Fergus County Democrat. [volume], May 09, 1905, Image 1

About Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
Fergus County Democrat.
Vol I. No. 39
LEWISTOWN, FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA, TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1905.
Price 5 Cents.
BUTTE MURDERER
IS CAUGHT
Patrick Rodgers, the Slayer of Burke,
Was Arrested in Kendall
Last Friday.
OWNS UP THAT HE KILLED BURKE
After His Arrest He Talks Freely
With Deputy Dennis and Says He
Had to Kill Burke.
Patrick Rodgers, the slayer of Geo.
Burke, of Butte, on March ISth, was
arrested by Deputy Sheriff Dennis at
Kendall last Friday morning, brought
to Lewistown and safely placed in
the county jail. He arrived in Ken
dall on Thursday and was pointed out
to Dennis as a tough character by
a resident of the camp who knew him.
Deputy Dennis went through a lot of
descriptions he had in the office and
among them found one of Patrick
Rodgers, issued at the time of the
jail break in Butte two years ago.
The description fitted the new ar
rival to a dot and Dennis kept track
of him until Friday morning, when
he ascertained that he was the man
wanted for the Butte murder and
made preparations to arrest him.
As the result of communicating with
the sheriff's office in Lewistown, Den
nis ascertained that Rodgers was a
hard citizen and a gun fighter. In
order to prevent trouble Deputy Den
nis enlisted the services of his broth
er Kirk and arrested his man in the
Moccasin saloon by getung the drop
on him and having Kirk put on the
irons.
Rodgers was taken so by surprise
that he made no effort to resist ar
rest and quietly accompanied the dep
uty sheriff to Lewistown.
There is no doubt but that Rodgers
is an extremely hard character and
the account of the killing of Burke
shows that the shooting of the latter
was done as the result of a general
row amongst a gang of disorderly
characters in the St. Lawrence saloon
in Butte.
At the coroner's inquest, which was
held on the body of the murdered man
the following verdict was returned
by the jury:
"We, the undersigned jurors, after
hearing the testimony and making all
needful inquiries, do hereby return
the following verdict: That the de
ceased, George F. Burke, came to his
death on the eighteenth of March from
a gunshot wound, and from the evi
dence adduced, we, the jury, believe
that the gun was held by a man sup
posed to be one Patrick Rodgers.
(Signed). Mike Carroll, Dennis Car
ey, V. B. Sabine, Frank Call, P. V.
Ryan, R. J. Langan."
After his arrest Rodgers admitted
killing Burke and said that he had
to do it in self defense. He told
Deputy Dennis that he remained in
Butte for a month after the killing
and stated that he had been work
ing in various parts of the state since.
He said that he spent Wednesday
in Lewistown. The deputy brought
Rodgers to town immediately after
the arrest owing to the fact that there
is no jail in Kendall.
Rodgers became somewhat com
municative during the ride to town
and told the deputy that he had to
kill Burke and said that on the even
ing of the killing that he went into
the St. Lawrence saloon and had a
row with the bartender over some
trivial matter and knocked him down.
The bartender secured a piece of gas
pipe and hit Rodgers; there ensued a
general row in which Rodgers was
badly pounded up. He went out and
after walking a short distance found
that he had lost a $15 nugget, which
he wore on his watch chain, in the
row. He returned to the saloon and
saw that they were kicking his hat
around and having a general "hot
time." He went and secured a couple
of guns and returned. On entering
the saloon Burke hit him with a chair
and Rodgers shot him. He states that
he remained in the city for a month
after the shooting and was on the
streets almost every night.
Rodgers bears the earmarks of a
general rough house fighter and his
appearance certainly Indicates that
he had been in a mix up of a serious
nature in the near past.
There is a reward of $200 standing
for the capture of Rodgers, which will
go to the deputy's office at Kendall.
The Democrat reporter got an in
terview iwth Patrick Rodgers on Sat
urday, though at first he was not too
willing to grant it, owing to the fact,
as he said, that the Butte newspaper
men had given him the worst of it.
His story seems to be a straight one
and his body bears marks corrobora
tive of his statements. The story,
as told to the Democrat, is as fol
lows:
"All the trouble was over a relation
of mine called Leonard," said Rodg
ers. "I dropped around to the St.
Lawrence saloon and found him drunk
and beat up; he had been in a row
up on Broadway. Kane, the bartender,
asked me to take him home; he lived
at my mother's place. I started with
him and after I had taken him a few
blocks he hauled off and smashed me.
