Old Missoula

1901 – Wild and Woolly Missoula – One day’s Report

Someone was quoted early in the last century saying that Missoula at one time had a rather unsavory reputation. The statement was that Missoula once was pretty “wild and woolly,” which has a ring to it, but doesn’t really provide anything to hang your hat on. To get the real idea, perhaps some notices from one of Missoula’s newspapers will help get the point across.

The statements and notices below are from one day’s edition of a Missoula newspaper, The Missoula Democrat of December 5, 1901:

At Monday night’s meeting city Chief of Police reported 38 arrests and 33 convictions; Police Judge Hayes, $315 fines collected.

Notice was given of introduction of a bill to create the position of city scavenger.

Punished for Their Pugnacity

For their respective shares in a saloon fight Wednesday night last week J. G. Cramer was sent to jail in default of $30 fine for third degree assault, and William Carlton was fined $15 for disturbing the peace. Cramer appearing to have been the aggressor. A knife play figured to aggravate the charge, but no one was seriously injured.

Oscar Slocum Accidentally Shot

By the rather careless handling of a shotgun Oliver Slocum of Stevensville was seriously injured last Thursday while hunting. A charge of shot badly mangled his left leg above the knee. His is in Sisters’ Hospital.

Sessions of District Court

Sentences Passed Upon a Burglar and a Forger.

In district court on Nov. 27 Judge Webster passed sentence on A. Kahn, “Sheeny Kid,” of two and one-half years in state penitentiary, on conviction of forgery. The prisoner got off better than he had expected.

Other cases were: Dr. G. T. McCullough vs. Beaton (true name Schoenfelt): dismissed on plaintiff’s motion. State vs. C. B. Niles, forgery; continuance asked, denied, and the case set for December 5. Court adjourned over Thanksgiving Day.

Friday’s proceedings: State vs. John P. (Spider) Stett, assault; dismissed on recommendation county attorney.

[Several of the juror’s names still summon memories of Missoula’s History.]

Monday: Following summoned as jurors: P. Feddersohn, P. J. Kline, Andy Schilling, L. N. Simons, T. L. Batterman, J. A. Longley, John L. Sloane, John E. Cyr, John Rankin, George Steinmiller, John Flynn, C. L. Scott, H. H. Case, William Broderick, James Houtchens, C. C. Willis, Chas. Winters, H. H. Davenport, Emil Zaugg, Gus Broman, D. A. Sheldon, W. W. Kennedy, Andrew Garcia, D. W. Culp, John Markie, J. H. Andrews, J. P. Schmidtz, R. A. Sleeman, Theo. Bedard, Fred Cormier, W. A. Cook and John C. Lehsou; of these John Markle, W. A. Cook, J. H. Schmidtz, J. C. Lehsou, Andrew Garcia, C. C. Willis, Gus Broman, C. L. Scott and T. L. Batterman excused for cause.

Walter Russell, charged with burglary, was found guilty. . .

Tuesday: Walter Russell, convicted of burglary, was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary. Mitigating circumstances appeared, to lighten the sentence.

It Was Nabbed In a Minute

Nils Peterson is one of the late losers of bicycles. One of the horde of bike-stealers which infests Missoula made off with Mr. Peterson’s mount Monday night from in front of the postoffice. Mr. Peterson remained in the building only a few minutes, but the thief beat him to his wheel.

Sneak thieves Friday night stole four pairs of trousers from in front of the Bee Hive clothing store. Part of the plunder was recovered in possession of purchasers, but the thieves had disappeared.

W. B. Brooks Recovers Papers

W. B. Brooks has recovered certain valuable papers taken from his safe by the burglars who entered his store and that of L. N. Simons last summer. A young man named Preston found, accidentally, the cache where the thieves had hidden the unavailable part of their booty, and has returned the papers to their owner.

LEVI JOHNSON IS KILLED

Fatally Wounded During a Quarrel With Thomas Wilson

Levi C. Johnson, former sheriff of Granite county, fatally wounded on November 27 by Thomas Wilson at the lumber camp of the former on Willow creek, near Drummond, died the next day of his wounds. A special to the Montana Record from Phillipsburg, dated December 2, says: “The funeral of Former Sheriff Levi C. Johnson, who was shot last Wednesday by Thomas Wilson and died the following day from his injuries, was held here yesterday afternoon. Wilson, who fired the fatal shot, is in jail here. His friends feel confident that, when all the facts connected with the shooting are brought out, it will be shown that he acted in self-defense.

Confessed He Stole the Duds

Sentence of 120 days in the county jail was passed last Friday on Frank Gordon, a cook, who confessed the theft of a suit of clothes from the Rankin hotel.

CITY AND COUNTY IN BRIEF

Walter Smith of Darby is a typhoid patient admitted to a local hospital. . .

A dispatch from Helena states that William Bochler of Plains has been indicted by the federal grand jury, on the charge of fencing in public lands and holding the same by force and arms. . .

Following is a summary for November of cases treated at the Northern Pacific hospital: Number at beginning of month 35; admitted 153; discharged 146; died 2; number at end of month 40; whole number treated 188. . .

School At Clinton is Closed

Owing to the lack of funds under state apportionment the public school at Clinton has been closed. The citizens undertook to raise the required amount by private subscription, without success. It is hoped, however, that a spring term may be held.

Fined For Cruelty to Animals

Theodore Donovan, a woodhauler, was fined $14 and costs in police court Monday for leaving his horses to an extended séance with a post in South Missoula.

A second case of scarlet fever is reported in the Newport family near Bonner.

Frank Poole Is Turned Loose

Frank Pool, for several days a prisoner at the county jail pending investigation of a bank draft transaction, has been discharged from custody, no fraud having been proven.

It Was Only Chicken Pox.

Quarantine on the Walters home on West Pine street has been removed, the case supposed to be smallpox having developed as only chicken pox.

Smallpox in Lumber Camp

The problem of smallpox among lumbermen is again up to the health authorities, that disease having once more appeared in Western Montana camps. Quarantine has been established at the Harper & Baird camp near Florence.

Stepped on a Knife’s Point

John Martin of Frenchtown was severely injured Monday by stepping upon a knife which had become imbedded in the earth, blade uppermost.

From Coach to Caboose

The Pryor family, recently quarantined for diphtheria in a Northern Pacific railway coach in Missoula yards, have been removed to a caboose. The coach has been fumigated and restored to the company’s use.

Starvation for Four Days

William Conroy, who was caring for a ranch on the Coeur d’Alene branch, below Steffee’s Spur, has been found to be in a destitute condition, and sent to the poor farm. His supply of provisions ran so low that for four days he had nothing to eat.

“Sheeny Kid” in New Quarters

A. Kahn, the “Sheeny Kid,” was taken to Deer Lodge Friday, following sentence to two and a half years for forgery.