MONTANA : ‘Freemen,’ FBI Meet Again Outside Ranch

The “freemen” returned to the negotiating table a day after four among them left their compound, and a senior government official said the defections will delay, for a while, further FBI pressure tactics. Two freemen joined two FBI negotiators for about 30 minutes at the edge of the compound, then left after handshakes. The negotiating session came a day after Gloria and Elwin Ward left the compound with Gloria Ward’s two children. Gloria Ward was wanted on a Utah state charge of felony custodial interference, but authorities there agreed to drop the charge if she left the compound.