Big Timber Pioneer 1916

              4
v.
VOLUME XXVIII. NO 7
BIG TIMBER. SWEET GRASS COUNTY, MONTANA, THURSDAY. JAN. 6. 1916
PRICE $1.50 PER YEAR
REGULARMEET1NG
OF CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS ON DEATH OF FOR-
MER MAYOR ASBURY ADOPTED.
SAURY CLAIMS ALLOWED
Arc Light Granted for Hooper Street
and  Second Avenue—Alderman
McDonnell Given a Layoff.
The city council met in regular session Monday evening, the dove of
peace which made its advent simultaneously with the holiday era of
"peace on earth, good will toward
men", being again present, and evidently having perched in the council
chamber for the balance of the winter.
All members were present, Mayor
Elliot presiding.
The minutes of the last meeting and
the reports of the police magistrate,
city treasurer, Acting Chief Shipton
were read and approved.
The bond of W. R. Curtis, the new
chief, was also approved
The committee named at the former
meeting to draft resolutions upon the
death of John P. Asbury, first mayor
of Big Timber, reported as follows:
"Whereas, John F. Asbury, late of
the county of Sweet Grass, state of
Montana, was for many years a resident of the city of Big Timber, and
served his city in the capacity of mayor
from the date of its organization until
the first Monday in May, 1913. A
good citizen, loyal to his friends, always having faith that men would do
better and make a success of their efforts and business; it is a heavy loss
that we,   his fellow  citizens,   sustain;
"Andwherea8, John F. Asbury was
by an untimely death taken from us
on the 8th day of December, 1915; now
therefore be it
"Resolved, By the city council of
the city of Big Timber:
"That we express our sincere regrets because of the death of the said
John F, Asbury: and be it further
"Resolved, That a copy of these
resolutions be entered at length upon
the book of ordinances "and resolutions
of the city of Big Timber, and that a
copy thereof be delivered to the bereaved relatives of deceased."
The resolutions were signed by City
Attorney J. B. Selters. City Clerk J.
E. Rees  and  Alderman  C   W.   Allen.
Alderman McDoonnell moved that
the resolutions be designated No. 71
and that they be recorded by the clerk
in the book of ordinances and resolutions, which was  unanimously carried.
Alderman McDonnell was unanimously granted a 60-day leave of absence,
dating from January 16,  1916.
The report of the deputy state examiner on the condition of the city
books was read and approved.
The request of Skillman & Skillman
and others for an arc light at the corner of Hooper street and Second avenue
west, presented in August, was unanimously granted.
On motion of Alderman Allen, the
claim of C. W. Campbell for $96.66,
salary as city attorney, was allowed at
$11.
Claim of A. R. Irvine for 100 for
night watchman was allowed at $75.
The usual number of salary bills and
items for purchases and expenditures
were read and allowed and the clerk
ordered to draw warrants for their
payment.
Bozeman Murder Suspect
Caught at Dickinson
Bozeman Chronicle:—Joe Reiser, the
alleged murderer of Joe Fink, his fellow countryman and partner, was arrested yesterday morning at 7:30
o'clock at a Dickinson, N. D. hospital,
according to telegrams received by the
sheriff's office and Sheriff Del Gray departed on No. 4 to bring him back to
Bozeman, where he is charged .with
first degree murder.
Reiser, it is said, has been going under the name of his dead friend and
had given the First National Bank of
Dickinson, a certificate of deposit, owned by Fink, covering money at a Minneapolis bank. It was forwarded to
the Minneapolis bank and the officials upon receiving it advised the
police authorities in their city and they
in turn notified the sheriff in this city.
The sheriff at Dickinson upon receiving tho information made a search for
the missing Hungarian and found him
in the hospital, where it is thought he
is recuperating from wounds received
in the fight with Fink in the little cabin at Salesville the night of December
22d.    The authorities here  were   ad
vised that the captured man had Fink's
clothing and several papers of his.
If ever a sheriff's force has congratulations due them, the local staff has.
for the manner in which they have ran
down their missing foreigner. The
multilated body of Fink was found the
night of December 24th almost hid
from sight beneath the cabin floor,
where the two men had resided for only a few days, after their arrival from
Butte, in search of work in the vicinity
of Sales /Hie.
