The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-27
ONE YEAR At DEER LODGE
Judge Hunt Imposes the Lightest
Penalty on Account Of Their
Youth.
A Notorious Character Well
Known to the Police Found
Guilty.
An Example Made of Bob Austin, = Hab-
tive of the Bucket of Blood
Fl saloon.

The two boys, Belts and Clark, who were
convicted in the district court of burglary
in tho daytime, received their sentences
yesterday at the opening Of court. Judge
Hunt told them that because of their youth
he would impose the lightest penalty known
to the law, and he furthermore statsd to
Clark that if he behaved himself in the pen
itentiary and secured a recon- naenaatlon of
pood conduct from the officers of the
prison, after he had bern there six or
eight months, hs thought it would be
proper to make an application to tho board
Of pardons for c%lenlency. and that he. az
Judge, would be glad to join in the applica-
tion if q satisfactory showing can be made
TO him that the boy is reformed and may
become q good man. They we're each SEN
fenced to one year in the Deer Lodge
prison. Belts and Clark were convicted of
stealing two watches from q Main street
pswnbroker.
The Jury in the case of the state VI. Bob
Austin found the defendants guilty OF petit
larceny. Austin was told to stand up. he
arose to his feet with . toothpick IN his
mouth, which he hAs prominently displayed
throughout the whole trial; the judge told
him to sake the toothpick out of his mouth.
Austin did 80, whereupon the judge said,
This is the second time within
the past few years that yon have
been before the bar of this court
charged with crime. The jury have found
YOU guilty Of petit larceny. They evidently
believed that you stoleethe prosecuting wit
ness money, but they were not satisfied
that you stole more than fifty dollars Of il.
There may have been a reasonable doubt as
to the amount you actually got; but, on thu
other hand. If the jury had found you
guilty Of grand larceny the verdict could
never ha 70 been disturbed nnasr the evil
dencs. / believe that yon got the
money, I believe the prosecuting witness
told the truth when he said you knocked
his hand while it was resting over the bar.
md l did not believe you when you said you
did not; ! believed, and SO did the Jury evil
IDENTIFY, the statement of the prosecuting
witness that you grabbed his money when
it fell upon the floor; and the jury did not
believe you, nor did !, when you said you
did not. Some one must be made AN exam
Pile of when found guilty OF the many
crimes that seem to emanase from the
notorious Bucket Of Blood saloon in this
CITY in order that there may be more
security for persons and property who are
in that vicinity. The sentence of the court
is that YOU be confined in the county iail
for the period Of three months from to-day;
that you pay q line OF one hundred dollars,
and stand committed until the fine and
costs are paid.
Johnson's case was then called. johnson
was Jointly Indicted with Bob Austin for
grand larceny. The county attorney stated
to the court that there was no evidence to
actually implicate johnson in the theft of
the money, and that the evidence in the
Austin case was the same that would be
relied on in the Johnson case. Being sat
listed, after reviewing the evidence in the
Austin case. that johnson could NOS be
convicted he moved the court for leave to
enter q nolle proseqni. The court stated
that there was not enough evidence to con-
yict johnson, and that unless the state had
more the defendants motion to this court
to airect a verdict Of not guilty would have
to be granted. Such being the case it
would be unwise to incure the expense of
another trial, which would simply consume
tim and result in the discharge of the
defendant.
The judge then turned to Johnson and
told him that there being no sufficient
evidence to warrant his being tried, tho
county attorney had entered a nolle pros.
But, l advise you" said the judge, sin the
future when you see a man being robbed
to go to his assistance and aid him, rather
than those who are trying to rob him."
johnson was thereupon discharged. Aus
tin robbed a Frenchman in the saloon on
Clore street.