Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-29

Theade was discovered in a cellar on
the Benson ranch shot twice, once
through the shoulder and once through
the side. The body was discovered by
Mr.. Benson and Arthur Lott.
On May Lane returned from hid
ing in the hills and robbed the West
Mercantile store in Hathaway of a
quantity of provisions. He left a note
signed by his name, saying: 81 am
sorry to have to do this, Mr.. West, but
it is the only way and means I have of
securing food. I would fix your window
if I had time"
The following day, however, with
only three shells left and little food,
Lane surrendered to SinmS Roberts
r., at the latter's ranch. He was at
once lodged in the Rosebud county
Jail and remained there until he was
hanged on the morning of Sept. 3,
Sheriff Henry Grierson. officiating
Double Hanging
On Feb. 8, 1928, two men went to
their death on the gallows in Treas
ure county for the Staying of Under
sheriff Irving Keeler in Treasure
M. Bolton ranch, 35 miles south Of
Hysham. They we're Joe B. Reagin,
gun-packing young desperate and Mr..
Bolton, operator of the ranch where
the murder occurred.
The story back of the killing in
volved the theft of some bedclothes
from the ranch of Mrs. Gamble, mother
Of Jess O. Gamble, supposedly taken
by Reagin and Bottoms brother IN
dersheriff Keeler was stationed at the
Bolton home where the stolen bedding
was awaiting Reagin's return. Reagin
had earlier conferred with Bolton and
knew the officer, whom he had never
seen, was waiting there He outlined
plan whereby he would hold up"
the officer, take the bedding and de-
stroy 1t as evidence. Bolton apparently
agreed to the scheme since It did not
involve a killing.
However, as Reagin entered, Keeler
was sitting with his knees drawn up
and his hands locked around them.
The other occupants of the house,
Bolton, his wife, who was suffering
from broken leg and a man named
Pope, threw up their hands at Reagin's |
Keller was slow in comply !
ing and Reagin drew down on him
with the gun and it went off, killing |
the officer instantly. In a confession |
signed later, Reagin said the gun had |
a hair trigger and that he merely |
meant 70 aim it at Keller but it went /
off accidentally.
He then made an escape and told |
The others to say a small man with |
whiskers, riding a white horse" had
done the murder. This story was told
first but later Bolton told the truth
and implicated himself as an accessory
before the fact by confesSing he knew
IF the plot to hold up the officer and
recover the bedding.
A resident of Treasure county, w. E.
Williamson, deputized by Sheriff T. j.
Cunningham, encountered Reagin the
following day and shot him through
he right knee, bringing him from his
morse on which he was seeking to eS-
APE. Two unusual incidents in connec-
ion with the trial were brought to
light by subsequent events.
On the jury that convicted the men
II murder was Phil Isaac, who, the
year ran for the office of
sheriff of Treasure county and was
elected. AS sheriff It was his duty to
execute the men. Another was that
the deputized man who
mot Reagin from his horse and made
he capture, was appointed as a deputy
" Sheriff Isaac, who is still the sheriff
II Treasure county, and assisted with
Both Reagin and Bolton made full
confessions before their deaths. Both
nen walked steadily and unfaltering
non the scaffold and Bolton, the first
D be dropped through the trap, went
& 3:41 O'Clock. Reagin following 20
minutes later. The scaffold which was
borrowed from Rosebud county was
rected at the rear of the courthouse
h an area enclosed by a high fence
nd was reached by the condemned
nen walking up the rear stairs Of the
courthouse.
Henry John Zorn Next
Some detective work entered into the
apture Of the slayer of Lester Jones,
Instructor at the state industrial
,hOoI. who was killed on the night OF
.uQ IL. 1884 A lone fingerprint on
~ inside Of the glass lens Of a flash
INT left behind by the killer. set JUS