All the sheriffs between here and
St. Paul were notified by wire of the
murder and were sent a description of
Reiser. It was also thought that
Reiser had been wounded during the
fight, the indications being that there
had been a terrible struggle, and because of that belief, the sheriff's office notified practically all the hospitals from Bozeman to Minnesota. Fink
was thought to have money deposited
somewhere and though the officers
knew not where, they asked the banks
and money exchanges in the Twin
Cities and from there to here, to be on
the lookout for the names of Fink or
Reiser. The sheriff's thoroughness in
leaving nothing undone in an effort to
apprehend the sought for man was rewarded, for if the Minneapolis banks
had not been advised of the state of affairs, the whereabouts of Reiser probably would not yet be known.
Reiser Confesses to
Killing at Salesville
Dickinson, N. D., Jan. 1.—Joe Reiser, arrested by Stork county authorities for forgery at Cando, N, D.. confessed to Sheriff Brown last night that
he killed Joe Fink at Salesville, Mont.,
Dec. 23, declaring that the killing resulted from a quarrel between them
over some bed clothing. Fink claimed
Reiser had more than his share of the
bedding and that Fink fired a bullet at
him during the argument and followed
the revolver attack with a blow from a
hatchet. Reiser then said he wrenched
the hatchet from Fink and hit him over
the head, killing him. Sheriff Brown
says Reiser called him into his cell to
make the confession. Papers, two
watches and other trinkets belonging
to Fink were found on Reiser, who left
tonight with the Montana sheriff for
the scene of the tragedy.
Recent Act of Legislature
To be Given Trial Here
Dororhy Winsborough, through Attorney Chas. W. Campbell, will give
an act of the last legislative assembly,
relating to the quieting of title, a try-
out in the district court of this  county.
In a complaint filed with Clerk
Pound, the plaintiff alleges that on the
13th of April, 1915. the United States
issued a patent to the heirs of Mary
Louisa Hingston for the southeast
quarter of section 32, township 5 north,
range 17 east, containing 160 acres.
Plaintiff further avers that she claims
an estate in fee simple in same by virtue of a deed of conveyance from one
Emily Winsborough to John Winsborough, who claims to be the only surviving heir of Mary  Louisa  Hingston.
Furthermore, plaintiff alleges that
one John Henry Hingston, formerly of
Netwon Abbott, England, whose present
address is unknown, claims an interest
in said lands, but plaintiff believes and
avers that his claim is without right
whatever.
Plaintiff therefore asks that John
Henry Hingston and all other heirs
claiming an interest in said lands be
required to set forth the nature of
their claims, and that all adverse
claims of any of defendants be determined bv a decree of court.
Montana Leads in
Wool Production
Washington. Dec. 30. —Wool production in the United States during 1915
was estimated today by the department
of agriculture at 288,777,000 pounds
with a value of $67,573,814. or $14,000-
000 more than last year.
Production was 1,415,000 less than
last year and 7,398,000 pounds less than
in 1913. The price of unwashed wool
paid to producers has averaged 23.4
cents per pound, compared with 18.4
cents last year and 15.7 cents in 1913.
Montana led in production with 29-
040,000 pounds. Wyoming was a close
second with 28.682,000 pounds. Other
states producing less than ten million
pounds were: New Mexico, 18,621,000:
Oregon, 15,600.000; Ohio. 11,350,000;
Utah, 13.320.000; California, 11.590,000
Idaho, 15,286,000.
ANNUAL MASQUERADE
BREAKS BIG RECORDS
Hundreds Dance the Old Year Out and New One In as
Guests of Modern Woodmen of America-
List of Prize Winners.
Hundreds of merry dancers, always
anxious waiters for the annual mas*
querade ball of the local lodge of Modern Woodmen of America, among the
big social events each year of the so>
cial season, saw the old year go out
and the new one come at the Auditorium Friday night. Nor did the merri-.
ment cease when the new one had been
ushered in, for long after it had been
introduced the crowd lingered around,
almost until daylight came and almost
until the new youngster was ready to
pass from swaddling clothes to kilts.
The dance started at 9 p. m;, the
grand march being played by Wood's
orchestra of six peices, and from then
until 4:15 p. m., the musicians furnished a delightful program, liberal with
encores. Everybody had a good time
and everybody went home satisfied.
