The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-05-24
A SHOCKING STORY
Young Mortimer Tells How Elem
ing Was Murdered.
FIELD IS BLAMED FOR 1T
The State Making Strong Case Against
the Accused-Field's Attorneys Try
Ing to Prove IN Abb.

LlNlN0STON, mont, may lo.-lnt III
terest taken in the trial of Robert
Field, charged with the murder of
R,bert Fleming, during the past week
has been intense. The courthouse was
Inadequate to accommodate the crowds,
and the court found it necessary TO IS
sue an order that the doors be closed
keep the aisles from being blocked.
Tie jury, after being out few on e,
returned the following verdict,
"We, the jury, find the defendant
guilty of murder in the first degree In
the manner and form as charged in the
Indictment
The only direct evidence introduced
connecting the defendant with the muir
der was the testimony Of William Nor
timer, the 1S-year-old lad who is under
arrest as an accessory, and who turned
states evidence.
Mortimer was put on the stand and
testified substantially as follows
THE past two months I have been
stopping on Young's ranch, five miles
from town, in company with Field
Prior to April ID, six days before the
killing, Field and formed plans to rob
Fleming at his island cabin. We were
to knock him in the head with club.
We prepared masks out of gunny sacks
and went to the island about 10 O'Clock
p. m, but Fleming was not in his cabin
I secured club and Field had a Win
chester. We waited by the roadside
for Fleming, and he came along few
us, so we put off the job. We secured
our horses and went back to Young's
ranch.
"We then planned TO rob Fleming on
the night of April 20, and came to town
for this purpose. I got here in the
afternoon and Field arrived at $3.50
O'clock. When l left the ranch for town
had As Colts with me and all the
chambers were loaded. Field stole two
of the cartridges from Guy Young's
vallse, and Davenport, who was stop
ping at the ranch, gave Field two mere
I had two keys to Fleming's cabin door
| stole one of them from Davenport and
Field took the other one away from
Davenport by force.
son the evening of the shooting
met Field about o'clock in my mothers
barn and gave him the gun. We ther
went to Fleming's cabin, close by
Fleming and William Guy were there
We all came down town together about
1880 o'clock p. m. and separated. Fielt
went to the house and / went to Elem
ing's cabin to see if my keys would oper
the door. They would not fit, so | brok,
the lock and went in. / then fixed tn,
lock so that Fleming would not suspec
anything when he came. l then wen
to my mother house, where Field was
He asked me if the key worked and
told him everything was all right.
"To divert suspicion Field said in thu
presence of my sister that he was goini
to Stumbo's house, close by. He starte,
out and came down town, it being IN
derstood that he should 60 to the cabin
I saw Fleming down town and aske
him If it was not time for him to be i
bed. He replied that he was goin
pretty soon.
"I then started for the cabin an
knocked on the door. Field let me il
I took a stool behind the door with
double bitted axe and Field stood on tn
bed with the gun in his hand w
waited for Fleming to come home. II
arrived in about 10 minutes and opene
the door, stepped inside and exclaimed
What the devil are you doing herea'
81 jumped up and struck him owe
the head with an axe. He threw u
his hands ard the blow did not lay hi
ont. He started to run and Field she
him, firing five shots in rapid succe
sion.
1--WE then ran to my mothers ban
and got horse. Field got on behir
, Stumbo's house. Field jumped off al
. went in. I then thought Fleming b;
, recognized me and tcld Field l W
f going to make. tracks for Young
n ranch He said he dill not think S
5 that he was sure that he was not !
D. cognized. He said he would WI
[ around and see and would join me
q the ranch in about an hour. ] went
e 10 the ranch and rode rapidly. l II
r my horse in a clump of trees and !
/. down In an old we'll house and wait
for Field. He came in about an hol
and / heard him whistle and went
meet him. He told me that there "
e no danger, that Fleming did not KIN
II who hit him.
d 81 got on my horse and we start
p back for town. On the way FIJI
"a cached the gun under a rock near c
$. loy's bridge, four miles from town.
ell told me posse had been organized
hunt for the murderer and he had be-
sent up the Yellowstone. When we
to town we reported to the ONCE
O. Then we went to Fleming's cabin
a was on the bed and the doctor '
In there. Field went inside and sta,
awhile. Then we went to my moth,