Glacier County chief., 1939-07-14
By d. J. o'MALLEY (N-Bar-N KID


tn HE recent death of Frank
Conley at Butte took the Last
of a trio of brothers who
were all we'll known in eastern
Montana in the early days, Jim,
lack and Frank Conley. Jim and
Jack were well known before
Frank came to Montana. In 1877
to 1879 when the government was
building Fort Keogh, Jim and
Jack Conley were in the govern
ment employ at that fort in the
teamster and Jack was packer. Both
Of them took part in numerous engage
ments between the United States
troops and the hostile Indians VINO
were numerous during those years.
NV acquaintance with Jim and JACK
began at Fort Keogh in 1877. .
Jim left the government service IN
CITY to live. There he was soon asso-
ciated with the law, serving often as
a deputy sheriff. In 1881 he was ap-
nointed as county Tailor by Tom IT.
vine who was sheriff at that time.
He continued to hold that position
under Sheriffs w. H. BilD BullaIo,
John w. (Jack) johnson and CnaIies
w. Savage. In November, 1000. Wa
resigned as jailor and went west; ne
was known as an expert shot with
rifle or shotgun, especially the latter,
and took part in many contests WIN
winp-shooterS from as lar away %
St Paul and proved to be the victor IN
the majority Of them.
Jim was jailor in 1883 wnen JONI ON
Rigney was taken from the jan anu
hanged by a lynch mob. Conley Was s
called to the door t Q, 'h told 'I there was
a prisoner for him. He appeared IN
his underwear and with sixshooter IN
bis hand The crowd at the door 9e-
n,anded the KEY to Rigney's cell. Conley
renlied. You men will get no KY
from me unless it Is from my oeao
body. I don't want any blooos ., iieie
but I won't give you the Key
Officer Is Outwitted
While the crowd was arguing WIZ
him and also threatening MN, oIe ~ ~
their number slipped 70 Iie .h u door
the Jail noiselessly opened tne oUo,,
o or laying off his boots crept through
the baIl to the front door where Jim
. .ti Welding the lynchers at pay: pc
s ~ao In, was aware of the mans PRES,
lu,. both his arms were pmiSneo
SaSind his back and he was help,. V.,,s
The crowd came in, tooR Lns aIS
from Conley and took s,nrt rsilroad
haiiseu ornssed a coulee. Five OF tne
ptlus ,ook Conley into the sherHl >
MEL teiaa md STAYED with him, Saying
olti'o word In a short while ioI ~
n4t ;st q was heard from the street. ~ ~
,',as repeated three times. Inc i've We viii viii
arose and said: We'll, Jill JILL; I s,,n at
leave you. You VIII lnlu ao y1t thew left
the gate. Goodnight anu ~
him. .s one of he teamsters
Jun 80 N with the United states tfoOpS5
WIZ VIZ, thew captured TWO Moo oa1 " he
WI hand of Cheyennes IN io t,av
ms me- was with the soldiers Wi's hand 81
injured Chief Hump anu LID o
sioux in 1873. master of trans
JONI l.io,, at Fort Keogh, saio ,e e,La0
porIaGsinoJ,ie could put six.mule Jei,Gd
JIM Co,,tfif into a place that wo ,,ia
me ou r,nSt men to put in t"o-hiu'e
team. Cattle several years ago:
lack Conley, the seco oh larger T man
the brothers, was o r powerful. He
than JIM a1t;reiv in the pack depaI ~
WORKED J was in the field agalnSe rt,e
mefC az" Iedians often He was IN CLINE naIes
re't tbe nacktrain under Coioiie fieht
Oh Ia7o when the troops nau .cp IN
III a large bunch OF 9ha indians
Gians on Clark's TOTE of Riack Horse
we're ar,ee captured by the troops. a he,,t
and We" atont Zoo Indians all toia. lay a
were a1oIir men. The army IoS,,
$50 llsl ntf;rer in this engagennrnand
brave -, oRennett, who was IN eoi LACY
CaPCEH nn,nany B, Fifth nlaiitsiyi Wv into
o. brought the captain us IN IN prog-
ANN while the fightih ssfr Md some Of
the Indians mlgn' s''
lain the officer. ,:s.
49, Az in of the BODY %a va
The ,, Tshd at great, risk 70 fire S of
accoilipii,a was exposed 10 llie nat It
NE I nS most of the . nlte ZEN
tn e,, him to get to where i% with it.
Io3H body lay and 70 re' one on each
Packers wo VOTE that was being pacKe es
side of the mu una his partner, who was
Jack COMFY rmtch Hank" were and
known aS heing the two sWnVeS' COL
the tlti tue 81 at Fort Keogh, while
SureS. ,ade the remark one ,sack that
dle ai, and Hank put on ~" hackers
"a i seemed that tho HS of hardtack
did dc was to. grao "a a ANYTHING else and
or sack o. the mule, and then tH tSev
throw II az az the stuff and wneI md
rope ar i.J throwing the l9ad d and
got gones !it that the mule was pa'A'
lacked right. ,r.s sent in to Keogh
: ssss $os ~ =; ssesssS s$s
to get 70 once sent out sco SCOUTS VA a
sss$BfS & ! i 4 = ss;
v very and and from all appeatano.1 -