Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-05-08
LAST DAYS OF COURT.

LAST Days OF COURT.
Few Civil Cases Disposed of and tho
Criminal Calendar Cleared.
Immediately after the case of Chase
q Sanborn vs.. the Fargo Mercantile Co.
was given to the jury on last Thursday
afternoon, the criminal calander was
taken up, the first case called being
that of the State VS.. James Woodard
for the larceny of steer. The case
was stubbornly fought from start, q.
M. Cleveland and s. E.Wilson appearing
for the defendant and Walter Anderson
representing the state. An interesting
feature of the case was the testimony
of Israel Calkins, who was charged with
being implicated with Woodland in the
crime. He testified in behalf of the
state, confessed to having had hand
in the larceny and killing of the steer
and swore positively that Woodard was
a party to the crime. The jury, how.
ever, thought the evidence was not
conclusive and after celebrating near
ly all night on the case brought in a
verdict of acquittal.
The case of the State VS.. Mary Collins
who is charged with being implicated
with Woodard and Calkins in the above
mentioned case, was then taken up and
as the testimony was much the same as
that in the preceding trial verdict of
acquittal resulted. The case of the
State VS.. Calkins was continued.
Paul Behrendt and Chas. Kurth, who
were recently bound over by the justice
of the peace for cattle stealing, plead
guilty and we're each sentenced to two
years in the penetentiary.
Roy Stockdale, who some three weeks
ago skipped out with horse, saddle
and bride belonging to Robert Parm-
ley and was subsequently arrested at
Douglas, Wyo., by Sheriff Virden, of
Weston county and brought back
by Sheriff Blakey on Monday of last
week, plead guilty ofthe crime of grand
larceny and was sentenced by Judge
Gardner to fifteen months confinement
in the penetentiary.
The criminal calendar having been
disposed of, the trial of the case of g.
Gotzain & Co. VS.. Fargo Mercantile Co.
was commenced on Monday morning.
The case is one wherein the plaintiffs.
sue fol the sum of $500 alleged to be
due them by the defendant. The latter
claimed an Offset of about $500 for in
ferior or damaged stock sent them.
The case went to the jury Monday
evening which at midnight agreed on
verdict. Judge Gardner was summar
lily called to the court house at this un.
seemly hour to receive the verdict and
discharge the weary jurors, and Clerk
of Courts Chesley was rudely routed
out of bed to assist in the ceremony.
A judgment was rendered in favor of
plaintiffs for 1857.
The case of G. M. Bourne VS.. Rhoda
Billups for the possession of horse,
was tedious but rather interesting one.
The horse in nquestion was stolen some
years ago from the defendant, so it is
by Buck Martin who subse-
quently sold the horse to one Stevens.
Stevens, shortly after, left the county
and the horse was taken and sold by
the county treasurer to satisfy Stevens
personal tax. The horse was purchased
by Mike Flanagan and sold by him to
Mrs. Billups. The jury thought that
it was about time for Bourne to regain
his long lost equine and gave him
a judgment for $40 or possession of the
horse.
Mrs. Sadie Ring was granted a di-
vorce from her husband on the ground
of desertion.
Court adjourned to Monday, May
18, when the case of Fred d. Gillespie
VS.. Fred T. Evans will be tried to the
court.
Sheriff Blakey left Wednesday night
for Sioux Falls with the trio of
convicts, Stockdale. Behrendt and
Kurth.