The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-03
MRS. BARNUM 1EST|F|ES.
The Defendant in the Mann Mail
Robbery Case on the
Stand.
for the Defense Unite
In Giving Her q Good Rep-
utation.
Elie Eievsn-Year-old Daughter Corrobo-
rates Her Mothers Testimony About
the Visiting Stranger.

the Visiting Stranger.
The United States circuit court room WAS
provided with people yesterday to hear the
testimony of tho witnesses. Inspector
5ackett's evidence ia the most direct so fur
brought out by tho prosecution. He was on
he stand yesterday morning and examined
pn some of the points about which he testi-
fled on Tuesday. Mr.. Baum, of Great
Falls, who docs the cross. questioning for
he defense. took the witness in hand and
put probing questions to him az he did on
the opening day. His testimony was sub
etantialiy as first given. One OF the wit
~nesses for the prosecution yesterday fore
noon WAS William Lee, the postmaster Mt
FKibby, a station on the mail route between
|Armington and Monarch. Kibby and Mann
ERE the. only postofiices between these
points. Lees testimony was c~orrohorative
of Saokett's testimony about the registered
letter passing through his Office after it WAS
pnailed at Arlington by Inspector sackett.
FThe Kibby postmaster caused the first
amusement of the trial. In replying to
questions he made them emphatic by con-
|Cluding with That's straight goods"
After several of these declarations Mr..
Baum. in his courteous manner asked,
|"What do you mean by straight goods?"
swell, it is something that people don't
|get tangled up on, It's tho truth"
The explanation of the witness seemed to
|be very satisfactory and raised n laugh.
At the conclusion Of the examination of
the governments witnesses the defense
made the formal motion for an instruction
from the court directing the jury to return
Ia verdict of acquittal. This was over
ruled by Judge Knowles.
Mrs. Barnum. the defendant, was the first
witness called by Mr.. Baum. She was on
the stand a good part of the day and un:
|derwent a rigid oross-examination by the
lions and answers. and the objections of
her lawyer, came so thick and fast that the
lady stenoerapher's pencil fairly flew over
the paper. Mrs. Barnum is a bright
woman n WAS not oil confused by the
'cross-examiner's questions. In substance
her testimony was in the line of the OPEN
jury on Tuesday-that a conspiracy existed
10 ruin the defendant and resulted in her
Indictment by the United States grand jury
Tor mail robbery. The theory of tbs de-
Tense is that tho mails had been systematic
ally robbed prior to Aug. 26 last. The de-
tense do not charge this to tho Manus, who
had the postofiice at Mann before Mrs.
Barnum was appointed ms the postmistress.
Mrs. Barnum told about the stranger who
came to tho place and stopped over night at
the time the marked 81 bill of
Inspector sackett disappeared from
the registered package. In the morn
ing, after breakfast, the stranger
paid for his lodging ana meals with = So
bill. This is the individual who is sup
posed by the defense to have taken the
money from the registered packag". When.
ever the prosecuting attorneys have o.
casion to refer TO the stranger who stopped
Mt the Barnum ranch he is characterized as
this mysterious Individual" Mrs.
Barnum's demeanor on the stand and her
, eady answers seemed to create n favorable
impression.
A neighbor of the Barnum family was
the next witness. He is James Campbell,
who gave his answers in a drawing way.
He said Mrs. Barnum had told him to tell
Jackson to say nothing but the truth jack
son and Il renohman named Gurr are thu
witnesses who created n sensation at Great
Falls on the preliminary heating of Ed
Barnum, one of the sons TO- awaiting trial
for mail robbery. These two man testified
Mt Great Falls that they entered into a con-
with Ed B.rnum for the purpose of
they agreed to 90 out in the hills and
watch a man rihing u mail sack. This per
son was supposed to be Ed Baraum.
Judge Dudley DuBoHe told the jury
nbont the location of tho rooms i'll tue
Barnum house at Mann. He did not think
that anyone could rifle the mail sacks
without some one about the house knowing
of it. -
Mrs. Barnum's 1l-year-old daughter
Mabel, testified in behalf of her mother.
The little girl is pretty and was neatly
dressed. She looked straight at the jury
men. most of whom AFRO fathers. Mabel was
timid at first, but soon felt at
Baum. She remembered the stranger who
stopped over night at the house, and that
he paid her mother a ~ bill.
Next came testimony as to Mrs. Barnum's
good reputation both in Montana and at her
home in Minnesota. J. H. Nc
Knight, formerly post trader at Fort Shaw,
said she bore an excellent reputation. j. j.
superintendent ofthe Montana Stage
company, said that Mrs. Barnum was still
the employ of his company as agent at
Mann. The superintendent testified that she
conducted the affairs of the company in a
thorough and business like manner and
that her reputation was good. The trial
was concluded for the day by Mr.. Baum
reading q number Of aGidavits from lead
ing citizens OF Sank Rapids. Mimi, where
Barnums resided before coming to
Montana. Some of the people who signed
the affidavits have known Mrs. Barnum for
twelve years and all united in giving her
the family an excellent reputation.
During the proceedings yesterday Mr..
Barnum and his two sons we're taken from
the county jail and allowed the freedom of
FuraY's office, adjoining the court
The father is middle-nged. IIe
looks like q hard working rRnchman. His
sons are bright looking young men.
The attorneys expect to finish the trial
to-day. BY consent the jury were allowed
10 separate last night.
About Their Fees. "
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