Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-07-19

Like all tough guys Of the time Billy
had a weakness for music. particularly
when the ladies and liquor had soft
ened his feelings. In a house in the
restricted district in Bozeman he heard
James Eli Fisher, fresh from Wiscon-
sin, play a piano and became very
friendly with the musician. He invited
him to spend some time with him at
the Smith ranch, where he and his
mother were working, remarking.
There's good hunting up that way"
Animal or human he did not specify.
Fisher: % years old, turned up at the
ranch with a new gun in September to
go on hunt. After a night of laying
plans the two brothers and Fisher got
up early and started out.
At a spot near where the Box Elder
empties into the Flatwillow Billy
paused at clump Of trees and re-
marked. Il know how we can make
some easy money
He Proposes Murder
OF course the others were anxious to
hear how but they were stunned when
Billy said casually. Kill old man Nc
Rae and Allen. his herder, take their
sheep to Miles City, and skip after
selling them
According TO recorded testimony the
others at first demurred but Billy
pulled a six-gun and said. Now you
know what I'm going to do, you're in
on it or I kill you too"
So the lads rode on over a rise where
they came upon Farquhar McRae, an
elderly man, alone with part of his
flock McRae had 400 head of sheep of
his own. John Allen, his herder, and
a paragon among herders Of that time
in that he actually owned stock of his
own, had 300 head In addition the
men were running 900 head on shares
for Max Hildebrant
For 20 minutes the men talked
Fisher was to shoot when the time
came but apparently lost his nerve.
firing of the wait Billy took the gun
from Fisher and calmly shot McRae
through the head before the old man
knew what had happened. Billy looked
down at the body and remarked. 4" lis
no more than killing the dogs to xii
him.
McRae's body then was wrapped in a
saddle blanket and dragged half mile
to a chimney of rocks near his cabin.
Billy then disappeared over a ridge.
another shot was heard and he came
back announcing that Allen was dead.
His body then was brought to the
chimney.
In the morning the trio located the
cabin. Billy went across the Mussel-
shell to the ranch Of Lew Lewis who
was half-brother of Sam Smith.
There he secured wagon and team
McRae had lent Lewis and returned to
the cabin. The bodies were wrapped
IN tarp and placed in the wagon.
The young men then headed out for
Miles City.
Smith Smells Rat
The outfit had gone but short dis
lance when Sam Smith showed up on
horseback. To him Billy told a wild
story that McRae was hiding out" in
the wagon box and did not wish to
be seen .McRae, he said. had hired
him and the others to trail the sheep
sell them. including Hildebrant's share,
and skip.
Smith didn't like the sound Of the
story so he went to McRae's cabin.
Lewis showed up and together the men
investigated The trails where the
bodies of McRae and Allen had been
b 6aa ana Te b PLAINLY of hynkat zee
decided murder had been done and
Smith wrote a letter to Sheriff j. D.
Waite in LewiStown.
Smith, however, was not able to write
much and confused his information SO
that the sheriff. after taking the letter
to the county commissioners, was or.
dered to check on another band Of
sheep and they were found safe. The
note was disregarded.
Jeff Sherman, rancher of this dis
trict, felt, when the sheriff did not
show up. that some action should be
taken. The murders had been COM
mitted Sept. "a, 1888, and on Sept. 26,
a Monday, he organized a posse and
started ON the trail of the sheep.
The posse came up with the three
young men and the outfit on Big
Porcupine near Forsyth. the youths
having missed the Miles City trail
Fisher and Jim Calder gave UP with
signs Of relief, young Calder remarking
that II knew this would come sooner
or later" Billy was taken while out
guarding the sheep and surrendered
quietly.
There was only one flaw In the sit
uation-there were no bodies, And. no