Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-22
Of Captain D0b0n in
1899 One Of Most UnuSua/
Eaf7V-DaY M0nfQnQ Crimes

result in the pardoning Of himself
Benson and Persinger, and he pro-
posed TO Macarthur, that after they had
been released, they would join Nc
Arthur, the four would secure $4,000
cached in Wyoming and they would
engage in train robbing and bank rob-
bing enroute to Texas Macarthur agreed
to the plan. He was discharged from
the penitentiary Dec. 30, 1900, and a
few days later Persinger, who had
hopes of q pardon, revealed the plot
to the officers, who did not give it
credence.
About Jan. S, 1901. Macarthur APP
peared in American gulch, where stran-
gers seldom were seen, and went TO
Captain DotSon's house. He told the
neighbors that he intended to buy Cap
tain Dotsons land. He made the cap
tain a satisfactory offer but the land
had not been proved up on. Captain
DotSon made arrangements to make
final proof and asked Macarthur to re-
main as his guest until this had been
done. A few days later they went to
Helena together to arrange for making
proof and while there both were at
tackled with smallpox and were placed
in a hospital together. Upon being re-
leased they secured room together In
Helena and in the morning Macarthur
was gone and the old mans pockets had
been rifled and all his money taken.
On Feb. z, or 8, Macarthur returned
to DotSon's house and left there only
twice in the next week. Once ne Dor
rowed bottle Of ink, which had been
frozen, from a neighbor.
Feb. is, Captain Dotson returned to
his cabin from Helena, and IS minutes
after he entered his home neighbor
heard a shot and an hour later NC
Arthur was seen to leave the gulch. FEB.
20 the dead body of Captain Dotson
was found in the house. On table was
a writing in frozen ink signed "Oliver
Dotson," stating that the writer had
murdered Cullinane and asking that
his son, Benson and Persinger, be par
doned.
The body lay on the floor Nearby
was a rifle with muzzle pointing toward
the spot where the old mans head
would have been had he been standing.
To the trigger was attached string
leading to the old mans right hand.
But under the head of the corpse was
pillow, a neatly folded piece OF I'M
derwear and marks on the coat showed
the body had been dragged.
The confession was not in the hano-
writing of the dead man. The rifle was
of smaller caliber than the bullet that
caused death. Then the officers at the
penitentiary gave credence TO PerSlng-
er's story and the pursuit OF Macarthur
was begun. Several weeks later ne was
found at the home of friend IN the
Bitter Root and was accused OF the
of Captain Dotson.
He attempted to establish an allDi
and his every statement was dtsproved
bv reputable witnesses. He was found
guilty and sentenced to be hanged ana
on Sept. 6, 1901. before a crowd OF $50
persons in the Deer Lodge jail, ne was
on the scaffold Macarthur made the
following statement:
Friends, want your attenClon lot
a few moments. I am about to meet
NV Maker. am here to die, an nno,
cent man. I have been wronged anq
God knows it. I forgive everybody.
10 with a clear conscience to meet my
Maker. thank you for your attention
and am now ready to meet my Maker.
ALL"
few days after the conviction OF
clinton Dotson, as Access
sory before the fact, was tried and con-
victed Of murder In the first degree
md was sentenced to be hanged on the
same date as Macarthur; but his at
,orneys appealed to the supreme court
and he obtained a respite until the
following spring, when he was hanged.