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Murder on Montana's Hi-Line
Capturing Montana’s Most Elusive Fugitive
During an intense spring blizzard in 1951, affable Clarence Pellett picked up a teenaged hitchhiker along Montana’s Hi-Line. Soon, blood from seven bullet holes in Pellett’s back stained the snow-covered prairie. Following a brief manhunt and confession, a heated debate ensued over capital punishment as Communist attorneys swooped in “to save this poor friendless boy.” Frank Dryman, twice sentenced to hang, escaped the noose when a sympathetic Montana Supreme Court stayed each execution. The “permanently insane and mentally deficient” killer was paroled into the custody of his brother in California after serving thirteen years of a life sentence. Eighteen months later, he vanished. Using a series of aliases, Dryman hid in plain sight for forty years despite state and federal warrants. Clem Pellett recounts the enthralling twists and turns of his hunt for his grandfather’s absconded murderer—the longest in state history.
During an intense spring blizzard in 1951, affable Clarence Pellett picked up a teenaged hitchhiker along Montana’s Hi-Line. Soon, blood from seven bullet holes in Pellett’s back stained the snow-covered prairie. Following a brief manhunt and confession, a heated debate ensued over capital punishment as Communist attorneys swooped in “to save this poor friendless boy.” Frank Dryman, twice sentenced to hang, escaped the noose when a sympathetic Montana Supreme Court stayed each execution. The “permanently insane and mentally deficient” killer was paroled into the custody of his brother in California after serving thirteen years of a life sentence. Eighteen months later, he vanished. Using a series of aliases, Dryman hid in plain sight for forty years despite state and federal warrants. Clem Pellett recounts the enthralling twists and turns of his hunt for his grandfather’s absconded murderer—the longest in state history.
- GenresTrue Crime
192 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 21, 2025
Absolutely fascinating story.
August 1, 2025
This book has made me so mad with every page turn! It was so upsetting with how many chances this worthless person Frank Valentine/Dryman got when he gave absolutely none. In my opinion he deserved the noose for not only his unwarranted kill but how he presented himself. So many people saw it and did NOTHING. Well done Clem!
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June 26, 2026
What a story this was! I never knew about this one and it was a very interesting read back to front. Definitely gives you some insight to history on the Hi-Line for sure! I'd recommend this to anyone that was a great quick read about the crimes in Montana. Definitely a good one!
June 21, 2025
really good historical local town murder mystery
September 25, 2025
Fantastic book! I normally prefer fiction to get out of the real world but being from MT, my mom bought me this and I decided to check it out... and I'm glad I did! Highly recommend.
April 17, 2026
I enjoyed this book. What made it more enjoyable is that I personally know three of the people mentioned in the book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews