The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-09-26
THE CASE,

THE MURDER CASE.
Murder in the Second Degree Is the YER
dict Rendered.
All day long Friday the trial of the
great murder case progressed. Witnesses
were called, examined and dismissed.
The lawyers wrestled with zeal in laud-
able endeavors to bring from witnesses
the truth, and through it all the prisoner
Wore a face of unruifled calm.
He was dressed as usual with scrupu-
lous care and sat behind his attorney.
whispering to him frequently. After the
evidence was in and arguments begun.
however, his studied ease began TO de
sert him. lie was evidently anxious aud
worried, picking constantly at this or
that. reading a moment. then p|ausing to
listen, and all the Nhilci in avery nervous
condition.
Yesterday morning after Il greater part
of Robiuson's testimony had been ruled
out as incompetent, Mrs. Gowan. land
lady of the Gore block. took the chair.
Her testimony was very damaging to the
prisoner. The couple came to her house
on the evening of July 4. They quar-
relied on the night of the eth over "a bot
tie Of beer which defendant had ordered
deceased not to go and buy. Deceased
asked her to hide her. as she feared her
husband. but afterward voluntarily left
her hiding place. She also testified to
beatings administered by Goellerd. So
violent were they that she knocked at
the door and ordered him to dcsist. Al
ter this, on going up stairs, she saw de
ceased leaning on window sill and de
PENDANT standing over her and heating
her. She also saw Goellcrd tying the
ankles of the woman with a towel OF
napkin.
Cross-examination was rigid but inef-
fectual.
George Bond was the next witness and
testified to having heard screams, and to
having been told by the man that his
wife was either drunk or doped.
Mrs. Prentiss, who occupied the room
next to the pair. testified hat she went
into the room after the disturbance. and
that the woman said, ~ have becn all
kicked to pieces; my head, my head
The prosecution then rested.
The testimony for the defense was
mostly in the nature of expert evidence.
The same physicians who testified for
the prosecution were called and estab-
lished the fact of the woman's condition,
viz, that she was a victim to acute alco-
holism. as well as another loathsome dis
ease, and that the walls of
the veins were very fragile.
The idea seemed to be to prove
that death resulted not from a blow but
from a sudden excitement which had
driven the blood madly through veins
whose thin partitions were unable to
withstand the frightful rush. \ wall
broke. a eliot formed, and the woman
died.
At $3.50 p. m. defense rested, Thomas
Murphy being the last witness. and tes-
tifying to the high temper of the de
ceased.
Atty. Stanton opened for the state.
lie commented on the evidence and
strongly censured any man who would
strike a woman. He spoke about thirty
five minutes. After him Atty. Fletcher
spoke about an hour and a half for the
defense. His review of the testimony
was careful and exhaustive.
The case for the state was closed by
Prosecuting Attorney Martin.
Judge Benton then charged the jury.
The charge defined murdcr IN the first
and second degrees and m~anslaughter.
Ii instructed the jury in effect that il
the deceased came directly to her death
through the influence or actions of he
Deceased defendant was guilty. The
jury were then sent to their room and
the waiting began.
1t was approximately $50 when the
Jury retired to the room. The crowd
who had assembled melted slowly away
and only some few patient watchers were
in waiting. Speculatlons were rife, some
prophccying murder, others manslaugh-
ter and one or two even expecting ac-
uuittal. Nine O'Clock passed and 10 with
still no verdict. The prisoner was re-
moved to the jail and the waiting and
watching went on. Eleven o'clock came
and then l1:30, and then the balitf said a
verdict had been agreed on.
The news spread rapidly and a sur
prising crowd quickly assembled. Judge
Benton arrived IA little after II. At l2:lO
amid a breathless silence he propounded
the query: "Gentlemen, have you
agreed upon a verdict 1--WE have,
answered the foreman and the verdict
was handed in. The Judge scanned it
carefully and gravely and then handed
II W tllt CltIh. WIN itu' ~ ." ~"
ing audience and the prisoner, IL was:
In the district court of the state OF
Montana in and for the Eighth Judicial
district and Cascade county, the state o.
Montana, plaintiff, against j. {. Geldertf
defendant.
We, the jury in the above entitled case.
find the defendant guilty of murder in
the second degree, in the manner and
form charged in the information, and re-
commend him to the mercy of the court.
T.. LORD, Foreman.
Not a muscle of the prisoners face
ouivcred. In a better cause his nerve
would have been magnificent. The jury
the deputy, Goellerd, or Geldert. now
convicted of murder walked coolly forth.
His crime is punishable by an imprison-
ment from ten years in extent to a life
time.
To the Public.