The Auditorium was tastily decorated,
emblematic of the order, and to Dr. M.
W. Barr and Alex Fyfe, the committee in charge of all arrangements, a
vote of thanks is due from all who attended.
The judges for the ladies were
Misses Sadie Bailey, Marguerite Nelson and Lottie Stubblefield; for the
gentlemen, W. H. Forsyth of Livingston, Joe Chase and Herman Utermohle.
The following prizes were awarded:
Best nurse—$5 in gold, Miss Nora
Blair.
Most original lady—$3 in currency,
Mrs. Allen Dodge.
Best sustained lady—$3, Truman
Lanphear.
Best negro lady—$1.50,  Miss  Yates.
Most comical lady—$1.50, Hjelmar
Egeland.
Best Dutch Iady-$1.50, Miss Opal
Skillman.
Best lady tramp-$1.50, Walter
Lyons.
Best Indian girl—box of apples, Mrs.
jHarvey Woods,
Homeliest costume, Irish woman-
felt rug, Mrs. Al McComb.
Most original gent—$3, E. J.   Mo.
Best sustained gent—$3, Foster Colvin.
Best negro gent—$1.50, Clarence
Davis.
Most comical gent—$1.50, Ray Will-
man.
Best clown—$1.50, Leo Cremer.
Best tramp—$1.50, E. Overfelt.
Best Charley Chaplin—cuff buttons
and stick pin, Percy Webb. *
Best rancher—50 pound Gold Medal
flour, Prof. Van Houte.
Best cowboy—Jumbo wireless clock,
Homer Busha.
Best Irishman—ham,  Bert Boyd.
Best costumed family of four, father, mother and two children—$10 in
gold, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Willman and
children.
Ellingson Bros, to Build Modem Garage
At McLeod Street and Second Avenue
Big Timber is to have a new and
modern garage, one similar in many
respects to the Blair garage of Livingston, one large enough for Sweet Grass
county and the thousands of tourists
who will pass through here each year,
and who will increase rapidly during
the next few years.
The first step in the building was taken Tuesday, when Ellingson Bros., local agents for the Overland automobile, purchased of William Sherrill the
vacant lots at the corner of McLeod
street and Second avenue east, once
occupied by a hotel wiped out in the
big fire.
In conversation with a Pioneer man,
Ed Ellingson, who is back of the enterprise, says that all the stone and
brick left from the big fire goes with
the lot sale, and that work on the garage will begin just as soon as the
weather man lays off and says, "Go at
it!"
The building, however, will not be of
brick but of reinforced concrete.    It
will be one-story, 60 x 140, extending
from McLeod street back to the alley.
In the front will be a display room for
the Overland, also a ladies* rest room.
On the Second avenne side directly op
posits the Grand hotel, will be the
main entrance. Another entrance will
also be in the rear, at the alley, and
directly by the work room, which will
adjoin the alley. The floor will also be
of concrete, and steam heat will be
furnished throughout, supplied from a
furnace in the cellar already there,
Each car owner will be given a regular stall, designated by number, and
between the space for parking cars on
each side will be a 30 foot gangway,
sufficiently large to handle all incoming and outgoing cars.
Mr. Ellingson says the  rapid growth
of the aulo business in every  city   and
village in the United States amply justifies the erection of a modern garage
here, and that he will give the city and
county just what it needs.
Gravest of Situations
Now Confronts President
Washington. Jan. 4.—The new submarine crisis was practically at a
standstill today while the government
awaited exact details of the operations
of Teutonic submersibles in the Mediterranean.
There were evidences that administration leaders, while not in the least
minimizing the dangers and possibilities of the latest complications brought
on by the destruction of the liner
Persia, were anxious that the public
mind should not be inflamed further
while the president and his advisers
were trying to suspend judgment and
all the agencies of the government
were in motion to collect all the facts
upon which the next move may be
made.
For the first time since foreign relations became delicate during the war
President Wilson today conferred with
the leaders of the congressional committees which deal with the subject
and it was afterward announced that
they were to be advised of the steps
and developments in the situation.
This action met the approval of many
senators and representatives who have
been contending that in such a serious
situation as the pr-sent promises to
become, congress should be consulted
in any moves which may be made.
