Great Falls tribune., 1888-12-15
ACQUITTED. VI
WILLIAM r. GETZ DECLARED NOT
GUILTY BY A JURY OF IL.
stubborn Contest on Either Side
From the Outset-Getz's State
ment II licved-Publtc
Satisfaction. --- -.-

The trial of William R. Getz before
Judge Rolfe ended last evening in his &C
qnittal. The jury took only one ballot,
Every vote was for acquittal and Mr..
Getz walked forth from the court honor
ABLY vlrdlcated by an intelligent jury of
his fellow-citlzens. The case was fought
stubbornly from the outset. Messrs. Tay-
lor and Leslie made strong team and
left nothing undone to make out strong
case. They withdrew the original com
plant in which Bradford swore that he
was engaged in serving "process Of
law" and substituted another so that the
case might be tried before the probate
Judge as common law misdemeanor.
The defense was wide-awake. Mr..
Brady at once resolved not to leave the
decision in the Judges hands and not to
tolerate jury Of six. He took care that
the venlre was prepared properly and not
according to loose methods which have
been employed. The result was that the
most intelligent jury ever empanelled in
the probate court, sat within the rails
when the trial began.
MIR. Leslie opened the case for the
prosecution in clear concise manner.
Bradford stated that on Monday, the
morning Of the fire, the Cunninghams en-
gagged in a fight in Mr.. Getz's saloon. He
forthwith proceeded to arrest them, but
Dir. Getz interfered and he let them 20,
This big, burly fellow of 215 pounds said
nothing OF resistance. He left the jury
to infer that Mr.. Getz so overpowered
him that he desisted. On ss-examina-
tion he admitted that minute or two
after Mr.. Getz "frcd" out the Cunning
hams and every one else in the store who
Was willing to go out. Bradford did not
wait for his prisoners, but arrested them
at his leisure later on. As regards his
commission, Bradford admitted that he
received it October "a and had never
filed 1T. The Montana statutes very pro
perly require that he should file it, but
the judge thought otherwise The prose
cution, however, did not agree with the
the Judge, although they accepted his
rulings for they had caused Pat Sweeney
on Tuesday to file the document More
witnesses were cited by the prosecution,
but they did not improve matters.
In the case for the defense, Mr.. Getz
testified IN his own behalf. He told a
plain honest story that at once carried
conviction with the jury. He explained
how his saloon was filled by an unruly
crowd, whom he requested to leave,
fearing that on the slightest pretext they
would destroy Or plllage the goods on the
floor and shelves. He had no desire to
shield anyone and did not even know
Bradford to be an officer. His ar-keeper
Andy Hart, corroborated clearly and in
telligentlY this statement.
Mr.. Brady sumed up for the defense a
forcible speech in which he presented
the evidence clearly to the jury. He
argued that Bradford was not an officer
according to law, and that he was not
known as such to Mr.. Getz. He referred
to the honorable character OF Mr.. Getz
and dissected the evidence of Bradford
and others with merciless severity. He
held that the intention to resist an officer
must be very clear to warrant conviction
and that this was not apparent even from
the testimony adduced by the prosecu-
ton.
Mr. Taylor made the best of the case in
summing up for the prosecution. He
spoke Of the gravity Of the charge and
admitted Mr.. Getz's good character, but
contended that it should not shield him
from the operation of the law.
Soon after the case went to the jury
with the result stated.
"Billy" Getz as he is porularly called,
was warmly congratulated on the result.
Many citizens called at his store to ex-
press their satisfaction. Mr.. Getz says
that proposals were made to him to set
tie the case, but he rejected them. He
regarded the prosecution by Bradford as
malicious and was resolved to fight to
the last, relying firmly on the sound judg-
ment of a jury of twelve.