Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-04-20
~ ERIC THINE

Big Timber, first known as
DOrnicks-because of the many
washed bOuIders covering the
grOund-was q reasonably peaceful
community in its earlier days. Law
and order prevailed to a greater
degree than In most frontier COM
munities, and intemperance was
not looked upon with indulgence as
the habitual thing. Outlaws, des-
peradOes and other persons Of I'll
reputation were missing.
One gentleman of Scandinavian ex-
tract. however, persisted IN disrupting
the peaceful air of the town. This
man was known as the bad Swede."
According to a chronicler Of the period,
he was inevitably full to the brim,"
and made a general nuisance of him
self, fighting, terrorizing the women
and children, and otherwise acting In
a manner not calculated to make him
popular with the law-abiding citizens
of Big Timber.
Tanning the bad Swede"
Upon one occasion, as usual full to
the brim," he staggered into a store
and picked a fight IN which he in
jured his antagonist. There was rush
of feeling about this, and camp
meeting was called at once. There were
demands for organized law, which were
not long in being met.
n MI. u u1du VI SOul1Q dItU
admirable qualities, was chosen justice
of the peace. One Al Stubblefield was
made sheriff. Stubblefield Immediately
arrested the Bad Swede and hailed
him before his honor, Judge Green.
There was a short and snappy trial,
the upShot of which was that Green
passed sentence upon the defendant,
condemning him to from 3 to 10 days
in the county jail.
So ALL. z-sf
at Bozeman, some so or more miles to
the west. No one had time to take the
culprit to that point. After some de-
liberation, he was remanded to the
sheriff, whose perplexity increased
when he found that apparently he
must build Jail for the Bad Swede,
or watch him constantly day and
night. The prospect Of either Of these
things did not appeal to Stubblefield,
and he sat down and put his wits TO
work.
The results were satisfactory. There
was prospect hole near town, about
30 feet deep and too steep sided to
climb without aid. Stpbblefield tied q
rope around the Swede, led him TO
the hole, and before the Swede under
stood what it was all about, forced
the man down. Then he dropped the
IAN now, think over yore sinsl" the
sheriff called.
The prisoner had plenty of time TO
do that. But not until he had made
the air around the mouth of the shaft
blue with his cursing and cajoling.
When he found that the sheriff was
gone, and his voice was only hitting
the sky, he became silent.
When it was time to eat, Stubblefield
returned. He carried food and water,
which he lowered to the Swede ON
the end of piece Of Irvine. Ths
prisoner lifted his voice again in plead
ing. threats and curses, but Stubble-
|, field was mercileSs.
you'll serve out yore sentenced" he
called down into the shaft. II was
ordered to take care of you. an Ina
doing Just that! Shut up! 1t won't DO
you no good!"
And it did not do the Swede any
good to plead. He served out his fun
term of ~ hours, and when Stubble-
field lowered a rope to him, he was
tanned and silent. He dashed away
from the prospect jail as fast as ne
could, nor did he look back.
This was not Montana's first jail
but it was certainly Montana's most
original jaill