The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-08-08
ONE MORE NIGHT IN BED.
The Jury in tho School House Case
Can Separate Again This
Evening.
-
After That They Must Stay In
Session Until They Arc
Through.
Hlstory Of q $4,000 Bui.dins which May
Cest Twice ~ Much and Caused
the o0it.

The Jury In the high school cass have
mot yst agreed and the indications are that
they are In for a rather long siege. Ysster.
day they asked Judge Hunt to modify bis
order in regard 10 keeping than together
after they moe to-day until they shall have
agreed. The Judge modified IL to tho Ok.
tent that the jury will be allowed to sepa-
rate At niue o'clock Tonight. but hereafter
whom thsy meet they must remain in ron
sinuous session until they agrs,. Tho mem
hers Of the jury also obtainel permission Of
the court to Wait the school house LuildinR
yesterday. They won't to the high school
Ia charge OF the ba.liff and spent an hour
about the building. Then they went into
session again in tho United Stntes court
room and remained there until the time for
adjournment at nine O'clock last night.
No case that has been tried in tho dis
tfiot court for Lewis and Clarke county has
ever strung ont over such a length of time,
and few have ever cxcslled IL in the amount
Of expense incurred outside tho lswya:s'
fees. The AftI-thi d day has been reached
and though all other expenses except the
pay of ting jurors have ceased that il still
tventy.four hours. Counting the witnesses
and court costs the cass has involved an ex-
peuse Of $50 a day, making the total al
ready over $2.600. This docs not include
the pay OF the lawyers. AZ this stage a
history of the events leading mp to the
In August. 1890. the then school board,
W. H. Guthric, Il. H. Howey and &. G. Gill
patrick. decided to put un q high school
building. They had $1,000 to spend fo'
chat purpose and calculated to put ny a
bu.!dinR and put IN q heating plant within
was SIS. 600 which vas considered
TOO high. All the bids wsro rejected.
Among the bidders were J. ID. Grant ana
=. F. Whalen. They were afterwards told
that II they reduced their BID they would
did 90 and bid $40. 12b. exclusive Of furnish
ing the stone. The contract Tor furnishing
the rock and cut stone was awarded to Will
lam Harrison Tor $40. 000. Then the build-
ing WAS stated. In less than Ave days II
was found that the architect had made a
that in order to get one that would sustain
The weight of the building il would be nee
essary 10 go deeper. There was m extra
expense OF $b.1 before the building
reached the sut face of tho cath. II was
further decided to use cement in the NOR
the jury find that tho contractors are
entitled TO IL. Soon aftsrward II was
deoided to change tho roof Of the building to
truss roof at an additional cost OF $lO, 500.
The covering Of the toof was changed from
shingles 10 slate At an added cost Of $1,000
and the fat part of the roof was change
from tar and gravel TO tin. This cost an
other $500. Tn cornics was changed from
galvanized iron TO copper-anothsr extra
expense OF 1852. Tho steam heating
plant was changed at additional expense.
The interior stairway was also changed,
for which the contractors claim Is. 600
Added 10 these changes enumerated were
about fifteen or sixteen others for which
extra charges are made. The largest item
of extras claimed is for alleged change Of
the character Of tho walls from ,rubble to
rag rustic. Fo- this over ST., 900 10 asked,
Since the building was begun the school
board paid to Harrison for stone $33, 600. Il
the contractors for extras and or sstimatsl
under the contract. $751; 900; and after thsJ
took possession they spent in
completing the building 414, 800. Thu
plumbing and steam heating cost severa
thousand dollars. The contractors nov
ask for extras and on account of the reRu'
lar contract about $67. 600.
Thus the building which was ~oriainall,
intended to cost $75. 600. the limit the boars
was at liberty to expend, will. II the con-
tractors got all they ask TO-, cost abou
2l6O. 600.