Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-02-20
Once Rated a h eOnd "WiIdesP in United States

pected TO hear "Bismarkp had killed
the marshal, and already talk Of q
lynching was heard.
About half and hour after Hank
left the Cottage saloon, the door was
opened and ~Bismark" came Ia closely
followed by the marshal, who asked the
bartender for his belt and gun which
ne buckled around his waist, and to-
gether with his prisoner started for the
jail. After 'Bismark" was safely locked
up the marshal went to q restaurant
for his supper.
Given Fl0ater
"Bismark" was brought before Judge
Carmichael next morning and found
guilty Of disturbing the peace. He was
given the alternative Of leaving town
within three hours or serving six
months in the county Jail. He chose
the first and left town within the
stated time and was never seen in
Miles City again.
It had always been said that the ar
rest Of "Bismark" was the nerViest ar
rest ever made at Miles City.
Dance halls and saloons were located
in various parts Of the town, but the
majority of them seemed to favor Park
street. On this street could be found
the toughest dives in Miles City, among
them being 'Reeses Dance Hall,
''FIlannigan's Place" Kit Hardimans,"
Leonard and Turner's, F" Trailer Jacks"
and Splitter Jacks"
John Chinnick ran q combination
saloon, dance hall and variety show on
the corner of Main and Sixth streets, |
and another saloon on Main street be- /
tween Park and North Eleventh streets. |
On Bridge street at Ninth was a large /
building used as a dance hall run by |
> TnlrlqffO WOYl1qr lrrnvrY1 Mamie I
French. This place was known as /
'French's Coon Dive" Here the ma |
jority Of soldiers, tin-horn gamblers, /
and cheap skates, could be found. There /
we're a number of smaller places of /
similar kind located on Sixth street
rom Main to where the railroad aft
srwards cut through the town.
Not saloon In Miles City was with
)ut its gambling tables. One could find
almost any game on which he desired
o risk his money, but faro, draw poker,
tud poker, and Spanish monte, seemed
avorite games Of chance, and they
operated full blast day and night.
Shooting ARRAYS were frequent but
enough very few resulted IA
ally. One of the first fatal shooting
grapes took place in 1873. This was
he killing of Bill Reese, one Of the
roprietors of Reese's dance hall, by
physician.
Almost every dance hall man, sa-
Jon keeper or gambler in Miles City
I those days had his sweetheart, who
suaully was known by her mans
ame Reese'S mistress was known as
lode Reese. Almost all of these men
ere jealous of their women, and re-
snted any attention shown them by
sher men.
On the night of the shooting of
eese, Dode, who had not been feeling
ell during the day, remained in her
,om instead of taking her place among
lie girls in the dance hall. Shortly
fore midnight someone told Reese
lat the doctor had been seen going
her room. Reese, who had been
linking steadily during the night,
ent behind the bar, secured revolt
n which he thrust down the waist
nd of his trousers, and went out
ling the bartender he would be back
ON. The bartender paid little atten-
On to Reese's leaving, as it was moth
g uncommon for him to leave the
ne.
Shortly after Reese left the dance
Ill, a barroom rounder known as
Whisky Dick" came in. He seemed
UGH excited and told the bartender
ii Reese had been killed few min
eS before.
The bartender notified the marshal
40 went to the room where he found
e woman in bed in half fainting
the doctor standing by
BILE, and the dead body of Reese
rawled upon the floor. He had been
OF just above the heart. In Reeses
yht hand was grasped a 45-caliber
Its revolver, which contained two
lpty cartridge shells, both of which
d been fired but recently. The doc
IS revolver was lying on small
md. 1t showed one recently fired
ell in the cylinder. The doctor testi-