Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-03-20
TRIAL Of M0Ll|E THOMPSON
Court Takes a Motion to Dismiss
the Case Under ADV e
ment,
Defense Claims Taat the State Failed
to Establish Its Case
TestimO ~.

house, variety theater or play house on
Sunday. Assistant City Atty Stephenson
appeared for the state, and Miss Molie
was represented by John \, Largent.
The first witness called for the state
waa Miss Eva k'libotte, an empoye OF
the theater. who testified that she WAS
employed by MOlIe ,lho npson, and there
hai been dancing on Sunday morning,
Mar-h :
Paul Nocl', policeman, was animpor,
tant witness for the state. ua nad seen
performance gotNE on there on Sunday,
March :, the same IS any other night,
ard mad also sea the girls dancing, ant
aftefFards drinking at the bar with their
partners. Cross Xamlned by Attorney
Larnent, ne said that be Haaln the nablt
OF looking III at the Park theater
IN the way Of his duty about every
night. Went in the front way, never
wont in back door, except once,
when he had warrant to serve. on
Mollie Thompson. Saw the drop cur
tain up and also saw it down on March
S. Had been rcqu stcd by prosecuting
attorney To look up evidence and get
witnesses for him, but had not been
CShtNi w t,tL L IlCtli T. VII -'l'ilIt. J. VI
the names of the witnesses down in a
book, bat could not tell the names with
out consulting it. Book was at his home
in the Il. ~ VI. addition. Considered the
dance going on Sunday public dance;
did not see any minors; did not dance
there himself. Did not know that the
play was rehearsal, saw no difference
from the program as it is given every
night.
Redirect Did not inform Assistant
County Attorney Stephenson as to who
the witnesses we're he had secured for
him.
c. c. Proctor, deputy sheriff Visited
the Park thcater about a. m. Sunday,
March :, in company with Officer Noell.
Saw about eight couples on the floor
waItZing. Witness identified several of
the girls and named four or five men
whom he knew, including some promi-
ncnt citizens who should have been
home in the bosom of their families at
that unholy hour of the morning.
Cross examined by Largent, witness
said he did not know it to be a fact that
public dancing was going on at that
same hour on entral avenue, Could not
swear that those Men he saw in the the
ater at the sunday morning dance had
no financial interest in the place. Did
nor dance himself, but thought he could
have done - had he so desired.
NJ. !. De Forest said that he Vas stage
manager for MollIe Inumpsun. here
wa5 no play given SUNDAY might, but tue
UrOLra.u vas Tehoarsrd for the following
week. !, Was dress rehearstL There
was quite number present Wnen dress
rehearsal was gwen. Curtalu was 1p
all the time Never Was dOHu al any
time. fine ditTe,ence between the rr-
hcar=.l 1ua!ay ulLnt aut tbs regular
program va that the pIay might not be
SO "r.I rendered. Ihe properties were
all present sunday night Inc public
COuu WltIr-s the rehearsal If they
wished. so program was distributed
Suu.4y tights. BE sic Cruulu and
Esther Pierce appeared IN the rehearsal
Sunday March s. Iney we're dressed
ia taalr u-I4l stage Costumes
Tie court a-ke0 ii there was any dif-
fereaCe hrt"Gen the Tebtar=al Sunday
night and tne regular play other nights
by ,YHlCn a stranger could distinguish b
Ia. t.ti ar-hce, and the WltLess replied
th4, ha thought there WAS, a the play
crs we're not perfect at the ceheaIsa gen
oc4ly,
Mrs. Jeanuette Judd, nee Flibottc
testified that she was at the dance al
tGr Park iSunjay, between , a. m. and
) H. m, and mat she danced three times
She biushingiy acknOHedgtd that all
three dances were given u oue favored
aUaIn, and that she did not remember
any other men who we're there.
sam StepDrnaOn, being sworn, STATED
th4, he had been present at the perform
auco and dance Saturday night aud Sun
day morning. He could detect 10 diff
ference from the regular week day pro
gram. He had been solicited to bu,
liquors by females in the place, but hat
declined Had talk with MOln
InOmD.On IN box, n which she admit
ted that ehr employed the women, rul
the place and sold the liquor Cross ex
auln=d, he stated that he went there t
secure evidence to convict Mollle Thomp
son. ~ could not swear that the doc
between the -.loon and dance hall wa
open when the show commenced, bu
could swear that it was Opeu all the tim
he Waa trcre.
Attorney n1rgent, at this stage OF tn
proceedings, announced that he shoul
put 10 no defense, and moved that th
case be dismi7-sd on the ground that tn
state had failed 10 show that any publ
dance house, variety theater or shO
house had been conducted by the d
fendant on Sunday, as charged IN tt
complaint
Judge Race said he would continue Il
case until 3 p m. today, AZ Whlch time
would announce his decision on u
motion.
The six girl arrested Sunday mornir
in the Park thea or, or warrants char
log them with exhibiting themselves
a house whore liquor was sold, were I
leased Sunday Ut ) a, M, after Jud
Race had been called out Of bed 81
accepted bonds signed by N. f. Petit
gill and a mar named Nic8OIs. IN
appeared before Jldgr Race yesterC.s
Their heariug was Bet for Friday mon
ing. New bonds, signed by George Wo
Of the Hotter Lumber company and n.
PettinglIl Wero forthcoming after sol
delay, juat AS the chief Of police waa 9
ting ready to march them of to j.
The trial Of Bessie Cronin WAS hot
ny -., 70 "a loo