of fair
play. One. of them saw Forbes kill
Dillingham;, and felt that it was popu-
lar murder to hang Lyons and Stin-
son and let off the chief desperate
because he was good looking. She
had furnished the sheet with which
the dead body was covered. A letter
(written by other parties to suit the
occasion) was produced, and a friend
of Lyons asked that "the letter which
Haze had written to his mother might
be read" This was done amid cries
Of" Read the letter" t." the let
ter" while others, who saw how it
would turn out, shouted, "Give him
a horse and let him go to his mo-
ther." A vote was taken again as
before mentioned, the first time by
ayes and noes. Both sides claimed
the victory. The second vote was
arranged SO that the party for hang
ing should go uphill, and the party
for clearing should go down-hill. The
down-hill men claimed that the men
were acquitted, but the uphill men
would not give way. All this time
confusion reigned around the wagon.
The third vote was differently man
aged. Two pairs of men chosen. Be-
tween one pair passed those who were
for carrying the sentence into eXecu-
ton, and between the other pair
marched those who were for setting
them at liberty. The latter party in
creased their votes by the simple but
effective expedient of passing
through several times, and finally an
honest Irish miner, who was not so
weak kneed as the rest, shouted out,
"Begorra, there's a bloody naygur
voted three times" Amid a thou
confused cries of "Give the MUIR
derers a horse" LET them CO."
"Hurrah," etc., one of the men, see
ing a horse with an Indian saddle, be-
longing to a Blackfoot squaw, seized
it, and, mounting both on the same
animal, the assassins rode at a gallop
out of the gulch. One of the guard
remarked to another, pointing at the
same time to the gallows, There's
a monument of disappointed Justice"
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-05-20

The defendant endeavored to take an
appeal to the district court, but as
that court was held in Colville, 500
miles distant, he concluded to settle
the judgment, which he did. Poor
Bishop Brooks, he was in 1866 killed
in Uncle Ben's Gulch, near Blackfoot
City; shot through a glass door, by
whom or for what cause was never
known. This Brooks was given the
soubriquet of Bishop Brooks owing
to his performing the first ceremony
of uniting the first white Americans
married in the eastern county OF
Washington territory.
The trial of Herring, or Koran, one
of Plummer's accomplices in murder
and rapine, was carried out under the
forms of law by Sheriff Plummer.
The too confiding friend became a
victim of the chief schemer.
Murder of Dillingham;
The murder of Deputy Sheriff
Dillingham; in 1863 was undoubtedly
one of the first and greatest crimes
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-05-20

The first settlers of Montana being
bound together by so many ties OF
brotherhood, accepted and observed
such laws as govern the family circle
rather than seek arbitrator or
judges in the courts of Missouri, so
that it may be said of them they
maintained good faith and justice
without law. The immigration OF
1852 changed this primitive order OF
affairs and within a few weeks after
the first mines were opened at Ban
mack rude calls for justice accompan-
led by the grumblings of the people
we're heard. The in which
such calls were answered was rough
and ready in the extreme. A justice
of the peace having authority from
Washington or Dakota territory, as
sisted by a number of men called
jurors assembled to try the case. The
litigants were generally represented
by the pioneer lawyers, until the law
yer, urged on by his Unsuitable rage
for speaking, said something which
incurred the displeasure of his OPP
ponent's clients, when both lawyers
and clients and their friends became
do WOll 4doilIlOd III Wal do " POoSO
until the judge cried out, lie diable
est aux vaches," and with his assist
ants of the jury ran from the court
room. A case of this kind is record
ed by the late Judge Woody, of Mis-
soula, in his centennial history of
that county. He takes the first cas-
tried before any court within the
present limits of this territory, and
deals with it in the following man
ner:
Montana's First Lawsuit
The first lawsuit ever commenced
in Missoula county, or in fact in
Montana, was commenced and tried
at Hells Gate, in the month of
March, 1862, before Henry Brooks,
justice of the peace. The proceed
ings were under the laws of Washing
ton territory. A Frenchman called
"Tin Cup Joe"-other name forgot
ten-accused Baron O'Keefe with
beating one of his horses with a
fork handle and then pushing him
into a hole thereby causing his death,
and claimed damages in the sum of
$40 and sued O'Keefe to recover
that amount. The place of trial was
in Bolte's saloon. A jury of six was
empaneled and sworn to try the case.
w. B. S. Higgins and A. S. Blake of
Missoula county, and Bart Hender-
son, of the Yellowstone, were of the
jury. AS the trial progressed the
proceedings became less harmonious
until it ultimately eliminated in a
bit of unpleasantness between the
defendant and the writer, who was
acting as attorney for the plaintiff.
During the unpleasantness, friends
of the respective parties lent a hand
and it was far from being a select or
private affair. While the unpleas-
antness was in progress the court and
a portion of the jury had fled for
dear life, and when harmony was
restored they were nowhere to be
found. After considerable search
the court and jury were captured and
the trial proceeded. The case was
given to the jury, and after. a
brief absence they came into court
and rendered a verdict for plaintiff
of $40 damages. The costs swelled
the judgment to about 500. This
probably the most holly contest
ed case ever tried in the territory.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-05-20

