Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
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
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 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Law enforcement--Montana--Madison County.
- Local government--Montana--Madison County.
Geographical Names
- Madison County (Mont.)--Politics and government