The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-20
MAGGIE'S LITTLE RING
Judge Fox Decides That She Should
Get 1t Back.
BUT GILL SAYS HE LOST 1T
He Was Seeing Maggie Home-They
Took a Long Walk and a Rest
and ohe Tagged rim Out
With Fine Jewels.

Maggie Horsfall should have her dia-
mond ring or SO, the value of It, In cash
with S25 damages for the retention OF the
same by Bert Gail. Such was the decision
of Justice Frank Fox on "Wednesday. The
day was taken up in hearing the argu-
ments of the attorneys and taking testl-
mony. Tho fair plaintiff and her parents
were present with Attorney Sawyer and
the defendant, b. Gil, and few friends,
with Colonel OLeary looking after his in
terests, when the case was called at 10
O'Clock. Colonel OLeary moved to quash
the proceedings because the defendant
was a minor. The mosIou was overruled.
BERTHE then appointed his brother, j. w.
Gill, as his guardian, and the plaInuif
waived the acceptance OF the guardian
ship.
A demurrer to the complaint was filed
put was overruled, and Justice Fox served
notice Oh the lawyers, VINO were making
extended arguments, that they must pro-
coed with the case, or take change of
venue, or lmpaneI jury, Just as they
pleased, right away.
The parties to the action gave the only
testimony that was OF importance. The
plaIuIH told the court that the ring had
been gwen her by friend in Tacoma.
One Sunday evening, about Oct. n, while
the defendant was seeing her homo from
church they took n quiet stroll along
some street, which one she could not re-
member. They walked long way and
after a time became weary and sat down
on hillside TO rest. lie was talking
about lots of things and spoke about what
n pretty ring she had. She let HIM take
the sparkler aud he put il in his pocket.
She did not ask him for II that evening,
but did SO soon after and wrote notes to
Bert demanding that he return the ring
or she would tell her papa.
At this juncture the plaintiffs attorney
produced letter as reply TO the one of
those notes, which he introduced IN evil
dence. olonel O'Leary made strong OBJ
jections unul he read it and then with
drew his objections and the letter was
duly identified and allowed TO so on file.
1t is as follows:
Friend Maggie.
just a few lines in 4 hurry to tell you l have
sworn of going 10 dances and viii not 10 there
tonight. | Ieel very much insulted about you
accusing me OF be ny drunk or fun the night
lost the ring Wed, was never drunk In my
life, and what is more / never took drink IN
my life, and II you would pease drop me a few
lines and let ms know VINO tod you maj, as you
know revenge Is sweet You ask me II | wan ed
take the con,equ nee. Well done care who
you tel and am not afraid OF your papa. the
more you te / the more you will have to say how
foolish you were 10 lei me take H.. BERT.
Mr.. and Mrs. Horsfall, Mlgge's pa
rents, and Constable Mitch Pickel testi-
fled for the plaintiff, and closed that side
of the case.
The defendant, BERTHE GIL, was the only
witness for the defense. he corroborated
the testimony of Maggie so far as the
walk was concerned aud about the little
rest they took. But he sad mat Maggie
gave him the ring because she said her
girl chum had fellow who had more jew
elry than witness had. Aud Maggie said
"she didn't want no other girls beau TO
have moro jewelry than her fellow had.n
SO she gave him her ring and her watch
to wear He said he called on her the next
evening and gave back the watch and Of
fered her the ring, because II was too
small for him to wear on his little finger.
Maggie did not want the ring, he said,
and asked him if no could not wear it
somewhere else. Then he put it on his
neckIe and wore 1t until he lost it one
night at dance.
lie told Maggie he'd lost it, but she said
that was all right, she would tell her folks
that she had lost the ring. But she had
changed her mind, 1t seemed. After hear
ing the arguments by counsel Judge Fox
gave his decision for the plaintiff. A stay
of proceedings was granted for 10 days on
the notice of appeal given by defendant.