This made me so mad that I knocked
him down, though I don't hit such
drunken guys as a rule, and in the
scuffle both our hats fell off and I
got his by mistake. He got the best
of the trade because mine was a new
one. I left him and after awhile went
back to the St. Lawrence saloon,
where I found him lying over a table
dead drunk with the hat that belong
ed to me beside him.
"I walked over and picked up the
hat and left his in its place. The
bartender run out from behind the
bar and made a swipe at me. I tried
to avoid trouble and ducked several'
swings until I had to smash him.
Kane walked behind the bar and
started to wipe the blood off his face
and was talking to the gang, talking
kind of sarcastic ana saying that
Leonard was all beat up, as if I had
done it. While he was talking he
reached for a piece of gas pipe that
lay behind the bar and smashed me
in the mouth, loosening all my teeth
and knocking me down. As I lay on
the floor I caught him by the knees
and pulled him on top of me and we
rolled dround until 1 began to feel
myself again, when the gang in the
house, in which Burke was mixed,
grabbed chairs and billiard cues and
beat me up. I got on my feet; the
bartender picked up a chair and I
caught hold of him and swung around
so that I was near the door, when
a friend of mine pulled me out to the
sidewalk. There was a rock on the
sidewalk, and I admit that I threw
it through the window.
"After I had been out there for a
few minutes I found that I had lost
a gold nugget that I haa on my watch
chain and I walked to the door, whet e
I saw the gang kicking my hat around
and having a general rough house.
I wanted my hat and the nugget, and
I went and got two guns and went
back to the saloon. When I walked
in I took the drop on Kane, as I
was not going to let him get another
poke at me with the gas pipe, and
asked him for my stuff. He plead
for his life and I told him I wouldn't
shoot such a guinea as him. About
that time Burke walked up and smash
ed me with a chair."
This was as far as Rodgers went,
but when asked if he shot Burke at
that time he said that he did. He
stated that he was in bed and nnabie
to move for four days and could not
eat anything on account of the smash
in the mouth he got from Kane.
Rodgers mentioned that he was in
town for a couple of weeks after the
killing and since then has been work
ing in different parts of the state.
IN THE CONE BITTE DISTRICT.
Considerable Work Being Done and
New Strikes Have Been Made.
The Cone Butte mining district, but
a short distance from Gilt Edge, is be
ing thoroughly exploited this spring
and with considerable success. Sev
eral new strikes have been made and
the outlook for the district this sum
mer is good.
James Murphy and brothers are
making preparations to erect a mill
on their ground, which has rapidly
come to the front as a result of de
velopment work. These gentlemen op
erate under the name of the Eagle
Mining company and have consider
able capital behind them. Contracts
have already been let for the erec
tion of several mill buildings.
Charles Edwards is operating the
Fort- group and has a four hundred
foot tunnel on the property with a
good looking face. The ore in this
group has to be subjected to concen
tration for treatment and runs in the
neighborhood of $12 to the ton in
gohd.
The entire district is showing up
extremely well this spring and all the
properties owned in that locality will
be thoroughly exploited this season.
HERBERT METZGER
PAYS PENALTY
The Slayer of young Homer Ward
Was Hanged at White Sulphur
Springs on May 5.
CONDEMNED MAN DISPLAYS NERVE
Walked to His Death Without the
Least Sign of Nervousness**
Stated He Was Innocent.
White Sulphur Springs, May 5.—
Herbert Metzger was hanged at 3
o'clock this afternoon for the murder
of H oilier Ward last Thanksgiving
day. Metzger's body was jerked high
into the air, and his neck was broken
by the fall. Death ensuing 11 1-2
minutes later. It was one of the
most successful executions ever con
ducted in the state, according to the
visiting sheriffs, among whom were
Quinn of Silver Bow county, Hogan
of Cascade, Falang of Sweet Grass,
Mullen of Broadwater and Graham of
Missoula.
Within half an hour after Dr. J.
A. Kumpe had pronounced Metzger
dead, the remains of the murderer
had been buried. Metzger awakened
from a sleep to go to the gallows.
Until early this morning the doomed
man was entertained in the county
jail, songs and recitations being part
of the program calculated to make
the murderer's last hours on earth as
pleasant as possible, and when
Metzger retired he slept soundly
until it was time for Sheriff Charles
H. Shannon to awaken him for the
reading of the death warrant.
Metzger displayed remarkable
nerve to the last, the march .to the
scaffold apparently affecting him no
more than an after dinner stroll.
He betrayed some interest in the
mechanism of the instrument of
deatii, and his face flushed somewhat
as he shot an upward glance at the
grim noose hanging over him, but
there was no sign of weakness.
