The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-27
WHY TO BE SURE He DID
A Judge Who Refused To Punish The
Starving.
THEY TOLD A SAD STORY
Men Arrested for Stealing Coal
Which They and Their suffer
ing Families Need To Keep
From Freezing.
THEY TOLD A SAD STORY

GREAT FALLS. Jan. 2j.-Charles Brandt
and Charles Smith told pitiable story Of
poverty and suffering from the cold when
arraigned in Judge Hawkins court yestcr-
day charged with stealing coal. Sergeant
shea had arrested them tho previous
evening as they were in tho act OF trans
fcrriag some of thc Sand Coulco product
from n loaded car into a gunny sack. One
was standing on top of the load aud was
deliberately tossing large chunks of nut
coal to his Partner VINO stood beside the
car holding n guuny sack, which was
nearly full when the officer appeared on
the scene.
When arraigned i'm court next morning
they admitted the theft. but claimed that
they were led TO break one of the COM
mandmdn:s through poverty and Inabil-
ity TO longer withstand the biting cold.
Detective Germ was sent out to investi-
gate their case. Ilo soon returned and
reported TO the court that the mems fami-
lies were indeed i'm destitute circun-
stances and we're suffering from all the
ills of poverty, including sickness, ono OF
the members being danger ousIy i'll.
The Judge sail that under the circum-
stances justice should be tempered with
mercy, therefore he would fine them SO
and costs and suspend sentence peuding
good behavior. Hc warned them against
repeating the oilcnsc, giving them to
understand that he would not be so leni-
cnt next time. The unfortunates were
profuse with thanks and lett the court
room with promises on their lips to sin no
more.
Only few days ago the police caught
some women in the act of stealing coal
from some cars which were sidc-trackcd
near the freight depot. The sight of the
officers scared the women SO badly that
one of them fell down IN n faint. Tuoy.
too, had tale of woo to re ate. They
we're allowed to go home on condition
that whenever they again wanted coal
they would make application TO the proper
county authorities.
William Heiiernana of Havrc has been
taken TO Benton by Marshal Pcpn and
placed in st. Claire hospital TO receive
treatment for mental complications. His
case is not considered incurable.
The A. q. L. w. lodge at Neihart is
making arrangements To fittingly observe
Washington's birthday with a grand ball
1t will also be in the nature OF farewell
TO Allan PIerse, highly esteemed citizen
of Neihart, who on the first of March will
move to White Sulphur Springs to assume
the Office of county treasurer of Meagher
county, TO which he was elected last
November. Committees have been APP
pointed TO look after the decorations, IN
vitations, etc, and the indications
prophesy very successful affair
The First National bank of White Sui
phur Springs, at its recent annual meet
ing, elected the following officers: John
Potter, president; William Gaddis, vice
pres dent; James L. Wood. cashier; w,
T. Ford, +. NJ. Edwards, L. G.. league,
Nathan Godfrey, William Lupplod, Mar
tin Il. Grande, William Gaddis, w. L.
Jenkins. John Potter, Ii. II. Barnes and
James Il. Wood were elected a board of
directors.
Editor Abbott of tho Neihart Herald,
while out driving with friend few days
ago, was considerably shaken up by the
cutter overturning just below Neihart.
Both were thrown to the ground with con-
siderable force but luckily no bones wcro
broken.
Edwin Krog, who has been confined in
the county Jail several weeks awaiting
trial for embczzlcmcnt, has been released
on 800 bail. lis case comes up at the
next term OF the district court.
The force of carpenters and painters
who have been busy for several weeks re-
pairing tho damage TO the power house of
the electric light company from the recent
fire, finished their labors yesterday.