The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-06-21
June Ia, 1881.

tiers this time. The "ancient capital of Mou-
tona is filled with men summoned as witless-
cs ana juryInen, and for the time being moth
ing Of interest is going on save the trying OF
c,iminal cases in the district court now in SEES
sion in this town.
District court commenced on last Monday,
with the court calender full of criminal cases.
and "A few civil suits to be tried. Judge Gail
braitb presides. The court officers are: AL.
L. Graeter, deputy district clerk: David Rein
hardt, sheriff; and Capt. Tom Hamilton, court
baililf; with other deputies.
The first business before court of public
Importance was the empauneliug of a grand
jury. The grand jury being duly sworn in,
the culp its in Jail, not under indictment
were marched into open court to confront the
jury, who were to scrutenize their deeds of
wickedness and violation of law. Most Of The
victims claimed Dillon as their place of resi-
Gence. They we re all as poor as Jobs tur.
Key and the court assigned them counsel for
their defense.
The first case was the Territory of Mon
lana Us Jacob HOFFMAN. Indictment for per-
jury. The case was dismissed.
In the case of Thos. +. Tootlc, ct al, Us Sal
lie NJ. Leach, ct al, Judge Mead was appoint
ed referee. This case involves the Argenta
furnace and valuable lead property situated in
the Argenta mining district. Spratt IL Staple
ton tor plaintiffs, aud Henry n. Blake for de-
tendants.
The Territory of Montana against John
Quigly. Thu indictment charged the crime
of robbery, which was prefacet with the crime
of ASA ult and battery on the person of Jimmy
ONeil. Trial by jury. The assault and bat
terry part was proved and admitted, but the
prosecution failed to prove the robbery. Jury
returned a verdict of "not guilty.. Wash Sta
pleton for defendant and the district attori ey
prosecute for the prosecution.
The Territory of Montana against Pat.
Gray. Indicted for murder in the first de-
gree in killing Dan. Hammond at Glendale.
Considerable difficulty was experienced in
obtaining an appropriated jury in this case.
Several large venires were exhausted before a
jury was obtained. Thirteen intelligent
looking men III one squad were summoned
from Dillon. and each man had " conscien-
tious scruples' about hanging a man. oever-
al men on the jury appeared in a
deplorable state Of chow came you so ?'
This was in contempt of Court, and Judge
CALI aith sent them to jail. besides inhiciing
a good sized fine on each individual. This
was perfectly proper, for drunkenness in the
jury box Is something not to be tolerated.
After much trouble, a jury was sworn in and
the case proceeded. The Indictment charged
Pat. Gray with the crime of murder in the
first degree, and the prosecution attempted
by evidence OF eye-witnesses to prove the
charge. Inc oefehse aohhtteo the Killing OF
IAN. hammond az me time alleged, but
claimed That the honlicine was committed IN
self-defense. 1t appeared from the testimony
that both Hammond and Gray had made
'hreats, ana lhallSeu IN language directed to
each other 100 indecent for publication.
hammond was Tue assallaht ana slapped Gray
III The lace, When a man lntertered calling
tne a'tentloll OF Hammond from tray.
Hray look advantage OF TINS ana Pulled his
revolver ana commenced nrihg. lhe ilrst
Slot Struck Hammond near the healf, when
ne staggered PACK ana whi!e falling Gray
nreu second shot' the oall entering MS
breast IN close proximity TO the hrst shot-ln
lact, inc oalls enteieo ABOUT one men apart.
Elther siot Would nave proven fatal. IN ad-