The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-05-23
A SHOCKING STORY
Young Mortimer Tells How Flem'
ing Was Murdered.
FIELD IS BLAMED FOR IT
The State Making . Strong Case Against
the Accused-Fieid's Attorneys Try
ing to Prove an Alibi.

LIVINGSTON, Mont, May l9.-The in
terest taken in the trial of Robert
Field, charged with the murder OF
Robert 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
after the seats were filed in order to
keep the aisles from being blocked.
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, i've miles
from town, in company with Field.
Prior to April Il, 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 a club and Field had Win
chester. We waited by the roadside
for Fleming, and he came along few
minutes later. We thought he saw
us, 80 we put off the job. We secured
our horses and went back to Young's
ranch.
1--WE then planned to rob Fleming en-
the night of April 30, and came to town
for this purpose. I got here in the
afternoon and Field arrived at $40
O'Clock. When left the ranch for town
l had a As Colts with me and all the
chambers were loaded. Field stole two
of the cartridges frcm Guy foung's
valise, and Davenport, who was stop
ping at the ranch, gave Field two more
1 had two keys to F'leming's cabin door;
I stole one of them from Davenport and
Field took the other one away from
Davenport by force.
ION the evening of the shooting
met Field about o'clock in my mothers
barn and gave him the gun. We then
went to Fleming's cabin, close BY
Fleming and William Guy were there.
We all came down town together about
Z 80 o'clock p. m. and separated. Field
went to the house and went to Flem-
ing's cabin to see if my keys would open
the door. They would not fit, so I broke
the lock and went in. then fixed the
lock so that Fleming would not suspect
anything when he came. I then went
to my mother house, where Field was
He asked me If the key worked and
told him everything was all right.
s'To divert suspicion Field said in the
presence of my sister that he was going
to Stumbo's house, close by. He started
out and came down town, it being un-
derstood that he should go to the cabin.
I saw Fleming down town and asked
him If it was not time for him to be in
bed. He replied that he was going
pretty soon.
81 then started for the cabin and
knocked on the door. Field let me in
l took stool behind the door with
double. bitted axe and Field stood on the
bed with the gun in his hand. We
waited for Fleming to come home. He
arrived in about 10 minutes and opened
the door, stepped inside and exclaimed:
what the devil are you doing here9'
81 jumped up and struck him over
the head with an axe. He threw up
his hands and the blow did not lay him
ont. He started to run and Field shot
him, firing five shots in rapid success
sion.
"We then ran to my mothers barn
and got horse. Field got on behind
me and we rode to within 25 YARDS of
Stumbo's house. Field jumped of and
went in. then thought Fleming had
recognized me and tcld Field l was
going to make tracks for Young's
| ranch. He said he dill not think so,
that he was sure that he was not re.
| cognized. He said he would wait
around and see and would join me at
the ranch in about an hour. went mp
to the ranch and rode rapidly. tied
nv horse in clump of trees and lay
down in an old well house and waited
for Field. He came in about an hour,
and heard him whistle and went to
meet him. He told me that there was
no danger, that Fleming did not know
who hit him.
81 got on my horse and We started
back for town. On the way Field
cached the gun under rock near Car.
loy's bridge, four miles from town. He
told me posse had been organized to
hunt for the murderer and he had been
sent up the Yellowstone. When we got
to town We reported to the officers.
Then we went to Flemipg's cabin; he
was on the bed and the doctor was
there. Field went inside and stayed
awhile. Then we went to my mothers
house and went to bed. The next day
Field hung around the cabin. He told