Up to the moment when the black
cap shut out the light forever, Metz
ger's desire seemed to be to impress
those about him with his assertion
that lie was innocent of the crime for
which his life was the penalty.
lie wanted the newspapers to pub
lish his side of the story, which was
contained in a sealed letter which he
gave to the reporter when the march
to the gallows began.
Little opportunity was given Metz
ger to make a prolonged talk on the
gallows, and when Deputy Sheriff
George Williams had adjusted the
noose, tiie cap was quickly drawn
over the man's face and almost before
the crowd was aware the signal was
given by Sheriff Sherman and the 300
pound weight fell with a sickening
thud as tiie doomed man's body was
jerked in the air a distance of about
5 feet, there was a slight twitching
of the muscles after the body had
settled back, but no other outward
signs of the man's death struggle.
After Metzger had been pronounced
dead, a plain pine coffin was shoved
under tiie suspended corpse, tiie rope
cut and tiie remains permitted to fall
into the casket. Tiie coffin was at
once taken to tiie cemetery and in
terred.
Metzger maintained his composure
to the last. This morning lie ate
a good breakfast, and at noon lie also
ate a substantial meal. He was visit
ed early in the day by a local minis
ter, witli whom lie talked for some
time, but lie showed no inclination of
accepting tiie religious consolation
offered or of feeling contrite for his
crime. Up to tiie last lie maintained
his innocence, and said just before
going to the gallows that he had no
one to blame but himself for today's
work, which had been brought about
by his fool talk.
In the statement which lie desired
published Metzger claims that lie
is innocent of the murder of Homer
Ward, but that he is tiie victim of
circumstances, which made tiie cir
cumstantial evidence against him
appear very strong.
The crime for which Metzger was
hanged was committed November 23
last, the evening before Thanksgiving
day. He was placed under arrest 10
days later, near Neihart. His trial
was begun at White Sulphur Springs
March 22. One week later the trial
l" as completed, the jury returning
j a verdict of murder in tiie first de
giee. and the following day. Judge
Cheadle signed the death'warrant,
fixing May 5 as the date for the
execut ion.
ELKS INSTALL OFFICERS.
Edward Brassey Presented With a
Handsome Card Case.
The annual installation ceremonies
of the Elks Lodge No. 45(1. were he'd
in the hall above the Lang building
last Wednesday evening. Grand Dis
trict Deputy H. A. Gallwey, of Butte,
installed the officers and addressed
the assembled members in a very in
teresting manner. Ed. Brassey, the
out-going exalted ruler, was present
ed with a magnificent gold and sil
ver card case as a slight token of the
regard in which lie is held by his
brother Elks.
The following officers were install
ed: Hugh Wagner, exalted ruler;
W. M. McClean, esteemed leading
knight; Thomas Stout, esteemed loy.
al knight; E. P. Chandler, esteemed
lecturing knight; F. J. Hazen, secre
tary; G. W. Cannon, treasurer; T. J.
Tubh, tyler.
A very well gotten up banquet was
served by the Silver Moon cafe and
the extensive cold collation was thor
oughly enjoyed by the large gathering
of members who were present during
the ceremonies.
SHERIFF QUINN TAKES RODGERS.
THE Slaver of BurkeWas Taken Back
to Butte Monday by the Sheriff.
Sheriff Quinn of Butte arrived in
Lewistown Saturday evening as the
result of a message sent from t tie sher
iff's office here, informing him that
"Paddy" Rodgers bad been arrested.
The sheriff visited the prisoner, who
told him the same story that was told
to the representative of the Demo
crat .
The sheriff says dial. Rodgers lias a
hard reputation in Butte and thinks
tlint the plea of self-defense will lose
force owing to tiie fact that Rodgers
made a getaway instead of giving him
self up at the time of the killing.
Sheriff Quinn at tended the hanging
of Metzger at White Sulphur Springs
on Friday and states that tiie con
denined man did not show the slight
est fear and the execution was pulled
off' w ithout a hitch.
The sheriff says that many of the
tougher joints in the smoky city art
being done away with, and a success
ful effort is being made to "move on"
the strong arm element which has
caused so much trouble in Butte in
the past.
TOWN 0E GRASS RANGE.
Situated in a Pleasant Valley in a
Fertile District on McDonald.
In a well-sheitered spot on McDon
ald creek, on the old Charters ranch,
is situated tiie little town of Grass
Range, a trading point where the
numerous surrounding ranchers ob
tain many of their supplies.
