The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-16
SHOES IN ALL STYLES
Raked In By Two Men and One Little
Boy.
1T WAS SLICK BUSINESS
Then There's the Case OF Two
Men Who Are Accused of
RcbbinR a Neighbor of One
Hundred Plunks.

0REAT FALLS, March ia visitor to
Judge Hawkins court room this after
noon would have thought he had wandered
into the department of a shoe exhibit at
the fair, judging by the number of pairs
OF shoes that were scattered over his
honor's desk. Mems, women's, and even
children's footwear, of both cheap and
costly make, were to be seen. The dis
play constitutes but a fraction of the
shoes that William Davis and Joe Devine
are supposed to have stolen during their
career of thieving, which ended the day
before yesterday when they were arrested
and placed behind the bars of the city
Jail, charged with the serious crime of
burglary. They are supposed to have
taken in all Is pairs by aid of a box with
a false bottom which one carried and
manipulated while the other engaged the
attention of the particular merchant with
whom they had previously proposed TO do
business.
So far c. B. Denzel, ]. L. Kenkel, S. F.
Bratney and the proprietor of the Bristol
shoe store report having fallen victims to
the smooth work of the two thieves.
There are a couple of more shoe stores 10
hear from yet. The exhibit of shoes in
the police court was only small part of
the evidence that Detective Germ has
woven around Davis and Devine. There
were sundry witnesses to swear that the
two had tried to sell them shoes at very
low figures.
The accused conducted their own de-
Tense, brushing aside the proffered assist
ance of that class of lawyers who are
always on hand to defend any one who
happens TO get into trouble. After hear
ing the evidence Judge Hawkins held
them TO the district court. The prose-
cutting attorney claims to have evidence
that these same men recently visited the
round house on the west side and endeav-
ored to sell several pairs of trousers to
the railroad men, which, il proved, will 60
to show that they had a penchant for pur-
Joining clothing as well as shoes.
Deputy Sheriff Lochran and Constable
Edam of Sand Coulee came in from the
latter place this afternoon, bringing Gus
tavus Anderson and George Means, who
were locked in the county Jail to await
trial in the district court for grand lar
ceny. They are accused of having entered
tho residence of n man by the name of
Hill and stealing 500. From the evidence
adduced at their preliminary hearing be-
fore Justice Ball of Sand Coulee both
eventually pleaded guilty. 1t appears
they were on spree night before last
and, as neither had worked for some time,
they soon got to the end of their pile.
Then they set about devising means to get
hold of more money. They knew that
Hill drewla pretty good sum in wages last
pay day, SO 1t is claimed they made up
their mind to go to his house early yester-
day morning and rob him while he slept.
Anderson stood outside while Means
went in and deliberately robbed Hill, TAX
ing the money from his pants near his
hn1 laast hat io hata % 81
damaging testimony that the state has
collected against the men. Anderson, it
is said, got $50 for watching while Means
did the work. At any rate both are known
to have suddenly jumped from poverty to
affiuence. They spent their money in a
lavish manner and when arrested were
practically broke. The county attorney
will file information against them to-mor-
row, charging grand larceny.
The case of Patrick Sweeny of Neihart
VS.. the Montana Central Railway COM
pany for $500 for alleged damages,
which was transferred to this court from
White Sulphur Springs on a change of
venue, came up for. trial in the district
court to-day. jury was selected and
the case was getting along nicely, when it
terminated somewhat abruptly, for the
present at least. Three witnesses had test
flied for the plaintiff, when his attorneys,
T. f. Brady of this city, and Judge Nc
Connell of Helena, asked permission 10
amend the complaint. This lead to a
protractod argument. A. j. Shores, attor-
ney for the railroad, holding that if the
plaintiff we're allowed to amend the de-
PENDANT should have 10 days in which to
reply, in which position he was sus aimed
by the court. The upshot of the matter
was, the case was continued for the term. |
Sweeney claims the railroad damaged his |
property in Neihart by diverting the |
waters of Belt creek from their former |
channel in order to construct depot facil- |
tiles. Both sides had an array of wit |
nesses on hand and if the trial had gone |
on it would probably have lasted several |
days.