Miss O'Leary Entertains
Appreciative Audience
The general meeting of the Woman's club Tuesday afternoon was a
very enjoyable affair and was largely
attended. The entertainment which
was furnished by the civic and legislative department, consisted of two readings by Miss Edythe Geraldine O'Leary
of Butte, formerly of Big Timber.
Miss O'Leary was introduced by Miss
Anna C. H. Christenson, the vice chairman of the civic departmeet, and gave
"The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary" and
"As a Man Thinks," to a very apprec
iative audience.
At the conclusion of the interesting
program Miss O'Leary submitted a
proposition to the club concerning a
home talent play some time in the
spring. The club has not yet decided
as to whether or not it will give a play.
A social session was then enjoyed,
the home economics department serving tea. Those on the serving committee were Mesdames Robinson. Brady,
Sell, Allen and Postlewaite. —Livingston Enterprise.
Col. Brett on Travel
In National Park
Washington, Jan. 3.—Col. Lloyd M.
Brett, acting superintendent of the
Yellowstone national park, in his annual report, made public today, recommends:
"That it be decided for a definite
period of time by the department main
taining the military force and that
controlling the national park if the
park shall continue to be policed by
United States troops or if they shall in
the near future be replaced by a civilian organization. A fixed policy in.
this regard is essential "to* a stable and
progressive administration."
Regarding the use of automobiles in
the park, Colonel Brett reports:
"Prior to the opening date for automobiles, August 1, heavy rains throughout the west made the roads approaching and in the park heavy and difficult,
yet 50 automobiles with 170 tourists
entered the park on that day. No accidents to the occupants of horse-drawn
vehicles due to automobiles marred
this radical departure in viewing the
park and the regulations and schedules
worked smoothly, although travel was
the heaviest in the history of the park.
It was found possible to grant special
schedules and- night travel to those
whose time was limited, and it is believed that new schedules'can be added to those in force which will add to
the pleasure of those touring the park
in automobiles. The officers, enlisted
men and rangers had no difficulty in
handling the automobile travel, and
their efforts to keep cars within the
schedule were met by courteous and
appreciative responses on the part of
the occupants. During the season 958
automobiles carrying 3,513 passengers
went through the park.
SEVENTY MEN DRAWN
FOR JURY SERVICE
LIST   IS  MOSTLY    IN   COUNTRY
PRECINCTS AND SCATTERED.
MURDER CASE FIRST OUT
Several Civil Matters Set   for Trial
Later On-Other Matters Disposed Of.
Old Springdale Resident
Dies at Livingston Home
Livingston Enterprise: William Carr
Fryer, father of John W. Fryer, of the
firm of Sax & Fryer, died Saturday
evening at his home on the corner of
Third and Geyser streets, after a two
years' illness. Senile debility was the
cause of the death of the man who had
reached the age of 74 years on October
29. 1915. Although failing for the past
two years it was not until last week
that he was confined to his bed.
In the days when California was the
mecca of homeseekers, Fryer, then a
young lad, assisted in driving the stages from St. Joe, Mo., to the Pacific
coast. The experiences he then underwent were thrilling in the extreme, but
he went through them successfully and
with credit to himself.
He lived in Owatonna, Minn., for a
number of years, being a lineman for
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
railway company. Later he was in
charge of a telegraph crew, working
under O. C. Green for many years,
working along the Northern Pacific
even before that railroad had entered
Livingston.
O. C. Green, who only recently resigned as superintendent of the telegraph service of the Northern Pacific,
is in the city now and expressed a desire to meet Mr. Fryer last week but at
that time the man was too weak to receive company. Mr. Green remembered him as a faithful, honest employe,
one who attended to his duties diligently, of quiet disposition and one who
made firm friends.
In 1885 the family moved from Owatonna to Springdale, Mont., and resided on a ranch near that town. There
they lived until eight years ago, when
Mr. and Mrs. William Fryer moved to
Livingston. His son kept the store at
Springdale until five years ago, when
he also came to Livingston to reside,
buying a half interest in the store now
known as Sax & Fryer's.
The only child of the couple is John
W. Fryer. Mrs. Fryer survives her
husband. The deceased was born in
St. Louis.
