Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-07-04

It was q crisp autumn day Of
Dot. 8, 1891, In the youthful mining
town Of Helena, and the settlement
was Wild with excitement. For
months its residents had suffered
from the persecution Of two un-
known bandits until none dared
venture forth without fun pr0tec-
ton even for the smallest Journey.
MissouIa and Butte, too, had suf-
fere@ at the hands Of these bandits
and had put Out every effort 10
catch them bat with no results
Nov, at last, after months Of play
ing hide and seek with the officers
Of the law, the bandits had finally
been captured.
Many stories had been circulated
concerning the bandits, all related by
their victims. Although their descrip-
tons varied slightly with the telling,
all agreed that the younger fellow was
the spokesman and the more desperate
Of the two. The victim Of the holdup
never argued or seemed unconvinced
that the gun held so uncomfortably
close to him would fail to go off should
any resistance be shown.
A Helena policeman, John Grogan,
was patrolling his beat when out Of
the shadows a suspicious looking
character appeared, who was armed
with a revolver. He first emerged from
behind a business building and then
suddenly made a dive for the protect
ing darkness OF an alley. Shouting out
into the dark, Grogan told the appari-
ton that he was arrested and TO halt.
He received as an answer a bullet
luL~ -. I'D frrt1f a
was Just able to shout for help and
was Immediately taken to the hospital
where he told his story.
Reports at the police station showed
that three holdups had been reported
that night and the police connected
the shooting Of the officer with the
recent holdups and decided that they
had better get busy. Officers were
stationed at different parts Of the city
and the entire town was under police
protection.
The next day young man was ar
rested on charges Of being a suspicious
character, but much TO the surprise
of the police, the young man" turned
out to be a young woman. After a
night of continued questioning she
broke down and confessed to the po-
lice that she was really Helen Fors-
lund and that her accomplice was a
man by the name Of Henry Clarke, a
fugitive Of the law.
The trial drew a large crowd. Girl
gangsters, or footpads, in those days,
were not q common sight. Helen con-
vinced the Jury that she had not left
her room on the night Of the robbery,
and that she was given watch by
Clarke who had presented 1t to her
the morning after the robbery. Clarke
accepted full blame for everything, and
the Jury, which was perhaps inclined
to be Ienient because the defendant
was a woman, completely exonerated
Helen. So, after participating m vart-
GUS holdups and a train robbery, not
10 mention petty thievery, the LADY
bandit was free once more.
Although 20 years Of age at the
time Of her arrest, Helen had led an
unusual and dramatic life. Born Of
parents who located on al
ranch near Spokane, Helen became a
popular leader Of the younger crowd.
Helen, however had no time for girls
games or dress and consistently fav-
ored boys as company. Noted for being
a tomboy, she exceIed at all sports
and few there we're who would compete
with her.
Having no giriish vanity, Helen one
day decided that she would never be
a pretty girl but that she might be
able to pass as a good looking boy.
After attirtng herself in her brothers
clothes, she was more than satisfied
with herself and much against the
feaaf fsa~. - TIai
sinued Ia her role Of young man.