The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-08
THE OPIUn SMOKING CASE.
An Examination Yesterday bat NO Result
Reo0haA YoN

An Examination Yesterday Bat NO Resale
Reached Yet
Judge Sanders court furnished entertain.
ment for all the people his temple Of JUS
tice could conveniently hold yesterday
afternoon. Tho fact that several variety
women and Nick Williams were the princi-
pals in an opium smoking case attracted
the large attendance. Nick Williams, who
Is stage manager ct the Coliseum, on COM
plant of Detective Parker was charged with
keeping an opium joint where he enticed
women to init the pipe" Grace Lewis, a
soiled dove and the rejected sutton TO,
Williams' affections or opium, was the prin.
clpal witness. It was attempted to show
during the trial that Clyde Raymond, who
was visiting from Butte last week, was in
duced to smoke opium but in this the pros
ecution failed.
The examination had, of course, its
humorous side. County Attorney Nolan
was satisfied with the evidence of Grace
Lewis who said she had smoked opium in
Williams room, and let the states case rest
there. Arguments were submitted pro and
con. Dudley Dul3ose for Williams moved
to dismiss as Nolan had not made any case
His honor picked up lead pencil and set
weighing both sides he found the county
attorneys balance was not weighty enough
to warrant holding Williams as no evidence
had been produced to show that there was
any opium-smoking paraphernalia in
Williams room and he would discharge the
prisoner.
Williams and his attorneys were prepar-
ing to leave the court room but Attorney
Nolan jumped up and insisted that it was
not necessary to show that man who adj
mittedly smoked, necessarily used pipe. If
that was the only lacking essential he could
very easily produce evidence to show that hat
room. The defendants insisted that it was
too late and that the county attor-
ney could not come in at the eleventh
hour with new evidence to help
his cause. Quite a wrangle ensued but No
Ian gained his point much to Williams
disappointment and Grace Lewis was again
called to the stand for the prosecution to
establish the fact that in smoking opium
she used pipe.
Then long array of witnesses were ex-
amined and the examination occupied all
the afternoon. DR.. Haight was called up
on as an expert to tell how much opium it
toned to its use, unconscious. The doctor
had not been subposaned as an expert, and
insisted on knowing where his fee was COM
ing for expert testimony. On the assur-
ance that he would get $1.5O he proceeded.
The county attorney made thorough
diagnosis of the DOCTORS experience on
opium smoking and its effects. This OK
perience proved to have been acquired
through reading and intuition, as he said
he never administered to any one under the
effects of the drug.
The next witness was Lille Lawrance.
She proved to be ''sixteen-year-old" girl
we'll able to take care of herself. She grew
quite annoyed at, the county attorneys in
terrogatories, and when Mr.. Nolan said:
Now, will get you to state in what ca
pacity you are employed at the Coliseum
theater," in tones that gave unmistakable
evidence of growing anger, she said: n am
a wine room worker" "And what is that,
may I ask?" calmly returned the county
attorney. She loudly retorted, IF you
will come mp there some night |
will show you.'' This SGT the court
room in roar and it required the united
efforts of Chief Beary and Judge Sanders to
restore order. Mr.. Nolan then asked:
"Have you not been the mistress of this
man Williams?' but she was told by the
opposition not to answer that, and Mr..
Nolan released her.
It was clearly shown that Grace Lewis
was pronounced opium smoker, long ad-
dicted to the use of that drug, as we'll az
morphine.
The court has the matter under advise
ment