Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-07-26
THF LAW IS NOW V|ND|CA7I
Charles and Frank Whitaker WI
Defied the Authority Of Judge
Lees Court
And "I.aid the Court on Its Back
Are Bound Over to the Dis.
trict Court.

The case OF Charles Whitaker ap
Frank Whitaker of Monarch, charge
with resisting and obstructing an ohis
in the discharge of his duty, was yes,sI
day tried before Judge Race. Count
Attorney Freeman appeared for ID
prosecution and j. W. Stanton for tt
defense. No evidence was put in by Il.
defense as they practically admitted ii
correctness of the story told by ii
states witnesses.
The facts as related by Judge Leeo
Kibbey, one Of the witnesses for ID
state, are as follows:
Frank Whitaker shot dog beorgird
to a man named Stone, living at Kibbg
and to settle the damages gave Stone
COW and calf. On more mature dela
GRAFTON he repented of this bargain al
offered Stone s. as the value of the d
nine, demanding back the COW ard call
This proposition was treated with scn
by Stone, who refused to exchange. Tta
Whitaker and his wife went to the StM
residence in the absence of Mr. Std
and drove the animals in dispute ava
Notwithstanding the opposition Of Nd
Stone, who backed up her objectid
with a Winchester. On the return
Mr.. Stone he sought advice from
local justice of the peace, w. G. Lee, a
was advised that he had legal right
the property and that its forclble reno
al was grand larceny. On tho conpla1
of Stone warrant was issued for d
arrest Of Frank Whitaker and bis Vi
and 1t was given to William LarEil |
serve. That oilicer went to the Whi>
taker ranch. End while he did not brin !
back the prisoners, they agreed To COO
in the next day to Judge Lees by tha
own conveyance,
Next day young Whitaker and d
father appeared at Judge Lee "a
dcnce Charles Whitaker told the yudIo
that the property alleged to have bed
stolen was his property and that lie ~
H bill Of sale fer it. The court repAa1
that ali the facrs would be reacue1i
due order aud asked If lie appeared 4
his sons attorney, which he said he u
He was asked to enter ID plea TO ~
complaint and pleaded not guilty Iyr 4
son and his daughter-in law, who VI
not present.
At this point judicial procedure al
a i the known laws of practice seem
have come TO sudden termiualo1
Whitaker OF iected TO the trial proCaai
ing any further, declaring thaJ
courts authority was ali id !uo.H1
ness and expressing the wish that
honor would 60 to d place for WulGh 4
round trip tickets are proCurahle. n
court viudicated its dignity by tiuia9hI
obstroperous pleader SO for coattmPt1
court, but instead OF respecting III
order he set the court at defiance a1
called on his son 10 ioave. The Goa1
seized the prisoner and in hia N
graphic Language "the court and pUsod1
chased each other up and down the ted
plo of justice tn The court wac inaNl
laid on its back and law and justice ls1
low Then the prisoner and his attaI1d
skipped for homo. Special tan]
Larkin was hastily sent in pursuit oi'1
vandals and he intercepted them, butt
he had no cartridges for his gun and q
desperate men advised him to get out
their road or they would run over bl1
he gave up the enterprise. :,
After listening 10 this story jug
Race concluded that it was fully IN
that the residents Of the tumutou5 p1
cinct OF Kibbey were taught to laspa
the law, and he accordingly bound th9
over to answer for their actions at y
next term of the district court %
beng fixed in the sum Of 500 each