New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-06
rrI1L OF rBoE JrlES T. HODGE
Prom Oar Special Correspondent
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Prom Oar Special Correspondent
VIRGINIA CITY, Montana Territory, NOV 70 l'E'
Prof james I. Hodge, Superintendent OF
Mining Company Helena. aud well E0wn IN literary
and scientific circles in NowYoIk, vs ticd lefe LASS
week for tie homicide OF o man named Moore. Inc Co.'S
commenced Monday aud after patient hearing OF
fun week ard consultation o. three louie by the ul.
verdict Of aeeutal was rendered. - understood thas
the jury stood eleven for scquthng and Tor verct
Of mansaughcr the first ballot. Ills trial has ex'
c'ed general and intense interest than any other
criminal case Ia the history u Montana. Prof Hodge
10 the Territory 1865, and erected quartz mn 70
work from portion 81 Tie celebrated hntl0ck lead,
owned by his Company Some time ia the Summer Of
1866 be purchased rancho" near his MILL containing
considerable quantity OF valuable mDcata ne gcAcsed
tbini mn grow MOI H. rs arrn,f n, br Inc Govern
nleBt. Mr.. IOOrq and others had cut wood upon -
after Prof Hodge hal notified them Of DIS claim Find.
ing that they persisted IN what he rsifdtd g ttespass
haul ava some Of the wood BY Moore He WIS met
with threats OF violence, and he Withdrew rned hiusen
II was established to tie satisfaction OF The juy that he
made hostile demonstrations against the other psrt{
w0undng Prof Hodge seriously IN the breast and shat
erng Russell Hodges left wrist 80 that aitaion "a
necessary The Hodges returned the IRE aud Moore was
morally wounded. number OF bucksiut entering ~
body in the region Of the heart ana he ded N apous
Prof Hodge and his son we're arrested for murder and
and about Helena Intense The miner Is used 10 sp.
bdreyer no needs f. and tier CONSTRUCTION OF the law
is that cutting wood upon any lands not sold by the Cow
ernment reduces the wood 10 possession. aud gives as
In inning camps everything Is subordinate TO the inter
OF the murr5 until the Law establishes its supremacy
color of right that Moore rosisted TO violence the ppo
pratiOn OF the wood he had cut and IN s CLAIM NO had
lrof Hodge had also TO brave The natural prejudice y
the miners against The capitalists and thus fearful cur.
trial. and pcrCd lis life IN case OF acqu1 Jufgs
Muns9 2ppreclsa tne qangs anG ' , IN % 0ctotsS
developed the fact that twelve jurors oond rot DC foupd
who had rot formed expressed an opinion OF inc cao
aud Tie order OF The court changing he venue We il9
ned 10 transfer the to this city 10 bc d doors
ChlefJusticc uOsmer II conducted Wll4 mastery
ability by DstricAtiozHty shODei ana C9 9ay lSl -
prosecution, and Co.'s. Sanders a4d NduOA Tor inc GO
Eastern Jurors I'M ut, geco ard their integrity DOt
Questioned Nearly auOf them were rauclhy OF hihtI
IA this communicative years older than hethaI,,
rights better defined aud generally UNDERSTOOD " ~
Irejudices which prevail IN Helena was That mere US
placer dirgiugs exhausted aud TIE miners a. y.t
Ing capital develop their mines There 49, therefore,
no undue peudice against capitalist but fate Ieh
Geucy to berlIty TO hasten the development % IneI
One consideration that did not appear on the surface q
the ia quite strong enough ~ ,tSCII 70 teso4S az
probably not less than rty trials for homicide IN The courts
- "a 49, auc'drd tit PROT Hodge did not seek
any mans lfc aud that whether night or WRONG III eS
sefng hs claim tie property Ms he did he never pre-
melI ated murder He armed himself aud son 10 PrOteos
Themselves in What he regarded Ltwf act-renov.
ng his own property. That he entirely Judclous
tls 90 lot believe nor do any considerable portion e!
the community think lie should nave SOUGHT Tue .o
Of the law to put Inn IN possession " MS pfolery ag
tie trcspasseis out lac biayed aWlssies ANA assumes
to yindicate bic rights By force Ia tis was ~ LIE
ana IN Montana where Tic most dlioelous IA
gone unpublished, IL would have been most neouslshs
refinement OF Justice tOcOnGcm f0f LODGE lheFe.uOt
Of aoqutal would have been enihchty st ~ any " ~
older states but IN hontana II was q Necessity, hhe
Prsf Hodge been convicted OF aiy graz. =, O1or
against tie laws Fog maintaining MS T,-ht 70 pIopety
against violence and taking lue WAeh NJ oMn w.
sailed with deadly purrose i wouid nave peeI
In tie East as discrimination IN favor OF the ueseiatS
and against the honest and far-dcaling eltlzel. III
Prof Hodge a native ~ Massachusetts ai4 vs. wel:
known Throughout New England, and in NewYork and
Pennsylvania as most accomplished scholar anq =
gpntgFn Of the purest ana nObest purposes. lie a'ueo
Prot. Rodgers IN bs Geological survey Of Pennsy ydna,
aud FOR several years employed on sciennc conte
buttons to "The New American Cycupedia" it was an
thl Moro Scholastic and sceadt than practice IN ne
ways Of the world lust and h9horhe ia me heeS. 10
gree. md sensitive As bat lie wac ~ htteu ~ Cops
with the rude aud gaspue tedesces OF moan
family was wholly flee nom every element OF crime pat
an equally just man, possessing the facility iof Adapting
himself 70 surrounding circumstance, Would have haln
tanned the rights, Gnd escaped the cruel conSe'
gueucCs Prof Hodge has experienced
daughters was by his side during the whole ordeal aid
Sustained herself with horolsm that woman ChIy can
dspay II wac strange and touching spectacle to see
her rush the midst OK the Jurors when they were oS
charged grasp their horny has ana ioses ses aown
az poured our the OVERLOOKING gratitude OF "net
love for the deliyerance OF her husband.
After Prof Hodge wasdischarged, the District Attorney
entered mol 10 the If the son. Al 10 O'Clock 04
saturday nlt the court adjourned and the acquitted
retired amid the applause or the spectators Tho tfit
had attracted number Of the eadDg mel OF the Ielt
tory 10 t city, and tie friends Professor gave Linz
an mpronlptu entertainment at the Planters House
which asted until the near approach Of sunday Ohlged
them 10 81 parate Speeches made by the Attorney
on both sides aud Prof A. X. EaIOn made beautiful
responSetbe eloquence OF the hearo the toast popos
ing the health OF Prof Hodge On Monday the Professor
ACCOMPANIED by his wife and Of his younger tool
the coach for the states, and they bore WITH them tlt
sympathy OF this entire community. Before this reaehes
Won he Will DO among his old friends IN tie East. who haye
manifested so much sOlcitude for his safety IN this trial.
aud will be Justly proud 10 welcome him again as one
OF tho brightest ornaments OF their social circles
AKIN