The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-27
He Will not Swear That Stony
Hancock Assisted In
Robbing Him.
Two Prosecuting Witnesses on the
stand In the Highway
Robbery Case.
The Trial Attracts y Good Many SPECTATOR
Ono Of the witnesses =
disappointment.

Rice, the principal witness Tor the prose-
cution, says he will not swear positively
that Stony Hancock Ia one Of the men who
robbed him on the night Of the "hold up"
on the road to the fair grounds. He was
on the stand for a long time yesterday I'M
dor the close questioning OF Col. Nolan.
The Witness was a disappointment to the
prosecution. Rice said he thought he
recognized Hancock whom he pulled the
mask partly from the face of the smaller OF
the two men who assaulted him.. Ed. bow
man who was with Rice on the night Of the
robbery, was the Arat witness produced by
the prosecution. He testified about going
with Rice from the race track sometime
about seven O'Clock In the evening of July
Is to town. They were to meet at the
Grand Central hotel at ten O'Clock. Both
were on time and met Stony Hancock and
I the three men went to the Atlas On Main
street. Hancock, it seems, did not have
any money, but said he felt
lucky and wanted to play.
Rice gave him S., which he lost, and
| SIS more, which also went to the bank.
Bowman SAYS Rice had at the time about
| $3.50 in his pocket-book in bills and some
silver. After losing the 80, the party went
across the street to the Union block, where
they met two women. They stayed there q
short time and had two bottles Of beer Ac-
cordinQ to Bowman's testimony, while the
men were in the room at the Union block
Rice paid for the beer, and while doing SC
exhibited the money he had in his pocket
book in the presence Of Hancock. Hancock
the witness said, left 0 ll:20, and SAID
he was going home and 90 to bed, and thai
about twenty minutes after that Rice wen
out, leaving the witness alone. A littl'
while after this Bowman went out and me-
Rice at the Grand Central, about ONT
O'Clock. From the hotel they ven to DR.
Longs stable and started in the buggy 70,
the race track. Then Bowman described
the "hold-up'' by two masked men at tn
Montana Central crossing. he says, n
made three attempts to assist Rlce Wnil'
the hiRhwaymen were struggling with tn
latter, but was driven away each time 2!
shoot him. After the robbery Bowman ant
Rice went to Mrs. Hancock's house, nea
the Fair grounds. 4,
Patsy Rice was on the stand almost al
the afternoon as the states principal Wit.
ness. After his direct examination by Coi
Nolan and his crOss-examlnat1on by WAL
IAN Wallace, Jr., the county attorney wa
not satisfied and cross-examlned his owl
witness at considerable length. Rice test
fed substantially as Bowman had, on!!.
that he said Hancock had left the room u
the Union block before he paid for tn
beer. Rice also described the struggle Wit
the hiQhwaymen and how he managed t
partly tear the mask from the face OF tn
smaller man, who had him down and wa
choking him while the tall fellow wen
through his pockets. At the time, Rlc
said, he thought he. recognized the sma
man az Stony Hancock and the other Q
Fred Tilt. On cross-examination Rice re
fused to swear positively as to the identit
of Hancock. He said a number of thing
had occurred since the robbery which II
creased his suspicion as to whether he wa
right in his identification of Hancock
One thing was because Tilt had prove
himself innocent, and another was becaus
he had met a man at Missoula who ha
heard about the affair. This indlvidu,
had asked to see the place in the wines!
neck where the bullet from the tall higl
wayInan's pistol had struck. The INCUR
told Rice that he had not been shot; TIM
he had been struck by a gum. Rice asked
"How do you know SO much?" to which
replied, ''You will find out some time"
These we're the only witnesses examine
yesterday. The case will be called up aga1
at 10 a. m. tomorrow. During the exan
nation yesterday the court room was pref
we'll filled with spectators, many Of VINO
seemed to be acquainted with the defen'
, ant and exchanged greetings with aim.