The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-01-12
YOUNG MOOTS' CASE
The Prosecution Accepts a Plea Of
Guilty Of AlnslauShter.
SCARED HALF TO DEATH
The Verdict In Jones' Case Terri
fled the Young Fellow Out OF
His Wits-Jones safely
Guarded.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.


HELENA, Jan. 1.-THE trial OF James
Moots, the boy who was with the gang Of
train robbers when they were rounded up
on the Blackfoot reservation. and whose
testimony served 10 convict Charles Jones
Of the murder OF Henry Schubert, was al
lowed to plead guilty Of manslaughter in
tho United States court to-day for the part
he took in the affair at Midvale. The case
was called this morning. District Attor-
ney Weed told the attorneys for tho de-
Tense that the government would allow
Moots TO plead guilty TO q lesser crime
than that OF murder in the fret degree as
sol and Barrows, who represented Moots.
thought il would be best to 20 to trial and
take chances, though their client was
thoroughly frightened at the result In the
Jones case and was willing to plead
guilty to manslauahier.
The selection Of o jury was then pro-
cecded with, but the panel was exhausted
and a special venire was ordered, when
the time came for the noon recess. At
that time there were II jurors In tho box.
OF those called six had scruples against
capital punishment and quite number
had formed opinions. On the way back
TO Jail Moots told Marsha lFuray he wanted
to plead guilty and would do SO at the aft
crnoon session OF court. The matter was
arranged during the recess and when
court reconvened District Attorney Weed
said: Before the jury is called think
il will be proper at this time to make
statement to the court with reference to
the cause on trial which may do away
with the necessity for further proceedings.
/ make this statement at the request OF
the defendant, acquiesced In by his coun-
sci. Since the beginning OF this case and
since the noon recess. the defendant
by request OF the United Marshal came to
me and stated that he desired, IL the
government was willing to accept such a
plea to enter o plea OF guilty under this
indictment to the crime Of manslaughter
and inquired as TO what the punishment
for that crime would be. Istated to him
that il woull H., as the law provides,
from onc 10 ten years and told him that,
unaer the circumstances OF this case, and
OWN. to the fact that lie has testified to
what believe to be the truth In relation
TO tho trial of another defendant, the
government was willing to accept this
plea, and Furthermore would request the
court to be lenient in imposing the sen.
tence.. The plea, then believe Of the de.
fendant may be entered, your honor.
make this statement at his request, TO tho
effect that the defendant is guilty OF man.
slaughter and that will do away with the
further necessity. as understand it, of
proceeding with this trial. With tho per-
mission Of the court the government Is
willing to accept that plea
Judge Knowles directed Moots 10 stand
up. us that your plea 2" he asked.
"Yes, sir;" replied Moots, family. At
torney Russel told the court that he con.
sented to the plea. The court said It con.
seuted. Judge Knowles said he would
take into consideration any extenuatinx
circumstances in imposing a sentence.
Attorney Russell asked that sentence be
passed as soon as possible and the judge
said he would do so in tho morning.
Moois is only about 1s years of age. He
says he had been working for various peo-
ple around the reservation before he fell
in with tho train robbers. He says he was
never in any trouble before of serious
nature.
This morning Judge Knowles told the
counsel for Charles Jones that he would
allow them all the Hme they wanted Is
move for new trial ID set aside the yer.
dict of murder found by the jury last
night. Jones when taken back to the Jail
las, night was obliged TO take of all his
clothes, including his underwear, and put
on an entirely new outfit. He was then
put into a cell away from the one where
he had been confined and every prccau.
ton was taken to prevent anything being
left near him that might furnish
him means of escape or of taking his own
life. His counsel has not yet signified its
intentions In the matter, though IL is be.
lieved II will rely on a new trial, particu'
larly on the jury's disregard for the in.
struc,ions Of the court on the matter oi
the difference between the name VI the
murdered man and the ono used in the