The Helena independent., 1893-11-30
THE FREIGHT CAR CASES.
Joseph Keyes, Ex-Conductor, on Trial
in the District Court Charged
With Burglary.
@. r. Smith, the Alleged Leader
Principal Witness on the
Stand Yesterday.
Chos. Jurecns Found not Gui,ty-Ths
BathrieK Jury Fails ts Agree Baudot
Va Band mann ON Trial.

The trial Of Joseph Keysa formerly I
freight conductor on the Montana Central
charged with burglary in connection
with the robbipg Of Montana Contra
freight ears last June. began in judge
Hunts court yesterday. County Attorney
Nolan rep sssnts ths state and Walsh
Newman the defendant Joseph Keyes and
Z. F. Corbin are 10th charged with the
same crime, but they demanded sspsrats
trials. The case attracted qnits large
audience. and among the most observed
was G. +. Smith. the man who lsft Helena
suddenly last September. and was found by
Dstsctivs ki!gors In Houston. Texas.
Elsie Clements was also in attendance, but
she was kept out in the corridor. keyss.
the accused occupied 4 seat at the table
with his counsel, and by his side was Cor,
bin. G. +. Smiths step-fsthsr. who IL al
legged to have been the ringlsadsr Of the
gang that looted cars. After some difi-
Guilty = jury was secured. consisting of N.
CaaEy. j. $. M. Neili. Swcnd Carlson. Jos.
Cans. Geo. May. Gao. w. Shaw. W. b
Hundley, +. H. Fowlss, J. J. Gsbauer. +. j.
Edwards. w. W. Brown and J. II. Boucher.
The firss witness for the state was Sups
W. W. Currisr, of Great Falls, who tcsti-
fed to the movement of trains and the To-
ostion OF a particular freight car on June
lO-11. Jacob Kahnweiller. = Butte mer-
chsnt, testified as to receiving two GASES of
goods June 13. shipped him from Chicago.
Or opening ths cases and comparing the
contents with the invoice he found they
were short q quantity of handkerchiefs,
hose and ladies' vests. Ee identified some
hose and handkerchiefs shown by the
stntes alto rney as similar to those he re.
ssived In the cases that were shot. On
crssa examination the witness said he had
missing mad bseu taken ont OF the eases III
I ansit or whether they had been left out
when the cases were packed.
The next witness for the state WAS @: +.
Smith. His testimony was to the effect
that he had been in the employ Of the
Montana Central railway as freight con-
ductor for some time. That on June 10
last Ksyes came to his room about noon.
and calling him into tho hall told him he
was going to to n a trick; that there was
oar Of merchandise down in the yards. and
he wanted Smith to join the enter prise.
Smith testified that he told Ksyes he
thought il was too risky. and he would
not do 1t. but he would see him later.
Smith went on to say that he met Ksyes
at four O'Clock in the Montana freight
yards and told him be would not go into
the job Smith said that about $50, in
company with Elsie Clements he went
down to the freight yards; that he saw Cor
bin, Douglass and Keyes a. the rear door
Of . freight car; Corbin and Douglass went
in, and Ksyes staid outside; Douglass took
package away from tho ear. which he hid
under the platform. day or two after-
ward Smith said he saw keyes, and the
latter asked him why he he had not come
down.
In the cross-e1amination Smith said he
had worked for the Northern Pacific in
Dakota for three and one-half years and
had left on his own account. He said he
had known Elsie Clements Tor ten OF twelve
years. An attempt to have the witness say
he was . married man, and that hs had
boon living with Elsie Clements. was OBJ
objection sustained. Other question:
looking to Ste impeachment of the cha so
tor OF the witness, and which related to
active participation in the robbery of
freight cars. were put. but the court told
him he need not answer If the reply would
answer. Smith then told of his sudden
departure from Helena Sept. "a. giving his
route as Helena to San Francisco, to Ell
Paso, Texas, TO Now Mexico. back to Ell
Paso, and then to Houston. Texas, where
he met Detective Kilgore and Elsie Glen
ents. He said he came back to Helena
without papers. He knew he was getting
straighten things out. He said he had not
been arrested since his return. that he was
stopping at the Grand Central, and room
ing with Detective Kigore. Elsie Clements
occupying an adjoining room. He said he
had not paid any board yet. but expected
finished court adjourned till 1870 to-mor-
row mornin0