The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-10-08
TRIAL OF JOE SCOTT,
Charged With Numbering Ills
Wife in q Dance House.

TRIAL Or JoE SSoh
CHARGED With Numbering His
Wife in a Dance House.
FOUND GUILTY AND rTENcED
FOR 90 YEARS.
Tn the District Court Second Judicial District, IN
and for the County OF Deer Lodge.
Territory of Montan. VS. Joseph Scott; indicted for
the murder of his wife, Mollie Scott, IN tne oho"
Dance House. Butte, NJ. T., August l. ls'o'
Cour.rL: For Territory, A. Z. Mayhem, Esd; tor
Defense, 8. DeWofe, Esq.,
THE PROSECUTION,
October 2, 1880.
Maxine Lelande, sworn-I kept the Union huiu'
and Gambling House and Saloon in Butte; was tnef'
August lth. Knew defendant Joseph Scott; saw MN
the night of the shooting at u O'Clock. was De-
hind the bar when shooting occurred. saw scos'
.bout ten minutes before There was woman kill
ed there. She was known as Molie scsu' noa'e
Forest and Molie Brown. saw her after the shoot
ing. In the nrst rson of the honse where she hao
lived. She was dead when first saw her. She was
dancer in the Hurdy House; had been dancing and
singing and having good time there that Night l
saw her dead about u o'clock saw Scott before the
sboetipp: identified witness). He was drinking
whisky, He would not work: had engaged himsei
few DAYS before. bat he would not work. lie iSed
with Mollie scott-caled her my wife " and y" my
girl :" Saw him quarrel with her he ran In and out
of the saloon About IL some women went out OF tne
house. Scott said IL Moie went out of the house nc
would lick her; this was about half an hour peiofe
the shooting He started twice to go and wnip hef'
Two men stopped hun; did not know them one
was not doing anything at the time sns 'oo iio
Scott was drunk Scott talked with the men "ho
stopped him and she went to another room. Ihen
saw Scott and Mollie in the gambling room; they
were talking: could not hear what they said; had
heard him say few minutes before he would lick ner
She was sitting down between his legs at the gamb-
ling table He took her by the wrist and arm ana
tried to drag her to room where she got killed. lie
was polling one way and she another. The next time
saw them she was dead and he was In Jail' ans
struggle was TO 10 minutes before the killing Inc
dance room gambling room and loon are all open
There ID an elevation Of about two feet In the dance
room. Belle Dean, Camille Kroman and Lotne
Pickett were present when Scott dragged moiiie
away was playing cards when the shooting occur
rod. heard noise as Of some one falling and went
to see; the noise was like when cattle are knockeo
down. David Meiklejohn and Tony went TO where
the shot Was fired. 1t was minute before got 70
the ROOM did not 90 quicker because though.
there would be more shooting. Meklejohn puiea OUT
his pistol as he went. He pushed the door open, 1t
had not been quite closed. stepped out OF DANGER
Scott said nothing-it was their room and my house
We pay all the girls two bits dance and give them
free lodging. Scott and his wife came the LIST Of
August but hsd changed from ono room to another
that day. There are Ave rooms in my house. The
o tha Urnn
30 feet from the door 10 the entrance Moie was y-
inc with her face toward the door lying her back
Her hand. were at her sides. Her face was black !;
there WAS blood and smoke on it. She was shot in
the right cheek little above the corner Of the mouth
and was bleeding The body laid there couple hours
.sTony" said NoIlIe was dead. told others. saw
no gun, pistol or other weapons.
Cress- Examncd-Had known Mo.lie Scott about D
days. Made the engagement with Scott whs wanted
to bring his wife. Engaged his wife ss dancing
girl. Offered to employ him as caller on the moor
He tried it one night and quit. She began dancing
the night she arrived and continued. she may have
danced at the other house. When not dancing she
would sing She drank frequently but not much that
night She had the right TO drink or take ticket
She drank all-would drink with almost any one who
would treat her-I drank with her myself. she mac
few words with Scott that night.
