The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-10-03

forty-six were disposed of during the
four days the court sat, and some Of
them very important This. however,
is but in keeping with Judge Wade's
record on the bench, only that he sprob-
ably outdid himself on this occasion.
The following is brief resume of yes
ttrday's important work:
Louis Riel pleaded not guilty to the
charge preferred against him The case
was continued until the next term Of
court, owing to the absence of impor-
tant witnesses.
A divorce was granted Mrs. Dapper;
but in Mrs. Aliens case, heard last
evening, the decree was not granted.
Henry Madison pleaded guilty, and
the sentence of the court was suspended
until the first day of the next term.
James Oglesby, for horse stealing, was
sentenced to three years imprisonment
at Deer Lodge; and Healy and Sanders,
the highwaymen, were given ten years
each at the same resort.
A motion to set aside the default in
the case of the Territory VS.. Richard
Nee was overruled and the defendant
placed under another bond of S., 900 for
his appearance at the next term of
court. The case Of the attorneys against
Nee for $4,000 was compromised, they
to receive half that amount, 81 $50 for
Waterman & McIntire and the same
amount for J. J. Donnelly.
The grdAd jury adjourned yesterday
afternoon and submitted the following
as their report: Fl.
To His Honor D. s. Wade, Judge Sd
Judicial District, Territory of Mon
tCt71a.:
We, the grand jurors sworn and
charged at the September term of the
district court to inquire into the offences
committed within the county Of Choteau,
respectfully report:
That we have inquired into all of the
offences brought to our notice, and have
| true presentments made in all cases
| where the evidence seemed to justify.
We recommend that all petty offences
receive prompt attention, to the end
| that persons charged with crime are not
unnecessarily detained at the expense
Of the county. That we have had be-
| fore us persons charged with grave
crimes, who have been imprisoned for
| long terms withouta shadow of evidence
| to convict them of the crimes charged,
and we would especially call the atten-
ton of the proper authorities to such in
Justice to the accused, and to the expense
thrown upon the people, and would ask
that the county commissioners disalloW
all fees of committing magistrates in such
cases. We pray that all magistrates be-
| fore whom persons are brought, charged
with crime use their best endeavors to
have ample proof to convict the accused
before binding them over for the action
of grand jury, or committing them to
prison. We would recommend that ex-
pedition be used in the administration
of estates i'm the nrObatn court
That we find the books and records of
Choteau county in peril from either fire
or theft and recommend that authorities
take immediate steps to purchase safe
or provide other secure means for the
preservation of the same. That we find
the room in the basement of the Record
building rented to be used as a court
room, unoccupied, and unsuited for the
purpose for which it was rented, and
would recommend that if the rental
thereof can not be discontinued, that
some disposition be made of the same
for the pecuniary benefit of the county.
That we have visited the county Jail
and found the same clean and apparent
ly well kept but would recommend a
more thorough system of sewerage and
water supply, and more sanitary meth
cd of disposing of excrement of persons
| confined therein.
That in view of the great Importance
of the live stock industry Of this terri
| tory, and the peculiar dangers to which
Of necessity property of that nature is
| exposed, to secure the speedy punish
! ment of any person or persons feloniously
| interfering with the same, we would
recommend that our representatives, at
! the next term OF the legislature, use
| their best endeavors to secure the pass
age of an act giving the county court of
each county Jurisdiction to try all cases
of horse and cattle stealing and cattle
killing, whenever the person charged
with such offense shall be apprehended
in said county, whether such offense
shall have been committed in the same
or another county of the territory, and
whether the property charged to have
been taken or destroyed shall have been
| brought into said cotnty or not. We be-
lieve that the enactment af such an act
would stimulate officials to extra en-
deavors in the attempt to arrest crimi-
nails of this class.
That with reference to that portion of
your Honor's charge in relation to an
examination into the condition OF the
books and records of all the county Off
GERS, we have the honor to report that
we have had the subject under consider
alton, and have found that it would be
utterly impossible to make any satisfac-
tory examination Of such matters at the
present term of court, and have deter
mined, il it shall meet with your Hon
or's approval, to employ competent ex-
pert and accountant, to be aided by an
attorney of this bar, and have deslg-
mated John G. Maclay and Henry &.
MoTuti rn fa nnrforn such duty. and re-