An up-to-date store, which handles
everything from a package of pins to
a sulky plow, is run by II. P. Imis
lund, who also has tiie postoffice. This
store is exceptionally well stocked for
a country establishment and is doing
a good business.
A hotel, which can give cards and
spades to many a hostelry in tiie state,
is run by Mr. Imislund and the ac
commodations afforded are exception
ally good. A first-class livery and feed
barn is run in connection with this
establishment. Tiie wire of the Lew
istown-Billings Mutual Telephone Co.
passes through this point, and every
thing is now ready for the installment
of tiie instruments. The town al
ready has*connections with tlie line of
the Lewistown Telephone Co.
A saloon, where all kinds of liquid
refreshments can he obtained, is run
by "Tommy" Graham. Arrangements
are now being made so celebrate tiie
Fourth of July in a befitting manner,
and there is not tiie slightest doubt
hut that anybody who takes in the
Fourth at Grass Range will get his
money's worth.
Tiie surrounding country is well set
tled and both the stockmen and far
mers of the section are in a prosper
ous condition. The high price paid
for wool this season will make times
good in this locality this summer.
Tiie representatives of the Fergus
county high school will leave ror Mis
soula tiie first part of next weed. The
hoys who are going, are Platt Belden,
Dan Crowley, Ernest McCollom and
Ralph Tavenner. Tiie declaimer,
Charles Group will accompany them.
MONTANA WOOL
IN THE LEAD
The Wool Market Still Remains Firm
and a few Local Sales are
Made at Top Prices.
FERGUS CLIP HALE SOLD ALREADY
Estimated by Those Who are Well
Informed That About Half Coun
ty Clip Is Sold.
Judging from the pulse of the wool
market the plienomtnal prices hither,
to paid for Fergus county wools is not
the result of a Hurry and there seems
to he no danger of a drop in prices.
The excitement of the past two
weeks has subsided and sales are few,
though judging from market reports
the demand for territorial wools is
still firm. One excellent sign is the
high prices being paid for Wyoming
wools which are always of inferior
grade to the clip secured in Montana.
As high as 23 cents has been paid in
Wyoming and the 25 mark has al
ready been reached in Montana.
It is estimated that in the neigh
borhood of 3.000.000 pound will lie
shipped from Lewistown this year and
in all probability it will ho nearer the
3..'>00.000 mark. About half of this
lias already been contracted for.
('lose to 1 . 000.000 pounds will goto
Millings. Jack Fraser lias been buy
ing considerable wool al top prices in
the Flat willow district, among the
clips bought being those of .lames
Wilson, II. F. Clements and others.
Wilson got 24 cents. It, is said that
the Sage creek clip sold at 24 cents.
Tliis clip will come to Lewistown.
Louis Mankind sold 30.000 pounds for
23 cents to Patterson. Ben Hill sold
20.000 pounds to Pat (arson for 23 cents
and James Elliot t, disposed of his clip
to Fraser of Billings at 23 cents.
EAGLES' MEMORIAL SERVICES.
Very Impressive Services Held at
Culver's Hall Sunday.
The memorial services held undoi
the auspices of the local lodge of the
Traternal Order of Eagles at Culver's
hall on Sunday afternoon were we
attended and the well-selected pro
gram was excellently rendered. The
services were held in memory of the
following departed brothers: Dr. F.
Freacey, James Skinner, Janies Gor
don and rew^ Ferris.
The pTogram was as fallows:
Selection................By Orchestra
(ipening Exercises
Prayer...........Rev. II. Qulckenden
Roll ('all
Vocal Music, "The Lost Chord"____
..............Ry Presbyterian Choir
Address ....................Dr. Foley
Vocal Duet, Selected...............
• Mrs. L. I mClos and George Measly
Selection....................< Irchest ra
A dd l ess....................I toy A yers
Selection....................Orchestra
Closing Exercises
Benediction......Rev. If. Quickenden
ADDITIONAL LOCAL.
Frank Mitchell of Standford is in
tiie city.
To-day is Arbor day and many of
tiie citizens are celebrating tiie
occasion by the planting of trees.
Tiie subscription list for the Car
negie library site is being dirculated
witli considerable success.
Wanted—By man andj wife, a 'pos
ition on a ranch. Long ^experience.
Address this office.
Joseph Beilis returned to'.Lewis
, — - i v '»» wUUi———— m
tewn last evening. Mr. George. Bei
lis drove down from Maiden to meet
him.
C. T. Dureli and wife arej^in tiie
city. Mr. Dureli says that the con
densing plant at tiie Gold Beef is
ready.