The funeral services were held Monday afternoon from the residence, the
Rev, Henry A. James of the Methodist
church officiating.
Seventy names were drawn from the
jury box Tuesday for service at the
jury term of court commencing on the
17th, Judge Stark considering it advisable to draw a large panel on account of the prominence of the murder
case of John Christensen, charged with
killing his father, set for that date.
The list is principally in the country,
extending from Gibson and O'Brien
through the Stillwater, and to Hubbel
and McLeod.
Nothing developed in the Christensen case, other than the county attorney was given permission to endorse
the name of W. C. Wood upon the information. The case will be called at
10 a. m., January 17.
Other matters heard were:
Bonds of county commissioners examined and approved.   *
L. J. Webb vs. A. L. Thomas, et al.
Set for trial January 20.
Commercial Bank & Trust Co. vs.
George W. Moore and T. C. McCall,
separate cases, set for the 21st.
Commercial Bank & Trust Co. vs.
J.   Prather,  T.  J.   Manis  and H.
Koozer, separate cases, set for 22d.
E. L. Kepler, guardian ad litem
the person and estate of Teddy Kepler,
a minor, vs. Wilbur E. Russell. Set
for the 25th.
Joseph Weinstein vs. Clara Hanly.
Set for 25th,
C. A. Green vs. The
Bank, et al. Demurrer
, to complaint overruled.
E. R. Patterson vs. L
Demurrer   to    answer
defendant given 20 days to file amend
ed answer.
L. F. Douthett vs. C. E. Sayre.
Defendant withdraws appearance and
refuses to further plead. Default of
defendant entered. Trial by court and
judgment for plaintiff.
Lars Fotland of Grey Cliff admitted
to citizenship.
Schmidt Gets Life
Sentence in Prison
Los Angeles. Cal.. Dec. 30.—Math-
ew A. Schmidt was convicted tonight
of first degree murder as the accomplice of James B. McNamara in the
blowing up of the Los Angeles Times
building here five years ago.
Schmidt was convicted on the specific charge of having murdered Charles
Hagerty, one of the 20 victims of the
Times' explosion. The jury was out
46 minutes.
The jury fixed Schmidt's punishment
at imprisonment for life, the same penalty imposed on James B. McNamara
after the latter had confessed in court
four years ago that he placed the bomb
which blew up the newspaper plant.
L.
J.
of
Hedges State
of defendants
P. Anderson,
sustained and
Another Ocean Liner
Sunk by Torpedo
London, Jan. 1.—The admiralty announced today that the peninsular and
oriental liner Persia was sunk Thursday afternoon in the eastern Mediteran-
ean off the island of Crete. The vessel was torpedoed. Most of the passengers, numbering abnot 160, and the
crew, estimated between 250 and 300,
were reported lost in the brief dispatches received here.
Three Americans, one of them being
Robert Nay McNeely, American consul at Aden, were on the steamer.
Four boatloads of survivors got away
from the steamship before she went
down. These boats were picked up by
a steamer bound for Alexandria. The
names of the survivors are unknown.
In addition to Dr. McNeely two other
Americans are known to have been passengers on tbe Persia. These were C.
H. Grant, enroute to Bombay, and Edward Rose, a school boy on his way
from Denver to Gibraltar. He probably landed at Gibraltar and was not
aboard when the ship sunk.
Alleged "Missionary"Gets
a Heavy Jail Sentence
Big Timber people who are in the
habit of contributing to every stranger
who comes along claiming to represent
some religious society, may learn something from the following Livingston
correspondence of Saturday in the Bozeman Chronicle:
"Rev. Jeptha Gilbert, who secured
liberal subscriptions from many of the
leading business men and professional
men of the city, under the plea that he
was collecting for a missionary society,
was thrown into the city jail Thursday
evening as he was raising a disturbance during a drunken spree at his
rooming house on North B Street.
Friday morning he admitted to the
judge that he took 100 per cent of his
collections for his own use and that in
his 31 years' experience as a minister
he had never sent the society a single
cent. The judge gave him a severe
reprimand, declaring that such work
hurt the entire work of the ministers
and missionaries and fined him $100.
The man will spend 50'days in the
county jail as he did not have a cent
left after his drunk, which he admitted"