The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-09-11
No Man Living Amid Primroses Could Be Vicious Cunman
They Said Of Sim Roberts, Who Was Quick on the Draw

murderer before the gun dropped from
his grasp. ~
deemed it best to decamp, and, making
his way out of the saloon, started to
the livery stable for his horses. re-
loading as he ran. He got one Of the
team, a good saddle horse, and was
coming out of the stable when he en-
collntered a deputy sheriff. Sim got
the drop, however, and declined arrest,
explaining he did not want to remain
in Bozeman while excitement wa SO
high. -s. r,.u.
Sim made the deputy promise not to
shoot and mounted his horse. The dep
uty did shoot, however, striking Sims
horse in the hip, but it was still able
to travel well and went down the street
amid a fusilade of bullets. None took
effect and Sim got away, back to his
camp, on the flat where Livingston is
now situated. Here he met Joseph
dispatched him to Bozeman to decide
if he should give himself up. Mean
while Sim continued his flight across
country to the head of Sweet Grass
creek.
when the facts became known in
Bozeman," the article continues, pub
lie sentiment was more just, and, this
fact being communicated to Sim he
returned to Bozeman and gave himself
up. His bonds were fixed at $10,0 900 and
the money was put up by Nelson Story
and the Martin brothers. The trial
came off in due time, Sim being de-
Tended by the present Judge Armstrong.
The plea was self-defenSe and Sim was
acquitted.
"Since then he has been in various
business ventures. He first settled in
fho Cwaaf Crocc on11nfryr fha~ ~aN,,oS
to the Boulder valley. Later he "a in
business in Big Timber and two years
ago settled on his present ranch. He
has been for some years receiving the
marked attention of sleuths of the
stockmen'S association who have many
times tried to convict him for cattle
rustling. They have never yet sue
ceeded, however, and the impression
is gaining ground that the aforesaid
OF else Sim has never rustled q hoof
of stock in his long experience as a
coWpuncher, merchant and Stockman.
In any event, ne is popular with all
who know him; he never went back on
a friend and when he comes to Big
Timber everyone is heartily glad to
see him."
1t is evident from the tone of the
newspaper piece quoted that the writer
was a friend of Sim Roberts. Many
Sweet Grass county old-timers declare
that the account is not wholly factual
and hat the details of the saloon
brawl are not given correctly. At any
rate, killing a man wa not an uncom-
mon occurrence in the life of Sim Rob-
erts. Joe Keeny, who is mentioned in
the newspaper excerpt, and whose
brother was killed by Roberts in the
Bozeman saloon. still lives in Sweet
Grass county. His home is a cabin at
the old mining camp of Contact in the
Boulder valley, south of Big Timber.
On rare occasions he visits Big Timber
and may be seen strolling the main
street clad in a black frock coat of
ancient vintage. He still packs a gun.
Many persons prophesied, from time
to time, that Sim Roberts the gunman
would die with his boots on and with
lead in his body. Roberts. died with
his boots on, but from natural causes.
He dropped dead in the lobby of q Butte
hotel.