A' M. Matthews is in town. Mr.
Matthews and family are visiting
friends and relatives injtiie vicinity
of Moore.
A letter lias been received in^Lew
istown from Judge Nelson, stating
that lie will in all probability he tiere
in the near future.
Lost—A large Llewellyn setter pup,
color, light red, with white fore feet
and nose, spotted. Five dollars re
ward. Dr. E. A. Long, Lewistown.
if von want trees or shrubs go and
see Mrs. Murray on Main street. A
number of uncalled for trees have
been left on her hands and she will
dispose of them at. reduced prices.
Miss Slmfeldt lias entered the news
paper competition for the trip to
Portland tills summer given by the
Butte evening news to the first ton
young ladles who secure the coupons
attendant on the securing of new
subscribers to tiie paper. Miss Sliii
I'eldt should gel all the assistance
possible iu tills matter.
K. W. King lately made the state
ment that in the near future an elec
tric drill will he placed in the Klng
Rarues mines at Kendall. The King.
Barnes is paying monthly dividends
amounting to $20,000. Mr. King states
that the mines at Zortman are on a
good paying basis and about *18,000 Is
t ne result of tiie average clean-up.
The monthly social in connect ion
with St. James Guild will take a new
form Lids month. Next Friday, May
12th, ut m|». M. all members and
friends of the Guild, gentlemen as
we|! as ladles, wili lie entertained at,
the Heffman Houss for a social even
ing by Mesdamos Vrooman and
Wakefield. Services will he held
next Sunday at the Episcopal church
at 11 A. M.fluid 7.30 P. M.
'I'lie quarterly meet ing of the Meth
odist Episcopal church of Lewistown
begins Thursday evening with preach
ing by Rev. Shelden. Friday evening
Rev. \ an (irsdel will preach. Sat ur
day evening business session of the
liiarterly conference. Sunday, 10:15
Love feast. II o'oclock, preaching by
liov. Van < irsdel I, followed by the
communion. Preaching again at, H
o'clock. All are invited to attend
t iiese services.
The meeting of the Womans Club
will lie held to-morrow evening at,
the Presbyterian church on which
occasion Judge Cheadle will give a
lecture on "The Czar and his
Dominions". Some of (lie main
features of I lie evening will he tiie
violin sole, a Schubert serenade, by
Professor Race and the Pianoforte
solo by Miss Smith. The. evenings
entertainment will commence at
eight o,clock sharp.
Archie Harrigan had an^experience
with a wild and woolly cay use yester
day which resulted in his receiving a
black eye, which, though ornamental,
does not improve Ids beauty. Mr.
Harrigan rode out, to t,he coal mines
on some business, and while there the
cayuse shied at the Muttering of a
paper Archie was carrying, ran under
tiie top wire of a fence, pulled tiie
saddle off and landed Harrigan on t he
ground with tiie above mentioned re
sult.
Rev. Henry Quickenden returned
on Sat urday from a trip to Kalispeil
where lie attended tiie annual meet
ing of tiie Presbytery. Mr. Quicken
den states that the meeting was very
satisfactory in every respect^and met
tioned that he enjoyod the trip very
much. He ret urned h.y way of the
Flathead river and lake which lie
crossed in one of the lake boats. Tiie
annual meeting will he iieid at, Roze
man next year. While in Butte Mr.
Quickenden met Frank Ward who is
in the employ of Luty Bros, of ttiat
city and is doing well.
T. J. JOHNS SUES FOR DAMAGES.
Clarence Barnes Is Made the Defend
ant In Damage Suit for $5,000.
A complaint lias been made out by
T. J. Johns attorneys iu which Mr.
Johns claims that he has full right
and title to the subscription account
of the old Lewistown Democrat and
states that owing to the publication
of a notice in tiie Fergus County
Democrat by Mr. Barnes, that lie has
been unable to collect many of tiie
accounts of tiie aforesaid subscription
list and moreover claims that tiie
wording of the notice was intended
to injure and damage his repuration
and prevent his collection of said
accounts.
Mr. Johns also claims damages to
his reputation to t lie extent of $5,000
owing to the fact that ids business
and future prospects were damaged
by tiie wording of aforesaid notice
published in tiie Fergus County Dem
ocrat. Tiie plaintiff also claims
damages in the sum of $100 for actual
loss to his busiuess by means of said
publication
In relation to tills matter it might
he added that tiie Fergus County
Democrat lias bottling to do with the
circulation of the old Lewistown
Democrat.
Read the Democrat for the news.