Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-10-16


protection. ONeill, having learned
Murphy planned to return to Missouri,
and knowing that there was a stand
ing reward for his arrest, proceeded
to Helena and notified the officers of
the law of Murphys whereabouts and
plans to leave the territory. Thereup-
on, Deputy Sheriff J. H. Mcfarland
and Police Officer Bashaw left Helena
on January &c, 1885, accompanied by
O'Neill, in a two-horse sleigh, for the
purpose of capturing the outlaw. Ar
irving at the rendezvous after dark
ONeill proceeded to his cabin, while
Mcfarland and Bashaw remained I'M
der cover outside O'Neill found Con
Murphy and his brother in the cabin
where he had left them. Murphy was
in bed and O'Neill requested the bro
ther to go down to the stable and feed
the horses, as he was cold. While the
latter was at the stable, O'Neill ap-
praised the officers that all was we'll.
On re-entering the cabin O'Neill was
in front, followed by the officers. In
moment O'Neill was on top of his
victim, pinioning him down while Bas-
haw covered him with double-barrel-
ed shotgun and Mcfarland with a
revolver.
Murphy was then handcuffed and
his weapons, three revolverS and a
Winchester rifle taken from him. BY
this time, Cons brother had returned
from the stable and unwlttingly
walked into the presence of the Off
GERS who at once placed him under
arrest. The capture was made about
1920 at night. Murphy was strong in
=. 1s~ks 50 81 q
latter's treacherous conduct. The pri-
soners were Immediately loaded into
the sleigh and the officers proceeded
with them towards Helena. The roads
we're so badly drifted with snow that
the party was compelled to stop until
morning at the Halfway House.
located just east of Clasoil on the
Northern Pacific railroad. When
breakfast time arrived the handouts
were removed from Murphy so that
he could eat, and they were left off
while he was putting on his overcoat
to continue his sleigh ride enroute to
Helena. He hurriedly walked across the
room for his hat, then suddenly turn
ed, pulling a revolver which he had
kept secreted under his left arm, and
fired at Bashaw, striking the latter
and during all this trouble his brother
sat in the room where he had slept
and made no effort to escape. Murphy
then handed his weapon to Bashaw
saying: IT have never killed a man in
my life and I do not care to add such
crime to my career want you to
have this revolver as a remembrance
of me: however, should the VigilanteS
/ fn,. rN1anSp
have a pistol to protect MYSELF"
The Vigilantes
They then proceeded on their jour-
ney and when about four miles out
from Helena were met by determined
Vigilante posse comprising about one
hundred men, well mounted. The place
of meeting was on the old stage road,
to the south of which there was line
of telegraph poles with cross beams
for the holding of wires in place. Muir
ply begged Bashaw to give him a gun
with which to defend himself, without
avail.
The Vigilantes dismounted and be-
fore adjusting rope around Murphys
neck inquired if he had anything to
say, if so to be quick about it. He res
pended: Don't harm the boy, for he
what he knew about the fires of re-
cent occurrence in Helena and replied
that he knew nothing more about
them than the man in the NOON" He
protested that he should be given a
fair trial, but was told that he had
been tried by the people and found
guilty A rope was then placed about
his neck, and the sleigh in which he
was riding driven underneath near
by telegraph pole. The rope was then
thrown over the cross arm thereof
and Murphy was advised that his time
had come Fifty determined men pull
ed on the rope, but the arm broke,
letting Murphy fall to the ground.
The. Northern Pacific railroad had
built into Helena in the summer of
1888. and there was, short distance
to the north, a railroad trestle across
coulee, and to it the party forthwith
proceeded. While going to the railroad
bride, Con was lying in the sleigh with
the rope around his neck, quiet and
pale. When the bridge was reached
he said in a voice full of despair and