Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-10

times found refuge and been giver
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 26, 1885, accompanied by
ONeill, 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 un-
der cover outside. O'Neill found Con
Murphy and his brother in the cabin
where he had left them Murphy was
In bed and OyNeill requested the bro
Their to go down to the stable and feed
the horses, as he was cold. While the
latter was at the stable, ONeiu ap-
praised the officers that all was wen.
On re-entering the cabin OfNeil was
In front. followed by the officers. In
a moment ONeill was on top OF his
victim. pinioning him down while Bas-
haw covered him with double-barrel-
ed shotgun and Mcfarland with q
revolver.
Murphy was then handcuffed and
his weapons, three revolvers and
Winchester rifle taken from him. BY
this time, Cons brother had returned
from the stable and unwittingly
walked into the presence Of the Off
GERS who at once placed him under
arrest The capture was made about
1890 at night. Murphy was strong in
his denunciation Of O'Nein for the
latter's treacherous conduct. The pri-
soners were Immediately loaded into
the sleigh and the officers proceeded
with them towards Helena. The roads
were so badly drifted with snow that
the party was compelled to stop until
morning at the Halfway House,
located lust east Of Ciason on the
Northern Pacific railroad. When
breakfast time arrived the handouts
were removed from Murphy so that
he could eat, and they we're 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
In the hand. Murphy finally gave up,
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 man In |
my life and I do not care to add such 1
a crime to my career. want you to
have this revolver as a remembrance I
Of me; however, should the Vigilantes |
come for me, won't you please let me |
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 a determined
vigilante posse comprising about one
hundred men, wen mounted. The place
of meeting was on the old stage road,
10 the south of which there was a line
Of telegraph poles with cross beams
FOR the holding of wires in place. Muir
1hy begged Bashaw to give him gun
With which to defend himself, without
Gvai1.
The Vigilantes dismounted and be-
'ore adjusting a rope around Murphy's
neck inquired If he had anything to
Iay, If so to be quick about it. He res
pended: Don't harm the boy, for he
s innocent" He was questioned as to
vhat he knew about the fires of re-
.ent occurrence IN Helena and replied
hat he knew nothing more about
hem than the man In the moon" He
protested that he should be given a
air trial, but was told that he had
,een tried by the people and found
utility. A rope was then placed about
lis neck, and the sleigh In which he
vas riding driven underneath a near
" telegraph pole. The rope was then
brown over the cross arm thereof
nd Murphy was advised that mis- time
lad come. Fifty determined men pull
d on the rope, but the arm broke,
citing Murphy fan to the ground.
The Northern Pacific railroad had
uilt into Helena In the summer Of
1888, and there was, a short distance
D the north, a railroad trestle across
coulee, and to It the party forthwith
roceeded While going to the railroad
ride. Con was lying In the sleigh with
he rope around his neck, quiet and
ale. When the bridge was reached
e said In 8 voice fun OF despair and
Election: Brother, kiss mel" his