The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-10-19
THE LEWIS CASE.

CHARLES A. Lewis, magician, and assistin
MIN In his entertainments. He was arreste
while running with the body In his arms 70
ward Mr.. Selwsy's house and calling loudly
my God My God! Help! Helpw TIL
first impression Of the community was tina
Lewis had murdered the girl. in which cas-
} II would have been the most iendish crim'
ever perpetrated In Montana, and the people
Of Dillon were wild with excitement. Fol
some hours II was believed an attempt would
be made TO take Lewis from the Jail and
hang him, but better counsels prevailed. A.
the case was investigated and after bis state
ment was made, public opinion materially
changed, and the impression grew that be
was innocent of the crime. Finally, when
the grand jury met, 1t was not believed he
would even be indicted, but late in the even
ing of last Friday, which was intended to be
the closing Of the term, bill was found
against him for the murder and the case set
for Tuesday last. Judge Gslbraith returned
10 Dillon and opened court on that day, a
| jury being obtained before night.
II. B. Smith and w. F. Kirkwood, Esqs.,
were appointed by the court TO prosecute,
and w. Y. Pemberton and w. S. Barbour,
Esqs., appeared for the defense. The prose-
cution had examined all their witnesses be-
fore Wednesday noon, when Mr.. Pemberton
made motion for non-suit on the ground
that there was no evidence TO sustain the in
dlctment. The motion was argued at some
length. Judge Galbraith held that IL was
discretionary with the Court TO order nom
suit or send the case to the jury, and he Or
dered the case TO proceed. Very little evil
dence was offered by the defense. The several
attorneys addressed the jury, Mr.. Pemberton
and Mr.. Smith especially making extended
and able arguments. The instructions were
given and the case left with the jury. They
returned to court in fifty minutes with a
verdict Of "Not Guilty." She had accident
ally shot herself in moving gun to open 3
trunk.
We believe the verdict was absolutely right
from the evidence. We never did believe
Charles A. Lewis committed the crime with
which he was charged. Notwithstanding
this there we're circumstances and conditions
as related to the discharge and position of
the gun when found that were not incom-
patible with the guilt Of the defendant If
other circumstances had sustained them, and
Mr.. Smith in his argument made most skill.
full use of the slight circumstantial material
he had to argue on. While some good citi-
zens Of Dillon cannot yet believe In the ab.
solute innocence Of Mr.. Lewis, all accepted
without murmur the judicial determination
of the case. When community is as in
tensely aroused as was that of Dillon in
the belief that a most monstrous crime had
been perpetrated in 1t and that q certain man
Is the perpetrator, in does not in q day en-
tirely reverse Its opinion, even although
everything but unsupported and unjustifable
suspicion is swept away, It was a most IN
fortunate event indeed, and had Mr.. Lewis
perpetrated murder as charged, no punish
ment that the law can inf1ict would have
been zoo great penalty. But it would also
have been monstrous thing to have seized
an innocent man, frantic and bewildered by
the appalling accident to the young girl,
whose body as he ran he was bearing In his
arms to the nearest house and crying at each
step, "My God! my God! Help! Help
Help" to have hustled him to the nearest
tree and hurled him into eternity. It IS an
admonition against judgment In passion and |
against the too prevalent disposition to |
wrest authority from the courts In times of
public excitement and administer the PEN
atty before the crime is proven. The people |
of Dillon decided wisely under circumstan-
ces Of intense feeling and In the presence Of |
an unparalleled horror. 1t is safer and bet
ter always to accept the ultimate conclusion |
OF all good government as expressed in law,
and respect and uphold the authority vested |
In the courts. There are exceptional instan-
ces whore the supreme penalty inflicted is |
not undeserved; but these very exceptional |
by reconciling public sentiment to |
the usurpation of authority and familiariz. |
Ing the public mind with unlawful violence,
are the more dangerous in their influences |
against Law and Order. Outside of these,
all is anarchy, where no property is safe and |
no life sacred.
In closing this article we desire to say q
word for Mr.. Lewis. he is Snowman. He
has followed the business of a magician for
thirty years. 1t is in some respects hard
life. Many good people follow 1t; many
bad people follow it. Chas, A. Lewis has
reputation for good character that any man
might be proud of. We have already pub.
lished some testimonials Of the dozent he
has received since his trouble, including
every lady, or the parents of every lady, who
has assisted In his entertainment. They are
without exception couched In the highest
.erms of respect, esteem and regard. One
Of them only we have space for. 1t is from
Ex-G Governor George G. Perkins, of Califor-
MIA, and his brother. No man will question
heir character, and they certainly vouch for
his In unmistakable terms:
ORovILLE, CAL, Oct. /, 1888.
TO toloBi 10 may concern:
Having seen In the Dillon paper an &C.
count of the sad death of Eva Clark, aud that
her death was caused by a gunshot wound
TO have been committed by one G.
A. Lewis, we feel 1t our boundeD duty TO say
/ word in defense of Mr.. Lewis. Some
Years ago Mr.. G. A. Lewis and brother re-
Iided near this place, and II was our good
ortune TO become quite intimately acquaint-
ID with them. The result Of our friendship
md business connections leads us to the en-
Dhatic belief that Mr.. q. A. Lewis would die
thousand ignominious deaths, self.inflicted
we're 1t possible, rather than shed or be &C
,essory TO shedding of innocent blood; and
We most conscientiously and cheerfully rec
,mmend Mr.. G. A. Lewis to all good citi.
,ens and officers Of the law to be high
minded, moral, and good man, utterly inca
liable Of committing 90 base crime a tax
ne the life Of an innocent girl. We have
10 doubt but all acquaintance of Mr.. Lewis
would endorse this statement If called upon
10 to do. PERKINS 81 Co.
;. Oct. 2, 1888. GEO. C. PERKINS.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Oct, 2, 1883.
Nr. c.. a. Le,cis, Dillon:
DEAR SIR received your communica-
ion Of some days since, requesting me 70
END you written statement of the reputa-
ion you had while you resided In Butte
county several years since. In reply would
ay that while my recollections of You are
III of pleasant nature, yet hesitated 10
write until could first communicate with
ome of your old neighbor In Wyandot,
where You formerly resided. therefore
wrote TO my brother In Oroville, ard after
making due inquiry he sends me iae en-