The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-23
JOHNSON FOUND GUILTY.
The Employment Agent Fined $75
for Taking Money Without
Giving Work.
An Appeal to Be Taken to the
District Court on Elk
ceptions.
The Evidence of tho Aggrieved Parties
The Evidence of tho Agsrieved Parties
and the Explanation Made by the
Accused Man.

Il. l.. johnson, who has been conductin,
an employment Office on North Main street
was found guilty by a jury in Judge SAND
ers' court last night of taking money from
Burke Campbell on the representation tina
he would get the man a job or refund hin
his money, and failing to do either. TIL
penalty was hxed by the jury at $75 fine
This and the costs of the case will amour
to between $125 and $3.50. Lawyer C. G
Newman, attorney for Johnson. appealed t,
instability of some of the evidence. John
son, meantime, remains in Jail.
The complaint as originally made on
charged Johnson with obtaining money
from two men. Lawyer Newman demurred
to the complaint on the ground that it in
Guided two otfenses. Judge Sanders sus.
tanned the demurrer. II a new complain
was at onca made out charging johnson
with getting money from Campbell.
Campbell testified to visiting Johnson's
office on Saturday, July II, with Lemuel
MclIain. Johnson guaranteed to get then
a job or refund the 81 paid as Office fees-$.
apiece. They were given a note to George
ii. Spencer, who runs a saw mill in Bear
gulch, o n the Rimini road. Spencer went
out on Monday and was told there was no
chance for work, rs all the places wers full.
Returning to Helena he hunted up johnson,
money paid. McLain's testimony
was of little Importance, as he
did not go to Spencer. Spencer testified to
having had johnson engage men for him
for about eight months, but he had not
ordered any on or about July II.
Elmer Wright was placed on the stand to
of by Campbell. Lawyer Newman objected
to the introduction of this evidence and on
being overruled, excepted. Wright then
told that he had paid Johnson 50 ON Jlly
II to get employment as & miner. Johnson
sent him to Superintendent Dodge, of the
East Pacific mine near Placer. He did not
get work. On getting back to Helena he
went to Johnson's Office. johnson was not
there and tho mau who had charge said he
was attending to the employment business
and not to paying bills. The county attor-
ney at this point submitted q note written
by Superintendent Dodge to the effect that
johnson had no authority to send a man
to the mine. Lawyer Newman promptly
objected to its being admitted in evidence
on the ground that Dodge WAS not present
80 that he coald be cross-examined. He
characterized it as extreme gall" for the
county attorney to submit such a letter
without consulting the defense. Judge
Sanders ruled the note out.
E. w. Dean was called by the defense to
testify that he had told them at Johnson's
Office that the East Pacific wanted thirty
men. johnson himself was then put on
the stand. He said that a week or two be
fore he sent Campbell out to Spencer's he
had met the latter, who told him some
hands would be needed shortly. On Friday,
the 10th, a man came INTO Johnson's office
and said Spencer wanted two men. John
son said he did not know who the man WIS,
but, ns he looked like a laborer. concluded
he was from Spencer's. On Saturday he
Cam bell and McLain to 60 ont to
Spence!'s. Campbell, johnson testified, came
back Monday night with a tale of woe.'
lie gave Campbell a dollar, but did not
ell the money, as he had told the
man to 60 out Saturday, and he had it put
off till Monday. Johnson said he was in
in q similar business in Butte,
which accounted for his going there SD
He denied that he left Helena
every now and then i'll order to avoid the
men who came back for their money on
failing to get work.
The arguments occupied nearly an hour,
and the jury were out just fifteen minutes
making up their verdict Of guilty.
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