Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-14

h44 A4Ao
a man known as "Smitty," and lead
ing two saddled broncS, he rode openly
up to the jail and set about freeing
A noisy cattle buyer sought to inter-
fere and was shot IN g fleshy spot
for his impertinence. Otherwise the
iailbreak proceeded with q minimum
j Nelson gained Seffick Is q new mem
Der Of his gang and authorities were
more than ever eager TO catch up
with him.
only one attempt was recorded Of
| these efforts to capture Nelson. That
/ took place a year after the 1a1lbreak
when q man whose name Is not re-
/ corded heard that Nelson and Seffick
were holed up near little town N
| willis. then sheriff OF Valley county
| and today owner Of The Mint IN
! Great Falls, to scout and see II the
report Was true.
Capture Try Failed
This man was only to report back
but. finding the outlaws on foot, ne
tried to gun them down. In his ex-
element he missed. The outlaws ran
for their guns and horses and the
deputy took to the brush, making good
his escape.
Nothing apparently was done after
this try. Then, Jones entered tne PIC
tire Thought to be from Nevada, he
was A lone wolf at first but soon
found a kindred soul In Nelson and
they joined forces.
This unholy alliance took place In
early 1899 and probably was mutual
need. Jones had become more and
more an undesirable citizen and John
Eader. Cnlbertson deputy, set out 10
get him. Eader heard Jones was az
nearby ranch and went there. Wnen
he went in the front door, Jones came
out the back door, stole the deputy's
horses. left him without means OF pur-
suit. and took off. 1t was shortly alter
this escapade that he joined up Win
Later Nelson dropped out Of the
picture and another gang, known as
the Jones' Carlyle-Henry group, was
formed to continue the depredatlons.
Activities of this group became SO
troublesome that finally rewards wers
nut on the heads of al the outlaws
with Jones and Carlyle rated ut 81 500 !
each. and the other men from 500
to $500 each. Citizens and laWmen ;
combined to clean up the rustlerS.
A group consisting Of Tom A. Davis,
Billy Andersby, Elmer CHomlny) /
THOMPSON, Frank King and George
IaPorte agreed to have themselves
deputized and to try and round up
or kill the outlaws.
when the time was judged ripe,
King rode to ThompSon's shack near
Whitehall and told him the plan OF
action. The deputized ranchers were
to make a circle in their part OF the
country, while King would rioe 70
Canada and enlist the aid Of the Royal
Northwest Mounted police who would
close In on the gang from the north
and prevent any Of them from cross
ing the border.
Overhears Plan
The idea was good but. it didn't
work. Jones, constantly on the alert,
had seen King ride up TO thompson
abode and had followed and climbed
on the roof Of the shack ana tnere
heard every word.
The following morning. when King
was enroute to Canada and about IS
miles up the Muddy from Thompson's s,
Jones waylaid him and took him
prisoner. King was then taken 70 the
outlaws hideout. blindfolded and kept
for IA DAYS He finally was turned
loose near the Carl Gtlbertson ranch
near Redstone. This was In the ian
Of 1902. It ended efforts to capture
The gang by organized action at That
time.
However, the big rewards remained
b force and many a man was tempted .
"a earn one Of them. Several tried
rnsuccesgfuIly and finally Jim Moore, /
! barber and constable living at Cul-
oertson, decided to add his attempt !
o the others. He had heard that Kid I
Trailer was near Redstone and there {
was price Of $500 on the mans
Moore made his capture, finding
Trailer ut q dance and disarming him
without trouble. He placed his captive I
n e sleigh, hitched up q team and !
;tarted for Glasgow 70 turn the man
,ver to Sheriff Harry CoSner.
However, word got TO Jones that
Trailer was q captive he wayiatd the
constable and Trailer and freed his
lenchman. He unhitched the team I
nd put Trailer ca one Of the horses, I
aktnR the other and leaving Moore
foot. he also took Moorc's big. black
owfaide coat for himself
Ee took the coat, known through
aut the countryside and. Ia doing so. Z
10 unw1tttngly signed his own death {
rarTank.
Moore finally got back to CuIbertscn ;
rhere he reported the incident. He 2
"a not recognize Jones but rather,
nougfat the outlaw who held him up n
ad been Carlyle. Ons thing, however, a
raa known. One Of tina outlaws had q
De biz, black cowhida coat. 3
Tina mm1inm ny Jones resulted m q
saFsaNAkm&a ana M1@r@m@a@ mff0E&M DO