The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-13
TWO DIFFERENT TALES
Disagreement as to How the Game
Was Played That Cos.
Kristen $iO5.
A Long Session OF the Police
Court on the Gam
bling Case.
rn. rx,donc. All In and the Matter viii
Bo Argued and Decided This
Afternoon.

The police court did not even have stand
ing room left yesterday during the prcliu'
;,.arv examination OF Orson Saeley, Wall
lam Woods and Leonard Lane on the
charge of getting $105 out OF keeers MT
stem, the Wisconsin boy, by an unfair game
of cards, on TIE Northern Pacific west
hound express last Monday. County Attor-
new Nolan conducted tina prosecution IN
person, and G. C. Newman represented the
accusaa men. Kirsten has become known
since the occurrence variously rs Castlson
and Cashton. These names were due TO a
slight foreign accent with which hs speaks
and in a measure to his excited state after
losing his money. II WIS developed also
during the examination that while ha
speaks English very we'll, he has some diih-
Guilty in understanding questions put to
him at timos in that language. 1t was this
fact, no doubt, that led him to say on the
first day after his arrival that Lane tool
the stnkes with him and left the car. and
also that Woods was not in the poker hand
bet with him and Soelsy. In fact, by his
own evidence he did not consider
Woods in on tho bet. With two
sessions of court yesterday both
sides got in their evidence. As will be seer
by a perusal OF the testimony of the wit
nessss, there was 4 wide divergence bs-
tween that for the prosecution and that TO,
the defense. One great difference was al
to who dealt the hands on which Kristen
lost his money. The prosecuting witness
said it WAS either Sssley or Woods. The
accused men all said it was Kristen him
self. Another point of difference WAS as to
how the stakes piled up. Kristen sWors
seeley bet 800 all at once, and that he was
allowed a sight" for his money on put
ting up $50, all he had, in ono lump. Seq
lev. Woods and Lane all swore that the
bets vent sround several times. and that
there were RAISES" Of $40 and Ss25 and soy.
ri stem also testified that SeSlsy made the
Il st bet. SseIey and his companions said
Kristen made the first bet. There was an
other witness for the state who confirmed
Kirstan's story of tho betting in several
impsrtant particulars. A claim that Judge
Sandsrs had no jurisdiction, raised by the
defense during the examination, was over
ruled. The casa will be argued and decided
to-day.
Robert Kristen was the frst witness. He
said liz was travelling from Wisconsin to
Tacoma over the Northern Pacific railroad.
About tive o'clock in the afternoon OF Mon
dsy last Seeley carae and sat alongslde hlna
ana asked where he was from and where he
was gong. On being told soeley remarked
that il was a long ride and SUGGESTED =
Sseley spoke to Lane and Woods, who were
sitting near, and all four sat down
to = game Of euchrs. Woods was
Kirsten's partner. After two or three
hands had been played Seeley n Woods
made a bet. It was on the strength OF thsi!
hands as poker hands. Seeley bet IS and
Woods raised it Ave. Seeley then backed
out. Kristen, as STAKEHOLDER, turned the
money over to Woods. Shortly after this
Seeley said he had another good poker
hand. Seeley's hand was held in such q
position that witness could see no had
three jacks and a pair of eiGhts. kristen,
hilnself, had three aces and q par OF
kings. Seeley bet $40 he had the best
hand. Witness put up $40 on mis- hand
He understood it was q bet between him
self and Seeley as to who had the best
hand. Woods then said hs would BIO in it.
Kiraten objected, but Woods insisted and
tossed a roll of money to Lane, who
was stakeholder. Kirstsn still objected
to Woods coming in, but s'eelev raised tho
pot and got witness to pat up more money,
making him believe he could only lose the
original $40 anyhow. When tho witness
had bet his $105 she hands were showed up
and Woods had four mines. Lane gave the
money to Woods, who won't into another
car. Seeley soon followed him. On G oss-
examination by Attorney Newman, klrsteI
said he had played euchre before but move
poker. He know the strength of his hano
only by seeing those played by Woods ane
secley before. He thought either seeley OF
Woods dealt the poker hands, but was Ger
tain h. did not do it himself. There wa'
another game going on in the car, but wit
ness did not know what it was.
"Seeley did not 'squeaH when Woods VOL
his money! asked Mr.. Newman.
Me- replied Kristen.
Now exclaimed Mr.. Newman, "yol
saw Seeley's hand and knew you had hin
beaten, and yet you wers willing to bet ant
steal his money"
IF this man meant to steal Seeley'
money!" exclaimed Colonel Nolan, that i
nc Justification for Seeley stealing his"
No replied Mr.. Newman, but let's
have fair play
There don't seam to nave been nue.
fnir play i'll tlis gane 30 far" exclaimed
the county attorney.
On further cross-examination kirstel
stated that after he and Seeley began bet
ting, Woods did not put any mole none
into the got. Tne amount in the rol
Woods put in when he claimed the right t
enter the pot on the first bet witness di
not know.
Did you make any kick at the time 20
lost the money!" asked Mr.. Newman.
County Attorney Nolan objected to til
question.
"Aly object is to show hat he did nc
conceive the idea of making a complain
until he We. led to believe he would u
part OF the tine," explained Mr.. Newman.
Judge Sanders allowed the question an
Kristen denied that he WAS prompted b
any such motives.
On redirect examination Col. Nola
esked Kristen if his attention was nc
called by one Of tho others to somethin
across the cur while the poker HANDS wei
being dealt. but witness could not remem
Der shat 1t had.
Albert Eenoit. the next witness, was O
the ca and saw seelev enter into converse
tion with Kristen. After wards saw thel
playing sucnre. Heard come betting an
went to whore the rlaving was going oil
Saw Woods and Seeley betting. Saela
thteW down his hand. When Woods shove
his Seeley remarked: There. | had VIC
beatcn.' Witness went back to his seat b,
shortly after heard them betting again an
went over. Seeley made the fret bet an
Kristen covered it. Woods then thre
down T. roll Of money, bus the boy"
witness called Kristen, said he was u,
betting with anybody but Seeley. Witns
tried to get in position to signal tho be
not to bet any more. Seeley, howove
raised the pot, and told Kristen as be III
plenty of money he had better put itup a,
GET a show for what lie had i'll. Kristen d
clared that he wanted to use what hs ha
hut finally concluded to bet more. VIII
the hands were showed Woo
had four Mines AID Lane han
ed him tho money. Cross-axaminnti
I,~.fy-rl lI,, F,n4 chat Haroit lyr.p, ,.,,