Madison County (Mont.) Clerk Of District Court records

Madison County (Mont.) Clerk Of District Court records, 1984-1985

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Madison County (Mont.). Clerk of District Court.
Title: Madison County (Mont.) Clerk Of District Court records
Dates: 1984-1985 (inclusive)
19841985
Quantity: .4 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number: LG 45
Summary: These records (1984-1985) of the Madison County Clerk of District Court consist of exhibits submitted in the trials of Donald Nichols and his son Dan Nichols, who were charged with kidnaping Kari Swanson and murdering Alan Goldstein near Big Sky in 1984. The exhibits consist of photographs, drawings, newspaper and magazine articles, and transcripts of radio and television announcements. [OVERSIZE: BOX 1]
Repository: Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

In July of 1984 near Big Sky, Montana, "mountain men" Donald and Daniel Nichols kidnapped student and biathlete Kari Swenson. A search for Swenson was organized the evening she disappeared, but she was not located until the next morning. Searchers Alan Goldstein and Jim Schwalbe located onto the Nichols and their captive the next morning. In their efforts to rescue Swenson, she was shot through the chest, but not killed; Goldstein was fatally shot. Schwalbe escaped the camp after Goldstein was shot and it was located again later that day. Swenson, who had been abandoned by her captors, was rescued. Following a five month long search, Donald and son Daniel were finally located and captured by sheriff John France in December of 1984. Daniel Nichols was tried in May of 1985 and convicted of kidnapping and misdemeanor assault. Donald Nichols was tried in July of 1985 and was convicted of kidnapping, deliberate homicide and aggravated assault. The men were tried in the Fifth Judicial District Court in Madison County, Montana.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

These records of the Clerk of District Court of Madison County, Montana, consist of exhibits submitted in the trials of Daniel and Donald Nichols. The exhibits consist of photographs, drawings, newspaper and magazine articles, and radio and television announcements. [OVERSIZE MATERIAL: BOX 1]

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by subgroup and series.

Location of Collection

57:1-3

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Separated Materials

Artifacts were transferred to Museum

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Dan Nichols Trial Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Court Papers
Box/Folder
1 / 1	Defendant's Exhibits: A-C (includes OVERSIZE: BOX 1)	1985
1 / 2	State's Exhibits: 1-24, not offered (includes OVERSIZE: BOX 1)	1985

Donald Nichols Trial Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Court Papers
Box/Folder
1 / 3	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - Billings Gazette (includes OVERSIZE: BOX 1)	1984-1985
1 / 4	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - Bozeman Daily Chronicle (includes OVERSIZE: BOX 1)	1984-1985
1 / 5	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - Daily Inter-Lake	1985
1 / 6	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - Daily News (Havre)	1984-1985
1 / 7	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - Dillon Paper	1985
1 / 8	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - Great Falls Tribune	1984-1985
1 / 9	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - Independent Record (includes OVERSIZE: BOX 1)	1984-1985
1 / 10	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - The Madisonian	1984-1985
1 / 11	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - Missoulian	1985
1 /	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - National Examiner (OVERSIZE: BOX 1)	1985
1 / 12	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - Standard (includes OVERSIZE: BOX 1)	1984-1985
1 /	Defendant's Exhibit A: Newspaper Articles - Sunday Camera (OVERSIZE: BOX 1)	1985
1 / 13	Defendant's Exhibit B: Magazine Articles - American West	1985
1 / 14	Defendant's Exhibit B: Magazine Articles - Exponent Magazine	1985
1 / 15	Defendant's Exhibit B: Magazine Articles - Newsweek	1984
1 / 16	Defendant's Exhibit B: Magazine Articles - People Magazine	1985
1 / 17	Defendant's Exhibit B: Magazine Articles - Sports Illustrated	1985
1 / 18	Defendant's Exhibit B: Magazine Articles - True Detective	undated
1 / 19	Defendant's Exhibit C: Madison County Land Area and Population	1985
1 / 20	Defendant's Exhibit D: Associated Press	1985
1 / 21	Defendant's Exhibit E: United Press International	1985
1 / 22	Defendant's Exhibit F: Radio Stations - KBMN Newsradio	1985
1 / 23	Defendant's Exhibit F: Radio Stations - KBOZ	1985
1 / 24	Defendant's Exhibit F: Radio Stations - KXXL	1985
1 / 25	Defendant's Exhibit G: TV Stations - MTN News	1985
1 /	Defendant's Exhibit H: Eagle Communications (footage of Dan Nichols' trial; MULTIMEDIA: MM31)	1985
1 / 26	State's Exhibits: #10, 13-16, 18, 20-21 (includes OVERSIZE: BOX 1)	1985
1 / 27	Subpoenaed materials: KECI-TV Missoula	1985
1 / 28	Subpoenaed materials: KCFW-TV Kalispell	1985
1 / 29	Subpoenaed materials: KTVM-TV Butte	1985
1 /	Arts and Entertainment Channel: American Justice - The Mountain Men (MULTIMEDIA: MM30)	undated

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