Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-12-27
N ACQUITTED
The Philbrook Negro Saved by the Testimony
of Bank Cashiers.
Helena Independent.1

| Helena independently
The testimony Of two bank officers has
saved George H. Bundy. a colored man,
from going to the penitentiary for sending
an obscene letter through the mails. Bundy
WAS put on trial yesterday morning in the
United States court. The charge against
him was that he had written a letter to a
man named Edwards at Philbrook, Fer
gus county, the contents OF which letter
were SO filthy that the district attorney, at
the preliminary hearing at Billings, de-
clined to read it to the commissioner.
Tn postoffice inspector who worked up
the case, C. l.. WaylanG, had to perform
that disagreeable duty.
1t WAS claimed that Bundy, who lives
near Philbrook, had some words with
Edwards about a singing class. in which
the latter made some disageeable references
to "niggers." Bundy, it was charged, then
wrote the letter which caused all the sub
sequent trouble, put a stamp on it and
dropped it into the postoffice. When
arrested he signed a statement to the
effect hat he was the author of the letter.
That statement, taken in connection with
the testimony produced by the defense,
makes the case a peculiar one.
The main witnesses for the defense, out
side OF those as to good character, were
Ex-Mayor 7. H. Kleinschmidt, former
cashier OF the First National bank, and
Albert Smith, cashier of the Montana
National. Ex- Mayor Kleinschmidt was
shown the scurrilous letter and also the
others which Bundy had written to Frank
Reece. Of this city. in regard to proving up
on some land. The offensive letter. Mr..
Kleinschmidt said, was not in the same
handwriting as the two Others. The wit
ness was asked what he would say il a
man should declare he had written all
three letters. 81 would not believe him.
replied the cashier.
Cashier Smith was also positive that the
| offensive letter was not written by the
man who wrote the others. The person
who wrote the letters in regard to the land
Had he attempted to disguise his hand in
writing the scurrilous letter he would have
shower worse p~enmanship. Instead 81
that the penmanshid OF the letter in ques
was better thai that of the others.
Bundy himself was put on the stand.
His attorney, s. A. Ballet, asked him
about some feeling of hostility between
him and other people around Philbrook,
including Edwards. The idea was to show
that propositions had been madeto Bundy
to go to stealing horses, and that or
account OF his refusal to do so, some one
had written the letter and fastened tbs
blame on him. Judge Knowles, however
would not permit the testimony to go to
the jury. Then Bundy proceeded to rat
tie along in his own defense, saying he had
written a letter to Edwards after the
quarrel, but it was not the letter produced
on the trial. In the letter which he die
write he told Edwards he didn't want
anything to do with you cattle thieves
and more that he did not remember, but
not such stuff as was in the scurriloui
letter. If I'D written that letter it'll b.
for telling the truth" Bundy was goini
ahead at a very rapid rate when Judg'
Knowles checked him.
You'd better STOP" exclaimed his honor
"or you'll convict yourself"
The case WAS submitted without argu
ment, and the jury, after a short consulta
tion, brought in a verdict OF not guilty.
Edwards has skipped the country, re
turning to England it is understood. TIL
Helena court, not knowing that Edward
had gone sent a marshal to Fergus count.
for him, and J. E. edwards of Grass Rang
being the only man who could be foun,
bearing that name, was taken to Helena
1t proved a pleasant trip for the genia
cowboy, but his testimony was somewha
irrelevant.