Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-08-28

A hOldup was a hOIdup In the
early days Of Nevada, just the same
as In Montana, so when, in 1879,
the late George SprOuIe, for many
years clerk Of the United States
district court for Montana, met q
man on the trail just outside Vir-
ginia City, New, who he thought
told him to hold up his hands, he
/ held them up. While doing so he
also told the man that he had no
( money on his person and nothing
whatever of value except a pair
] of gold cuff buttons. Encouraged
by the others silence, he lowered
his hands sufficiently to unfasten
the cuff buttons from his shirt
sleeves and that done handed them
over. He then proceeded on his way
unmOlested, leaving his accOster
standing in the dark.
Sproule had been to visit a FRIEND
who lived two miles from the mining
camp, and was returning too the hote
where he was living when he met tht
man to whom he gave his cuff buttons
The buttons were made of IS a@lC
pieces, diverse sides OF which we're
polished and engraved with his initials
Although Mr.. Sproule priced then
highly he did not hesitate to part with
them under the circumstances.
The next day while eating dinner al
the hotel he was amazed to see his
cuff buttons in the shirt sleeves of the
man sitting opposite him at the table
His appetite suddenly left him and he
hurried through the meal, went into
the hotel office and informed the clerk
of the incident of the night before and
told him of the presence of the man
now wearing the cuff buttons. Together
they waited for him.
When the stranger emerged from the
dining room he walked straight 10
Sproule and addressed him:
You are MIR. Sproule, are you not?"
That is my name, sir"
The fellow then asked Sproule TO
step into the barroom as he wished to
although justifiably suspicious, felt
that he certainly was safe in broad
daylight and among his friends, and
went along.
Last night" said the stranger, II
was walking down the trail and met
fellow whom asked for a chew of
tobacco. He threw up his hands, said
he had nothing but a pair of gold cuff
buttons, which he hastily took off anG
gave to me. He was shaking like a leaf.
was dying to laugh, but inasmuch
as he mad mistaken me for hOldup
artist, I thought I would let the joke
go through.
II saw his face as he handed me
his jewelry. After he ran away down
the road sat down on rock and
laughed myself sick. But I didn't get
my chew of tobacco. Today 1 waited
until you came to dinner, then purposely
put on the cuff buttons and sat op-
poSite you where you would be sure to
see them. Here they are" and he
handed them to Sproule.
When Sproule explained to the hotel
clerk, later, he said: "By George, I
thought he told me to throw up my
hands"
Since the United States district court
was established in Montana, in 1899.
it had but two clerks, Sproule, its first
clerk, and Charley Carlow, who holds
the position now. Carlow for many
years was deputy under Mr.. Sproule.
George Sproule was born in Peta-
luna, Calf, Dec. ID, 1858. He spent
his boyhood there and when a Young
man went to Virginia City, New, re-
naming there until 1879. From viz
GINA City he went to Bodie, Calf.
where he acted as court clerk, deputy