Fergus County argus., 1890-11-13
ALTAR sCORED.
County Attorney Smith Replies to the Charges
Made in the Democrat

EDlroR FERGUS COUNTY ARGUS:
In last weeks edition of a paper called
The Montana Democrat appeared u very
singularly written article in which the
writer puts his name, Corruption" at the
head instead of the foot Of his article
The article is a base and malicious lie from
beginning to end, without the truthful
statement Of a material fact, and in almost
any other state in the Union would place
it's author behind prison bars. We have
no criminal libel law in this state and mas
m uch as this gift enterprise is protected
by a liberal mortgage our only recourse is
the columns Of IA decent paper to show the
true facts.
First, in regard to the charge that the
records Of the court show that have re-
ceived hundreds OF dollars as lees in crinli-
nal cases in which ! made no appearance.
contrary to law. Permit me to sa. that
I he reeords show nothing of the kind, and
that neither the writer nor instigator o'
that lie can prove il or show any Tact to
| indicate IL from the records or otherwise,
and that any one who ean may have
twent y-hve dollars out Of my own pocket
In regard to the assertion that the ''citi
zens requested me and the commissioners
to get together and take some oif,cia
| action in regar ri to Judge Bentons refusal
| to hold court here in November" there il
no truth. The commissioners have not
met nor have ! been requested to meet
them for any such purpose.
| Mr.. Beck did not wait upon me N
ALLEGED, but came 10 me and said that soms
people about town wanted him (i3eck) te
take some official action in the matter and
wanted to know what to do. ! told him
kuey of no official action he could take al
this time, and that had written to Judgs
Benton and expecteI reply within thu
next few days which might Indicate some
thing for us to art upon. No meeting o
the Bar Association WAS ever held for thu
purpose alleged nor was ever notified that
one had been called.
| The published a.i;dayits Of the criminals
confined in the county Jail are entitled t.
the same weight as the libels Of the ono who
| is out of Jail. Tom Dunn is confessed
thief who IL serving his sentence and is alsa
awaiting the action Of the grand jury on 4
charge Of forgery.
The affidavit signed John Caplit il al
enigma. First, there is no such man in jai
here. John Caplette may be meant; but I
half-breed who can't spell his own name i
not very likely to have dictated that ahi
davit. When Capette was arraigned II
Justice Brassey's court he claimed that b
could not understand English enough t.
u,e,d and the court assigned counsel VIII
plead for him. What educational process
is going ON in our county Jail to suddenl.
quality this hall. breed.
John schneiier's affidavit comes next
He is now awaiting the astion of the gram
Jury on charge Of burglary, and is ais
under CONVICTION for petit larceny on tw
charges have also succeeded IN eonyie'
ing him before, and he has been tried fo
rare at Billings. lie has stated that
has nothing against me yet am informe
by Judge Gudgell that he has threatened I
kill me.
All these afiidavits of confessed criminal
state that they are made in furtheranes {
. Justice Had these ardent admirers I