The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-11-24
PRENT|SS DISCHARGED.
The Evidence Was Not Deemed Stuff
cient by Justice Race to Bind
Him Over.
synopsis of the Evidence Given for
and Against the Defendant in
the Justice Court.

cAdulluntlOu Ill llt
case of the state against Henry Prentiss,
Jr.. ex-school trustee, charged with re.
ceivlng a bride from G. II. Walker, con-
tractor of the b IL NJ school house. was
held in Justice Races court yesterday
and occupied nearly the whole day.
The state was represented by County
Attorney Freeman, and the defendant
by attorney Lewis. -Four witnesses tes-
tilted in behalf Of the state and three for
the defence. Tho first witness sworn
was c. i. Walker, the contractor, who
said in substance:
| put in Il bid for the Il ~ NJ school
house. Can't remember just how much
the bid was. Somewhere about a thous
and dollars. Might have been more or
less. Prentiss came to mt after the
school meeting and said that he had got
the contract for me dt more than my
figures because he wanted the building
built in a more solid manner than the
specifications called for in order hat the
building might be moved away at some
future time. The specifications called
for 2xS foundation timbers. ] put in
SKIS mortised timbers. Also No. ] lumber
instead Of No. . as specifications called
for. The contract called for Sl,l2J and
was then the lowest bid. Went to
Prentiss for an estimate of $500 when
the building was nearly completed.
Prentis3 said you owe me SO and !
want a check" Wrote him "a check for
that amount and asked no questions.
Never spoke to Prentiss again about the
matter till a few days before his arrest.
Then PrentIss came to me and SAID that
there was an investigation going to be
made about the schooihouse matter and
he had heard that | had said that | had
given him a bride. He said, you know
that is a id lie. You owed me that
money"
County Attorney Is it not a fact that
he said nothing about your owing him a
bill at that time:
Witness have related the conyersa-
ton as near as ! can remember if. At
the time ! gave the check | did not I'M
derstand 1t to be in payment of a bill,
Cross. examined-Was put out and
angry at Prentiss last spring. Am on
friendlp terms with him now. Do not
remember saying in the presence OF Geo.
Mueller that | gave Prentiss that so
check in payment Of an honest debt.
Did owe Prentiss some money for some
dickering between US prior to the school
house contract. Have a very poor mem
DRY.
Redirect examination-County .Attor-
ney-What vas this dicKering you had
with Prentiss prior to the school con
tract?
Witness ! bought sash. mouldings
and odds and ends of building material
left over from the houses in the addition
from Prentiss, His foreman kept track
Of what ! got. Don't know now how
much it came to.
Il. +. Kelley Wa clerk Of the school
board when this contract was let. Hand
Ell the bids to Henry Prentiss who re-
turned them to me at the meeting at
which the contract vas awarded.
Cross examination Don't remember
what was done with the bids for North
side addition and West side school.
Think Prentiss got them also.
}. u. Tsrhunc-Am clerk Of the board.
Have looked for original bid and con
tract with Walker and cannot lind them
among the papers of the board.
Cross examine ion Did not look for
contract among papers Of fine Board in
bank vault. Did look for bid there amt
did not tiud it.
County Attorney Freeman tu3E the
,,.... .,,,,l ga, 4 -.l,,,.t a.. ..,..y.4t.-
lac mad with Walker several DAYS ago.
lie said that Walker told him that
prcntiss made ne mention Of Walker be
ing indebted to him at the time Of his
conversation with him Just prior 10 ms
arrest. Also that at the time Of the Civ
me- Of the check Prentiss simply sal
give me d check for so and he did It
without question.
This cuCrd the evidence on the part
Of the state, and the court adjourned
suntii : I. M,
| vt the afternoon session Of the court
Geo. Mueller was the first witness eY-
| alniued for the defense, He said that
he overheard part of Il conversation be
tween Prentiss and Walker last Satur
day and heard Walker say that he never
paid Prentiss any money as Il bride and
any on who said SO were ID liars.
This was about all Mueller recalled Of
the conversation.
Henry i'rcntlss. Jr.. the defendant.
was then sworn. lie said in substance
| that he was a member OF the school
board in 1872. tine time the Il. ~ VI.
school house was built; ho never saw
Walkers bid until it was opened at q
meeting Ut the school board, had a ron.
| versatiUn with Walker about Il chang il
the plans and specifications before amy
bids were handed in to the board; never
went to get bids or had anything to ito
with them. the check Walker gave me
was for lumber he received from me
which ne put into an addition to his own
house: he gave me the check IN Tod ~
kelly's office; did not know what had be
come Of the contract or bids; had hunt
ed for them but failed to lind them;
heard rumors that | had received money
from Walker as a bride; called on Walk
er about the matter and he said there
were a great many reports going around