The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-14
LET'S TRIAL BEGUN
Charged With the Murder OF Yung
Lee at Fort Custer, Oct
~, 1891.
A Jury in the United States Court
Will Pass Upon His
Case.
Arnuman1a a N aLa uox EIdar Can.
h Arguments on tho Box Elder CASE
Ended ard the Matter Now Before
the Judges.

Alb Let, the Chinaman who Ia charged
named Yune Lee on the Fott Custer mill
tary reservation, On Oct. IL. 1891. was placed
on trial before the United States court yes
terday. His case had been separated from
from that Of Alb Doc, who Ia also charged
with tho murder. Judge Knowles presided
and District Attorney Weed and Assistant
District Attorney Mcdonald represented
the prosecution, and N. W. McCon-
nell and M. 8. Gum the de-
Tense. Assistant District Attorney Mo
Donald conducted the case for the govern
ment. Tbs jury selected to try the case
are Fred Gamer, Il. j. Cronin, w. Y. 81
monitor, Henry Fisher, Robert G. sandel,
j. J. Gier, J. W. Anderson, J. Il. Putnam,
s. c. Gilpatrick, ii. d. Hauser, W.. ]. Whits
and II. H.. Lowery. Billy Kss was inter-
prefer for The government, and Gee Hee
for the defense. The theory Of the prose-
cution is that the murder of the Chinaman
was prompted by motives of robbery. The
murdered man and the accused were all in
the laundry business at Fort Custer. run
ming different establishments.
Lieut.. Ayrshire was the first witness. and
his testimony was principally directed to-
wards describing the scene of the murder
and the contents Of the box found in the
dead mans cabin. 1t was from this box
that the money supposed to have formed
the motive for the robbery was taken.
The Lieutenant said the papers in the box
were in a confused condition. and among
them three rolls of silver dollars, contain
N n I n o. IN oanb forpJ uuirr avi-
dently been overlooked.
Sergeant Foster, of the post garrison,
testified to examining the body and the
room where the murder was committed.
Thu body WAS lying with the feet toward
the back door. His idea was either that
some one had been to tho house and struck
Yung Lee down on leaving, or else had
called him to the door and hit him when
he opened it. The bloody axe and Ratchet
and a broken bread knife found in the
room we're recognized bv the sergeant when
shown him in court. The handle of the
axe was cut off short. The defense, on
cross-examination. brought up the fact
that part of an axe handle was found on
the road leading from the scene. and that
the hoof points of a horse were found going
in the same direction. The sergeant said
the piece of axe handle did not in hia
opinion belong with the piece still in the
axe. The sergeant further testified that
All Let had told him after the murder that
on the night it ed some Indians came
to his house and wanted something. He
referred them to Yung Lee. The Indians
went to the ~latter's place, but soon re
turned, saying there was q dead Chlnamar
there. Yung Lees throat was cut from cal
to ear, and he had a deep cash from thu
forehead to the nose, besides two confused
POUNDS on the forehead.
Watson Curry. n Dur16 at Fort Custer
was examined as to the nature OF thu
wounds. The aim of the defense is to shov
the murdered man was unusually tall for
Chinaman and that All Let was too shor
to nave stood outelde the door and struck
Yung Lee with the axe in the head. Post
master White was also examined in REGARD
to q statement made by Ah Let. and as t.
the fact that the murder occurred on grount
under the jurisdiction of the government
Judge Knowles said be would take judioia
notice of tie fact that the constitution O.
Montana gave the United States jarisdic'
ton over military reservations.
The last witness of the day was CHR
Hung, a Chinan,an. who was still on tn,
stand when court adjourned. The inter
preters were given seats near him. Bill,
Key interpreted and Gee Hee listened tt
see that he did it right. Chin Hung testi
her last. Early in January he complained
that it was too cold for him there. and Sait
hs would have to go back to California
All Let told him not to be in n hurry. II
said he would sell Chin Yung the laundr,
business he was running for $50. 1t wa
worth 500. He wanted, however, to retail
an interest. All Let said the business pait
$40 a week. whereupon Chin Hung told hin
he ought to keep it then, and asked why h,
wanted to sell. All Let said 1t was becausi
of trouble he had had with Yung Lee. Tn,
latter had been uude'sellinR him in tn,
hnndke chief business, and All Let wanted
the other man to raise his prices. The,
had some hot words and this led to a fight
This was three Or O u days before th,
mul der. While carrying on the negotia
tions for the laundry the witness said
he took supper with All Let an,
All Doc. All Doc told him that Yung LIE
had been robbed of $500 or $500 at the tim
Of the murder. All Let got up from til
table md made a motion to All Doc not t.
say anything furthe,. An Doc then said b
thought the murder had been committed
by three white men. All Let said he though
SO too. Witness asked why he thought so
wnereupon All boo got up and said it wa
time for him to go home. Chin Hung salt
he paid $50 on account of the purchase o
the laundry of All Let. The latter, he said
expressed the idea that if Yung Lee hat
not been killed, he (Ah Lett would hav
been. The supper and the conversation
took place at All Let's house. The cour
at this point adjourned until to-day.