The Anaconda standard., 1896-02-13
DWIEt DtDoU| t||VtItt.
NO TRIAL FOR HOBBS
BE Pleads Guilty and Will Be Sen
fenced Saturday.
a LETTER FROM ANACONDA
n. Balnbridge Takes a Whole Lot
of Weight OFF the Young
Mans Mind and EnIIght-
ems the Police.
A LETTER FROM ANACONDA

Clinton Hobbs, the young man who
passed a number OF forged checks on
different merchants on Park and Main
streets about month ago, was to
have been tried in Judge Speer's court
yesterday. but he decided to plead
guilty and throw himself on the mercy
Of the court rather than go to trial,
which could only result against him,
from the fact that he had no evidence
TO substantiate his story that he was
simply the tool of another man. Mr.
Wines stated TO the court that Hobbs
wanted TO plead guilty at the prelim-
inary hearing. but because Of the fact
that he could furnish the state with
some valuable information the plea
was not accepted at that time The
desired information had now been ac-
quired and the plea might be received
Mr.. Wines said he did not wish to say
anything that might increase the
young mans sentence. The prisoners
counsel asked that sentence be passed
at once but Judge Speer said the mat
Ter would be put off till Saturday
Hobbs Is only "a years old and has
rather an honest face and none of the
appearances of a criminal As he was
led back TO jail he handed Judge Speer
q poorly written and badly spelled COM
munication pleading for mercy The
substance of the letter is that he did
not forge the checks that he passed.
he said he was raised in St Paul and
born in that city on March s, 1872. He
never had the benefit of schooling and
what little he learned was through his
own efforts. At an early age he was
put to work, and when he was IL no
was put into barber shop 10 learn the
trade few years later his father
a Nd UN.
ported his mother. When he got ont
OF employment he came TO Butte. but
could find no work. His mother. ne
eaid. was about TO be sent to the poor
house when he met a man named Balm
prloge who told him he had a way 10
make money very easily Il was hun-
CRY and had no money and not even a
p'aCe 10 sleep IN. and / could not get
work" wrote Hobbs "Of coursa '
lrIlew was doing wrong when | mass
en ho5e checks. but did not know II
was so serious a crime / took Pain
bridges word for Il and did lust as bo
told me. / passed two checks and t,on
wanted 70 quit, but ale said no and I
was Just Foolish enough to take his
Hobbs said he had never hoe, 9,
trouble before in his life eXcopt to be .
arrested for driving over n bride.
raster than a walk Hobbs had al
ways maintained that another man
Forged the checks and that he passod
thehl' Ihe statement I'm his letter is /
DoIhe OUT by a very important docu-
',h IitSHt lhat Iell INTO the hands of the
oilcers a few days ago IL is a iottcr
from the man Baiubridce. II va
ulalied at Anaconda and reads rs fnI- I
lows: "S 4oi-
Anaconda. Feb. Q. 1890
clinton Hobbs, County Jan. Butta,
see by papers that your trial has
oeen set for next "Wednesday. ain
Ltenu 10 send you enough money To
partly redeem myself for In, v.rano
done you, SO as to enable you to sr,4,I,,.
'ounsel for your defense. bur l an,
tIrald ! viii bc unable to do So becs,rs.,
WiH not receive all Of nay pay on the
-oth unless ! quit my Job. have hcrr
WORKING every night for the last tbrsa
Y, y etks' ana am receiving $3.50 n day
a,'-.. eAIeilehce taught me severe
essen ana ! concluded 20 live within
he law hereafter. even thou,h I ha,.'
~ work Ike slave. | presume you
nave lest all faith in my advice ON 40
'ouht or the turn affairs took Rut
1yHeNt me, 1 spoke truthfulIv TO .you
Nheh told you you were only commit
ing mlsdemeanor. They cannot send
- 70 prison, because you never com
nitted forgery. Had I been capr,t
men things would have been nj foront
Shah never forget that memorable
fldaN night. l duckcd and went Ia
ielcha' where l got into trouble and
t'elNed a county jail sentence ro,.
'Iaylhg the deaf and dumb racket.
en- you / felt rather shazy. for | was
GU would be recognized and taken
'ach 10 Butte. Well 1 wrote tho ,,.r
MAJ nice letter. begging him ia 3is-
naTge me day ahead Of tim, TO en1-
ne me 10 reach my home in Arol,a ana
assure you l was successful 7 in
ormed your friend. sam. To meet m.
I the Combination. but was unable ia
eep the appointment. Do YOU know
ls present address? If so, tell him 10
meet me In Anaconda. and l will gi,., 8
I'm some money for your daf.psa
ave not heard from Dolly lately
uppose she shook me because | dil NOT (
vep my promise. Well | could not
eIp II. Why did you not speak to Tom
ne Young fellow / sent TO vouo He il
~ bunky ana can be trusted Ton
I'm II ne comes again whore I can find
our frlend and I will cndeayor To g.. I
I'm. Don't worry: If You do ,ou VIII {
OF be able 10 stand your confinement q
Wouid nave written oftener To YOU J.
al been aware that Your mail Was
ol opened ! trust that YOU will sim
eHeFe me your friend ana bear mn
faNeiy. ! VIII see that You shall NOT
ant Tor anything as soon as I get an |
'heF pay day Wishing YOU success |
no the blessing oC heaven ] remain =
ours. etc "a pafrr-fs.-.. =, I
IN The back OF the letter is the fol- .
wing: Address Frank I.ngan. rru- .
raj delivery. Anaconda. Mont" = :,
some ot the county officers also hear =
lt the claim that RalubFifra is m. !.
eal culprlt They have Information g
lat n" has served term In san Omen y
n pehilentiary iu California for for
rS' ahoui ~" time OF the Butte for &
cries Eaiubridge was ia fba ,f,,. a..i J,
as engaged in card ady.rtisirq y
meme. In view of The fact that Hollis {.
the least guilty Of the two and mas
eaded guilty, thus saving thu .xrsr-
: OF trial he viii probably be lei or
ith q light sentence. o,
THE COMMISSIONER oi