troubles of the country editor, Mr..
Smith made the charge that the print
paper market had been cornered, and
that the print paper industries had
conspired to regulate production so
that prices might continue to mount.
In the face of this situation he de-
clared there was little hope for the
small town papers, and unless quick
relief was provided half of them
would be wiped out of existence.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-05-20
CORNER in PRINT PAPER
SPELLS RUIN FOR MANY

The picture of the country press,
which includes the little four page
paper from back home, fighting with
its back to the wall and almost ready
to go under because of the print pa
per shortage, was presented to the
senate investigating committee by
Cortland Smith of New York, presi-
dent of the American Press associa-
ton.
Along with this picture of the
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-05-20
SEES A PLOT TO
DESTROY PARKS
FICTION WRITER MAKES INTER
ESTING STORY OF IRRIGA-
TION MENACE

Says the Use of the Waters of yell
lowstone Lake for Power and to
Reclaim Land Threatens Beauty
of the Great National Playground;
Would Destroy Geysers, Is Claim.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-23
W|CKW|RE co. WINS
S131 1,536.06 VERDICT
In Suit Against Worth Brothers
for Contract Broken by Wars
Sudden End.

In United States District Court yea
tcrday, n Sl3l ,536 OF verdict was rendered
in favor of the Wiet wirc-Spencer Steel
Corporation Of Buffalo, N. y, agnlnst
the Worth Steel Company, Of Claymont.
After five hour delibcration the jury
decided the plaintiff had rightful claim
to that amount
The jury assembled in the court room
Yesterday after being discharged for -four
DAYS. where counsel Of the Wickwire-
Spencer Steel Corporntion and the Worth
Steel Company presented their analysis
of the testimony offered. Following the
action of counsel, Judge Hugh M. Morris
charged the jury TO the effect that their
olsrision was required on section Ia,
the amount now due the plaintiff by the
defendant, and (b) the amount of damages
for the amount of iron remaining unde-
livcred under the contract. He upheld IN
general the claim Of the Wickwife-Spencer
Company for sl43,595 .01, but directed the
jury to disallow certain minor items Of the
claim.
IL is understood that the Worth Steel
Company, as a result of the decision reach
ed in the case, will enter suit against the
government for losses on their part due
To the breaking of war contracts. The
sudden termination Of the war, it is un-
derstood, left many other concerns in the
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-23

and G. w. Reid, manager transportation
bureau, Federal Highway Council, WASH
ington, ID. G..
Tho members Of the committee left the
Hotel du Pont this morning for an IN
spection of the roadwork done between
here and Dover. Several points Of the
road have been dug up and will be ex-
amined. They will bc met at Dover by
John Machall chief engineer OF the Mary
land Highway Department and delega-
tion Of sixteen Maryland engineers who
will accompany them on the remainder
Of the trip.
The next meeting of the committee will
probably be held shortly after January1
The members were the guests Of the
chairman of the committee, General du
Pont, At banquet in the Club room of
the Hotel du Pont last night.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-23

the roads to carrying along the water
until good natural run off could be found
Other members OF the COMMITTEES attacked
this plan rs being too expensive.
DRAINAGE OF ROADS.
n +. Hits. principal assistant engineer,
State Highway Department, Harrisburg,
reported the successful laying OF dram
pipes in the roadhed similar To the plan
followed by the Delaware engineers.
The problems discussed were as follows.
l. The study Of sub-grades which have
failed, by chemical and mechanical expert
ments; 2. developing field tests for bearing
power of soils, 3. making studies in draln-
age using experimental sections OF roads,
4. study Of chemical methods of sub-grade.
treatment for increasing bearing value or
preventing absorption. 8, mechanical
methods of subgrade treatment; q, study
of freezing and thawing on the volume and
on the supporting properties OF the soil, 4,
effect of moisture ON the volume changes
in the soils; s, study of the transmission OF
pressure transmitted to the sub-grade
through different thicknesses and different
types of surfaoing 10, special problems
reported on by Prof. Emo.
The following members present at the
afternoon meeting: General Coleman du
Pont, NJ. s Williams, Lima, Ohio, II. G.
Shirley, Washington, ID. &C. M. Upham
Dover; A. r. Goldbeck Testing engineer,
Bureau of Public Roads, Washington, ID.
c.; w. r. Blair, Vice president and Chief
Engineer, National Brick Manufacturers
Association, Cleveland; Prof. +. ii. Emo,
Research Engineer, Ohio Good Roads
Federation and chairman Of engineering
Ohio State University; y. f. Hits,
Principal Assistant Engineer, State High
way Department, Harrisburg; Prof: Hector
], Hughes, Dean Harvard Engineering
School; D. S Humphrey, Ohio State High
way Advisory Board, Cleveland; L. T..
Warford, Manager Washington state
Good Roads Association, Seattle, Wash;
b. NJ. McCreary, manager Highway Trans
portation Development, Goodyear Tire
Company: Akron. o.: Ira b. Mullis, Bu-
reau of Public Roads. Washington, ID. G..
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-23
ROAD BUILDING
PLANS DISCUSSED
Various Subjects Considered at
Meeting Of the Federal High
way Council.