October 9TH.
David Meiklejehn, sworn-Was policeman In
| Butte. August 4th Knew defendant, Joseph Scott
| and Molie, supposed to be his wife. Saw Scott a
near 70 o'clock Know Mollie killed there thai
| night Three men were taking Lsttie Pickett out o.
| the Union Dance House 10 stanchnelds. Nellie was
going along All the men went in but Scott He saie
| to his wife "G-d- you. 90 back, and started 10
her She went back, When she got to the corner sh'
| said to him, You are G. d. cur" She went IL
| and as he followed he swore at her. went to TN
window overlooking the house where she went az
axpected Scott wonld hurt her. He took her oy tn
arm and started for the hail where there were
rushed into the hall Saw Lottie Pickett going int
/ the room where Scott and his woman had gone
Asked Lottie what was the trouble She said Molii
was crying. I had just stepped back when the sho
/ WAS fred. rushed for the hall door. When 20
within or feet OF the door Scott came out aud wen
hack In the hall. / drew my pistol and went In Tn
| room, Saw woman lying on her side. tod scot
| to stop-called after him or times. might nav
STONED him had known all the circums tances
| When he left the door heard him running pun
sued him. followed him down past the two stables o.
Main street; gave the alarm that Scott had killed nj
woman. Did not return to the Hurdy House Una
night, but got horse and went TO Silver Bow tWl'
ness described how the woman layl. saw sco'
with pistol In his hand; expected he would Try
shoot me, His manner Of taking her by the wri'
and arm was not rude.
| Crosr-Examined-Scott Threat was SC d yot
vii, naralyze you." was close TO the door whe
shot was fred. 4 negro was rushing out OF the wa
The door was opened and light suspended from th
ceiling The hall il quite narrow. Drew my plste
inst "A I cot to the door Went to. the door Scot
L L Hal En-. a I'm tn
the woman pursued Scott: did not see him after B
cot off the steps. The woman's arm was moving; di
| not hear her speak.
Redirect-saw Scott have the pistol when he frs
came out the door; he had both hands In front
him. It must be % or 20 feet through the hall
Lottie Pickett swsrn-Saw Mollie Scott dance ant
sing at tine Hurdy House the night she was killed. di
not hear Scout and Mollie quarrel; was dancing on u
stage when shot was hred went to the room wher
she was shot; saw .'Tony' there and Meikejohn q
, ing through the hall. [wjtuess described how d
ceased was shot, She did not speak after reach'
the ROOM She had desired to go TO another dan
house that evening" Scott wished her to remain sh
} went. he followed and told her he would kick her
wards to that effect II she did not return. This vi
ib or 20 minutes before the shooting. She returned
the Union House and sent for me. returned but 81
wonld not let me in her room at once. Did not no
} tice Scott having any weapon. - ma.
Anthony Coldrop,s worn-Knew Scott and decease
Saw the latter dead In her room at 10 inmates befo
one. She was lying on her back moaning: saw won
In her right cheek IDescr ibed position OF fnrnitu
and bodyl. Was present when Scott and wife we
3 to upper Hurry House. Scott told h er to go bac
, did not hear the exact language: did not see hi
have any weapon, nor hear him make any thre
against deceased She lived or minutes.
Cross Examined Did not hear Scott use any viole
language to deceased.
Redire- Did not know what language he used {
ing back. referred to when they were right toget
er.
: N Dickinson, sworn-Identfed defendant 81
deceased after she was dead. Saw Scott yet out b
: wagon going from Butte to Rocker the day after
. shooting. Capt. Owen was with me. and told him
: ret out OF the wagon. Scott said do you want me
He got out and said we "need not be alarmed, Two
, hurt you Owen took scott's pistol from unaer
coat. Scott asked me II deceased was dead.