The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-09-02
4. R. Wells PAYS
fine FOR ASSAULT

| Hugh K. Wells, a Powder river
man Of the state Democratic Central
committee. ex-sheriff of Custer county
and likeise. ex.sheriff CT a county in
imposed by c. c. Craw in justice court
on the person Of Nickolai Bitekov.
against both Wells and his sen. Johno.
Sheriff E. B. serruys. Wells ami his
formation, with wilfully, wrongfully
striking. beating, bruising and wound
ing affiant herein. Following the ar.
aalgnment the charge was dismissed
The trouble had its inception in a
range dispute ever the grazing Of
| two Wells and Bitchov occurred on FRI
day., August &C. Bitchov is Russian
by descendency but naturalized citi-
| the vicinity of the Kingsley postoffice.
From evidence adduced at the ar
raignment. Wells had band of sheep
at the head of Cross s creek. Bitchov
had land in the same section that was
no., not 1enced nor rscognized by other
or hags. Bitchov warned Jones, a
herder for Wells. to keep the sheep off
ana IS asd when td hays we're aG not
against the herder.
On Friday afternoon Wells and his
s9F son went went to the place Of Charles Rask-
We're outside the gate trading mutton
TOR tbe turkeys Turkey E when Eitchoy appeared on
jumped off sa%f his rans horss up od to- the
fronting the elder Wells informed him
TN that ,;ito It would be necessary for Wells
a1 arond e,1heh hs 1nstal saaa. woven wire fence
lt: On Wells inquiry as to why this
shoee phpoendofe off th btGhsy replied to keep ths
|
would caution the herder to keep the
sheep off Bitchov's land and If Bitchov
would permit 1t. he would send man
Bitch6v's land that was not fenced.
Bltchoy did not favor the suggestion
and mnrk nelommended hia ths planting Of ags
the hags. replying that Bitchcv's land
lylnE In fcrty acre tracts. it would be
difficult for the herder to see all the
naSs ana keep the sheep off the land.
Wniie ploWed burrows would be plain,
easily distinguished and would serve
the purpose much better.
AT this juncture Bithov retaliated
something afer the following: IT the
nerder can't see the flags he can't see
The seao ana Wess s'sng acsepeed 9e gh he yGs c4
iengen and with his left hand caught
Bitchov by the shoulder and did a
hnempsey hana h stunt, stunt by using his right
n.iows IN rapid succession to Bitchoy's
Jaw and face. Welrs left hand Ioosened
rha,Snp Sntp pr toaDiy from the effects of
smaller man in stature. fell to "46s tSs
ground put was on his feet in Sec
at u or nineeeonma Two md WAS e;i making it away
w spectators to the fisticuff cautioned
! wells that Bitchov would rcbably try
+" far pfGsuhe his he,ig gun and wreak vengeanc.
ings and this prompted the senior
Wells to dispach his son Johno after
ne in ahen, hheH,nE e hure; e, Johno overlook him
MIN In .jiffy had him on the GROUND
ana on the underside. Johno IS said
on on iaor score ob1e b1 ,;,nin t1ie maplng on his
striking, him several times. Ritchov
Mas Mi stu down and Johno was astride
airactsh aim When 1ot the senior Wells came up.
ineh with utter contempt for the fell
lew picked Bitchov up, it is said, hy
,ne riad sbnt h;, Gl ms pants and partly car
I!eu nun IN that fashion to his horse
anu INTO the saddle with the adnoni-
ton that he better go home. Bichov
compl'ed comp with directions but later
| IaHe 10 BfCAduS and SwOre out the
| warrant. ."9
At the arraignment it developed that
%n.arnov % mad reputation for his bellig-
erehcy; that on former occasions he
haa whipped two other Russians in
ms neishborhocd and within the past
belle neiled a, anntbl" ans point , of gun had COM
nm nm, to place for the purpose of ver-
Lying ,,sing or denying certain unccmpli- :
uentar! gossip concerning him or mem. .
bers of his family
II also developed at the hearing that
bltchov,s crops We're cut and harvested
ana nothing remained on his field bur
stunoie: and that the sheep We're not
Drought into that part of the country
Until the crops had been gathered.
Bitchov's land lies in a southerly d.
recon IRON a spring on an eighty
acre acre tract Of land owned by Harris,
now soJourning in California, and nm.
der lease to Wells. Btchov's fence
, cuts orr a portion of lana carrying an
oVerHow from the spring. In another
iocailty 1T Is said Bitchovs fence
Grooked IN places. overlaps cnto the