The Committee on Sub-Grade and lts
Relation 20 Road Surfacing and TrathS
~ ,he Federal Highway Council held
st. second meeting in the Hotel du Pont
Yesterday afternoon. General Coleman
,hl Pom, IN chairman and e.. Nj. Upham,
state highway engineer for Delaware, Is
vice-charman. State engineers, Federal
highway experts and university authori-
ties ON traffic problems of national promi-
nenre attended the meeting
". T. Blair. yfce-prcsident and chlef
engineer. National Paying Brick Mapu-
fncturers Association Of Cleveland, point
ed out the Importance OF the work done
hy this committee IN short address.
There are 20,0OO.0o0 more people in
the United States now than when auto
mobiles first were put ON the road, he
said The transportation requirements
tqnal 10000. 900 more people. Therefore
We have 10000. 900 more people without
me single additional iota of tTansporta-
ton facilities Up 10 the present time
lhe.e - no complement for the truck IN
his country The railroads cannot haul
,tc t,athc any longer
III Juno was ip Kansas aud there at
ono place ] saw 600 GOO bushels OF wheat
eling 20 waste because the railroads could
n1t carry II Here IN Delaware. while
syeling over tho lowe. part OF the state
With Mr. t'pham lsaw many Strawberries
going to waste 10 tho fields and head -
plrts ~ man, more which perished during
shipment
SErp ~ Ro,p BUILDING.
y : hun phrc,. OHIO state Highway
81 snvs Board, Cleveland struck the
se, afc - the committee meeting II
rk rad building ard improvement is
.ir Uust wonderful thing m the world
he -ad There isn't single human being
81 human activity which Is not dependent
Ha ihc conditions uf transportation. For
ne tt Is hfe work
ten problems Werp discussed by the
,mmttee a, a whole after reports had
nerp madC hN the members Of the sub
rpn mittce> app lmted to investigate thclr
respective problems Problem three max
.rg studies IN drainage hv using expert
e1ta sections ~ road. was discussed
/ a. az length and brought out a great
te'.recc "l opinion Mr. Humphrey ad
weed the theory that every sol had its
afural residence and that the less that
s disturbed by plowing end rolling
The better the road won ld he Every soil
ta~ - natural drainage lie advocated
asi rpad builders attempt 70 follow that
stead ~ irving 10 invent costly means
drainage
Mr BLAIR mapped out plan for LAYING
hrick cutters eight feet from the edge OF
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-23
Mrs. z. w. Jones improving.

Mrs. T.. W. Jones, 20l Woodlawn
avenue, wife of Rev. l.. W. Jones of sill
verbrook Nj. Il. Church, who is in the
Methodist Hospital, Philadelphia, is
greatly improved. She was taSen to that
institution n week ago IN serious condi-
ton.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-23
PENNSY RULES FOR
HEATING CARS

Latest instructions to employees OF the
Pennsylvania railroad provide for the
heating OF all passenger cars during the
winter. ms follows:
Coaches in thro, gh service, 65 TO 20
degrees. Coaches in surburban service,
60 to GO degrees Pullman sleeping cars
between the hours of 10 p. M and n m,
about GO degrees. Pullman, sleeping and
parlor cars in daytime, 65 To 10 degrees
Temperatures should be kept below rather
than above the highest figures given.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-23

driving north on the avenue and = u
LsnaIe of Wayne, Pa, vaH driving north
on ByoofDe ~sr.ss The two mAchinss
came fog,thcr ~ the lntsrserfion 10
one wAe INJURED
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-23
Autos DAMAGED In Collision.

In collision yesterday afternoon nj
Pennsylyania avenue and Bromnc street,
two automobiles were slightly damaged.
Edward Frederick Of GentreyiIie WINS
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-23
same position and they have watched the
case with much interest
Must PAY City Licences.

Dclinguents in securing the ety IL
censes arc being sc1i rotieee eiyjs them
ten days in which to pay.