Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-01-06
THE CATnlLE-STEALlNG CASE.
1T ENDS IN THE DEFENDANTS BE.
IyG Reid TO ANSWER.
Synopsis Of the Testimony ELECTED at
the Preliminary Examination - The
Defense Claim that the Cattle were
Taken by Mistake-Etc.

1aken ny Mistake-Etc.
The preliminary examination of A.
H. Bllingsley and H. 7. Smith, on
charge of stealing eight head Of live
stock belonging to NJ. A. Gordon, was
concluded yesterday evening. Fol-
lowing is a synopsis of the testimony.
M. A. Gordon testified: l reside in
Bellevue. About two months ago
bought some stock from Rillingsley;
he vented his brand on the stock and
| put mine on; lost six head of the
stock Christmas Eve, and when look
ing for them ! saw tracks coming to
Shoshone from my range near that
town; followed them to the slaughter
house which belongs to Smith & W ite;
saw some cattle hanging there, and
asked where the hides were? He
showed them, and | found my brand
on one; the hide was fresh, and had
just been taken off; there were seven
other fresh hides there-all with xy
brand on and Billingsley's too. In
Shoshone met Billingsley who said
he came in the previous evening, but
had brought no cattle. He, however,
had sold some to H. f. Smith, who had
brought them in.
When Billngsley was informed
that the cattle were mine, he became
excited and said maybe Mr.. Smith had
brought them in by mistake. Billings
ley said they only killed five, but Mr..
Smith afterward told me they butch
cred the cattle for Bllings'ey for the
hides. This conversation took place
on December 3lst. On the LIST of Jan
uary Billingsley came to me several
times and offered to settle Tor the cat
tie. | refused unless he paid for six
more that had gone the same wav.
James Miller testified that he saw
defendants come from the Slaughter
house at 20 minutes to ) o'clock the
morning of the 31st.
A. II. Billingsley sworn After
selling some cattle to Gordon, | told
him it would not do to turn them out
with mine; that, though vented, they
would get mixed. lie took away the
number OF head he bought, some being
branded with his brand, others not.
He turned them loose. left a man in
charge Of them, and went to Bellevue.
A day or two later | went to Smith &
White, and arranged to have some
cattle killed for the hides and offal
the beef sold to the Spencer House
and Dewey House for eight cents PEI
pound. A day or two afterward Smith
came down, and told him to 60 and
see if he wanted anything, to take
it along, as had agreed 20 get beet
to Shoshone IN a day or two. Their
started to go down Snake river, but
found | could not make it, and wen
across country to Shoshone. 1t wa.
after midnight when got into Sho
shone, and | had no more than sa
down in the City Bakery when Smith
came in and told me what a time b<
had had The next morning saw
Mr.. Gordon at the hotel. Later il
the day met Mr.. Gordon, who said h'
had been out and found tracks lead
ing to the slaughter house, and tina
some of his cattle had been killed
5 that he had found the hides. H,
seemed to think that Smith was to b.
blamed. said: Well see the hide
in the morning, and for each one tina
has your brand on | will give you an
other COW or calf in place, as l don
, want any trouble. | afterward wen
to the pen and did not see his bran,
on the hides. When l returned | said
"lf you want me to pay you for thos
cattle you must show me your iron Of
> the hides
H. T. Smith testified that he ha,
permission from Billingsley to driv
in cattle to kill for the hides and tai
low; said he was in. debt and mus
raise money. went down the 2St
t or goth of December, and stayed ther
n one day; the following morning W
Q started out to hunt up the cattle. Bill
i Kingsley went toward Gridley's, and
j. turned toward Shoshone. After goin
t few miles l ran onto bunch of ca,
S tie with BiIlings'ey's brand on; tric
d to drive in 10 or IL, but only succeed
n ed in starting five cows and thre
n calves. 1t must have been 2 o'cloc