The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-14
HORSE FLESH SOLD
Wilsey Found Guilty and Sentence
Fixed at One Year.
CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE
At Any Rate a Butcher Fought the
Meat and Paid for IL Before He
Discovered the Deceit
Court Notes.

Great Falls, March 1S-Much interest
was manifested to-day in the trial of
F. G. wilsey of Arlington on the
charge of obtaining money under false
pretenses from the Great Falls Meat
company on Dec. 5, 1895. The case
grew out of the sale by the defendant
of 1,544 pounds of horse flesh to the
meat company, the state trying to
prove that Wilsey represented the meat
to be beef from 2 and 3-year-old steers
and heifers, while the defense put up
was a denial of any such representa-
ton. County Attorney Freeman was
assisted by w. G. Downing. I. e.
Brady appeared for the defendant. An
interesting feature of the case was the
intermittant exchange of repartee be-
tween counsel and the nearly constant
stream of objections which followed
many of the questions.
II. b. Brown, one of the partners in
the Great Falls Meat company, test-
fled that of Dec. Wilsey came to him
and asked him If he would buy a load
of ribs and loins He said he would
and sent his cutter to see and make
a bargain for it. When the meat was
brought up to the shop II was unloaded,
weighed and a check for 1924 given
Wilsey. Witness asked defendant If
the meat was all straight beef and he
replied that it was all from and g.
year-old steers and heifers. Witness
was busy at the time and made no
examination of the meat, but after the
transaction he noticed a difference, and
upon further investigation by veter-
mary found the flesh to be horse flesh.
Mr.. Brown Immediately started for
Arlington, where he found Wilsey,
who did not deny that the meat was
horse flesh md beef hIlf who refused
to return any of the money, as he said
he had spent 1t and could not borrow
any.
On cross-examination, witness said
that he had no feeling in the matter,
although he had employed Mr.. Down.
ing to assist the prosecution. He also
said that not an ounce of horse meat
was sold from his shop. He did not
know that hides must be shown when
beef is bought of any one but the
wholesale butchers. Mr.. Like said that
when he went with Wilsey to look at
the meat he found some that looked
like bull meat, but Wilsey affirmed that
it was straight beef and insisted that
the defendant used the word beef. He
unloaded the wagon, carried the meat
in and weighed it and detected nothing
wrong. Had had no experience with
horse meat.
Herman Afflebach said that wilsey
offered the meat to him, but as he had
experience with horse flesh in Germany
he Immediately detected what the meat
was and declined to do business with
him.
DR.. B. Wood, veterinarian, said he
was called on the evening of Dec to
examine meat at the Great Falls Meat
market and found 1T to be horse flesh
Deputy Sheriff c. c. Proctor, who ar
rested Wilsey, said that the defendant
told him that he had bought 40 head of
young horses and had killed some of
them and also pointed out to witness
where he kept the flesh at his ranch.
Mark Skinner, teller of the First Ma
tional bank, said that he received no.
tice to stop payment on the check on
the evening of Dec. 5, but the check
was afterwards paid At this point the
state rested it's case.
Mr. Brady, in opening, said the state
had failed to prove that the check had
any value when it was given Wilsey,
or that there had been any misrepre-
sentation in selling the meat, which
was of a character to show on its face
what 1t was. No one was asked to pur-
chase until an inspection had been
made.
The defendant, upon taking the stand.
denied he had at any time said that the
flesh was beef and when asked had re-
piled, You can see for yourself" When
Brown said he would buy the load, de-
PENDANT said: Il would rather you
would look at IL before / bring IL up."
A. j. Viot of Arlington confessed he
had an interest in the deal with Wilsey
and came to town with him the day of
the sale. He heard Wilsey say to Like:
1T is not COW meat; look for YOUR
self" On cross-examination, he said he
had previously been in the dried horse
meat business, shipping it from Mon
tana to St. Paul.
After argument by counsel the case
was given to the jury at o'clock and
an hour later the jury returned a YER
dict of guilty as charged, and placed
the term of Imprisonment in the peni-
tertiary at one year.
Judge Benton deferred passing sem
tence on Steve Leyden until Monday
The attorneys for Leyden have filed a
motion for a new trial on statutory
grounds.
In the suit of the Cascade bank VS..
school district No. 1 of Teton county
for s52S.10 judgment was rendered to-
day for the plaintiff by default.
A complaint for divorce was filed to-
day by Flora McClarey VS.. George Nc
Clarey on the grounds of cruelty. The
parties to the suit were married in Can
ada i'm 1882 and have six children. Mrs.
McClarey claims abusive treatment at
various times and that on March he
threatened to kill her. She left him,
taking the household goods and child
rem. She asks for 800 attorneys fees,
$35 per month pending trial. and an in
junction restraining him from attempt
ing 10 get back either the furniture or
the children. Mr.. McClarey is one of
the proprietors OF the City Carriage
Works. and both are well known in the
city.
GREAT FALLS NEWS.