The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-06
SKODA Is A RASCAL
His Wife Gave Evidence 10 That Effect,
at ANY Rate.
1T is a PITlFUL STORY
Accused of Being Insane, She Was
Beaten. Abused and Sent to
an Asylum While Her Baby
Was Taken Away.
1T is a PITlFUL STORY

Special Correspondence OF the Standard.
LIVINGSTON, March A long tale OF
domestic infelicity was related in the dis
trict court room in this city to-day by
Cokedale parties. Antoine Skoda, Boz
hemian coal miner. had his wife arrested
on a charge of insanity. The case was tried
by George L. Chambers chairman of the
board of county commissioners, and
jury composed of DIR. w. l.. Shawk, Myron
Goughnour and John Harvey. The evil
dence developed the fact that Mrs. Skoda
was sent to the asylum from this comfy
six years ago, but was only kept in the
mad house nine months. Tho hus-
band testified that the family con-
sisted Of five small children and three
grown.up sons and daughters, the latter
belonging to Mrs. Skoda by a former hus-
banp He said his wife was so crazy that
he was afraid to live with her, that she
used obscene and profane language IN the
presence of the little children, Drained
him with tho furniture, fired dishes at
him, charged him with beng unfaithful
and of squauderng his earnings on lewd
women, and that she often threatened 10
kill HIM.
Before tho examination closed IL be-
came patent that the woman was fully as
sane as her husband, and that the whole
affair was nothing but "A family quarrel,
which had assumed such proportions as
to cause Mrs. Skoda's l7-year-old daugh-
ter to leave home and seek employment
as domestic in the family of Isadore
Roth Of this city.
The young lady was summoned before
the tribunal, took seat 10y the side of
her mother and burst into tears. As soon
as she recovered from her fit of weeping
she took tho stand and related a story
that put her mother IN a much more fa-
vorablc light than her step-father.
Mrs. Skoda then testified in her own be-
half and told tale of inhuman treatment
that she had received at tho hands of her
husband. She said that when she was in
the asylum before, her infant baby had
been given away by her husband, but
upon her return she secured the
child, and this seemed to make
her husband mad. In broken English
and In a perfectly rational manner, she
told how her husband had pounded her
until she was black and blue and how he
had endeavored TO compel her TO give HIM
what little money she received from her
two grown sons, whom she boarded for n
consideration. Continuing she related
the following story of cruelty:
ale calls me crazy and never gives me
a cent of money, and l have to work hard
all the time. lie tells the children bad
stories and wanted my daughter TO split
wood. He doesn't like the baby no gave
away, but like it and want to keep it.
When my last child was born he told me
to get up aud go; that he had another and
younger woman whom he liked better
than me. lie calls me crazy all the time
and says l was in the asylum once. When
A. Il. IN ~
it makes them mad To be talked TO like
that"
Ii was a pathetic recital and carried
conviction to everybody in the court room,
despite the repeated denials of her hus-
band.
The jury was out about one minute and
brought in verdict declaring the charge
of insanity not sustained, Ii is stated
here that Skoda secured his wifc's in-
generation before on trumped up
charge.
The board of county commissioners
met IN regular quarterly session in this
city Monday. Most of the day was de-
voted TO checking up the accounts of tho
various county officials, which wero found
correct. A rigid examination of the re-
tIrIng county treasurer's books was made
and everything was found O. IL. This
official then turned the Office over TO ms
successor, L. ;. Holiday. The transfer
was made without any rcdtape business
the retiring official SIMPLY giving way
in an informal manner 10 his fortunate
successor. Il. ". DYER, the retiring treas
urer, has given universal satisfaction and
his incumbcncy OF the Office was marked
BY honesty. accuracy and uniform court
esy 10 all. lie made a faithful and oblig