Great Falls tribune., 1921-11-02
MURDER IS IMPLIED
/ IN SUSPECT WORDS
IN WOMAN MYSTERY
Sheriff Told Skidmore He's
Wanted for Crime; Betrays
Fear Of Hanging.
Special to The Tribune

Anaconda, Nov. belief that a.
murder wells the mystery Of Mrs.
Ernest LaCasse's disappearance has
been revived by conversation Sheriff
Reals reports having had with c.. G.
Skidmore in the Jail at Pocatello Sat-
urday, during visit there to interview
the prisoner on some Of his actions
while in Montana. Several months afo
Skldmore WAS prisoner at Butte a. q
result of being found in possession Of
the missing wOman's trunk, and At
tcmpts were made by the authorities
to develop murder case at that time.
Skidmore has denied murderins the
woman, but in the conversation which
the sheriff alleges took place ut Po-
catello, he is represented as betrayins
a fear of being hanged if brought back
to this state.
Fears Hanging, at Least
When Sheriff Beal entered Skid
more's cell he declared that he said to
the man: y have come to take you
back TO Montana"
Skidmore, according to Beal, then
said:
What for? Murder?"
Beal then said. YES"
Skidmore is then said to have asked:
Did you find the body? ~
Sure" Beal replied.
"All in one placef"
No.
well, did you find enough to iden-
tify the woman?"
Sure"
Skidmore, according to Beal, then
turned to one of the Idaho officers and
said: For Gods sake take me to Utah.
Don't let them take me to Montana, or
they will hang me sure.''
The disappearance of Mrs. LaCasse
occurred last February. Search for
her body has failed to reveal it, but
Skidmore is believed to have been i'm
plicated in the alleged murder. He was
angry with her because she testified
against him in Bozeman when he was
given four and half to nine years in
the penitentiary. He is out on parole,
which has been revoked.
Boasts Stealing i25 Autome>ljea
Skidmore has the reputation among
department of justice officials Of being
one Of the most clever criminals in the
northwest. He boasted that from che
date of his parole from the state peni-
tentiary until February he had stolen
and sold 125 machines.
He was chemist and was able to
change not only license plate numbers
but those on the motors as well. He
had complete set Of keys when ar
rested at Pocatello and variety Of
tools.
His scheme in automobile dealings
was to steal car and then represent
himself as the original owner. The
buyer. in looking up this machine at
the office OF the department Of state,
would get the mans name and license
Ill right. He could find nothing r.
regular about the transaction and
would make the purchase.
Used Other Mans Raelstratien
In other instances Skidmore would
get the name of a machine, its owner
ind numbers. He would then steal q
'ent himself as this man and sell tha
ar. In this manner it was difficult
o check up his actions. He worked
With his mother who was also said to
'e clever at playing her part.
Skidmore was arrested at Pocatello
few weeks ago and after an ATTEMPT
d escape, during which be was shot
n the shoulder and arm, he fainted
rhile trying to change the license num-
er on stolen car and was recaptured.
He was arrested on a charge Of boot
egging and on this automobile traffic.
10 was surprised at his house md
1ade his escape when getting out of
be police patrol wagon. Offioers sAoG
i'm.
The first thing he said when he n.
aimed consciousness In the hospital
'as to ask that he would not b sant
orth, meaning to Montana, Tor trial.
It that time he apparently feared that
g would be charged with the murder
the T.A(SasSe w0nan