The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-20
GODIN And HIS WIFE
The Blackmailing Case Occupies Judge
Turner's Attention.
A DECISION THIS MORNING
Her Feelings We're Injured. She
Says. and Money She Was Az
ter-Detective MeikleJohn
Tells the Story.

The Godin blackmailing case occu-
pied the attention of Judge Turner and
his court yesterday afternoon, and
there was a crowded court room to
listen to the details of the interesting
yet disgusting case. Assistant County
Attorney Booth conducted the prosecu-
ton, while Attorney Dygert appeared
for the defense and displayed much
skill and sagacity in handling a pretty
bad case.
Mrs. Godin. pretty and petite. sat in
the court room with her three children.
all under eight years of age. Mrs. Go
din did not display much feeling in the
case until towards the close of the trial
when she broke down and wept bitter
ly. Godin himself looked as cold
biooded as the case would indicate
him to be. Even his own testimony
was sufficient to convict him, although
he tried to make the city detective
blameable for the course he had taken.
There was not much sympathy in the
courtfor him. l.. Ray, the man on whom
the blackmail was attempted, is
butcher and Frenchman and doesn't
talk English very well.
Police officer Gus Riddles, the first
witness, told OF Godin going to him
about six weeks ago on Arizona street.
and telling him that a business man in
town was going around with his wife,
Wduteu u 30 Will anu
catch them some night He would
make him give 5000 and would give the
witness SEQ of the amount. The witness
told him to see the city detective about
It.
City Detective Meiklejohn testified
that Godin came to him at the city hall
and told him that there was a mer-
chant in the city who was trying TO get
his wife to go with him to some room.
FCrsxY nv fRo 70 I'm
He said his wife was a very virtuous
woman but he would get her to go
with him to a room and catch him
and make him put up some money.
The witness had a second conversation
with him later in which Godn said
they had arranged to go to the Owl
block at the corner of Wyoming and
Galena streets. and his wife was TO
make a chalk mark on the door of the
room they would occupy. Godin said
he would make the man give up a good |
deal and would give the detective $780, |
and redeem a note of the defendants |
which the business man held for 5000 |
The witness waited with Godin |
outside the door of the Owl, |
but they were not able to get a room |
that night and so the thing fell through |
on that occasion. Later the witness |
went with Godin TO see Mrs. Godin and /
Mrs. Godin told the witness that she |
understood the case and was ready /
In order to get some money 1
out of him with which to go back TO
Canada. One evening he told me his
wife was to meet the party at the cor
ner of Colorado and Galena streets,
and go and get room. He went down
there and saw Mrs. Godn on the cor
ner but the man didn't show up. on
the last occasion Godin told me that
the woman was to leave the house at
1880, meet him and go to Anthony
Dahrs place. The witness and Godin
waited under the stairway of Dahrs.
The woman and Mr.. L. Ray came up
the stairway and were up stairs some
little time and then came out without
being able to get a room. They then
went into the Copper block. The pro-
prietor of the Copper block told the
witness what room the man and wom-
an had gone into. Godin was much ex-
cited. The key was not In the key
hole, but the door was locked The
witness knocked on the door. Ray
opened the door a little ways and Co
lin entered. The woman was in bed.
and screamed: "Oh my husband!" and
tried to jump over the foot of the bed |
iodin pretended TO be going to shoot
Ray, and showed a gun and said |
Dam you, now we've got you" Co |
lin made no inquiries of the witness as
% whether he was liable for going into
my such scheme.
Police Captain Waters corroborated :
he story of Meiklejohn. so far as il re- ,
ated to the scene in the room. When
Waters entered the room Godin was !
making some threats to Ray and had !
lis hand in his pocket. and there was q
run in the pocket.
Officer Barnaman testified that Godin
old him a man was trying to get his I
wife TO go to a room with him. and
lie wanted 10 know where Meikleiohn
vas 10 get him arrested =
i Ray said he was in the room with /,
drs Godin when the trouble came up. )
iodin entered the room, drew a revolt / Z
er and fiourished n and talked mad. =
aging, II catch you now" =
The state rested as this point and :
irs. Godin. carrying a baby I'm her r
rms, was put on the stand for the de- v
endant. She said: THE first time n
ever spoke to Mr.. Ray was when | n
rent 20 his house 20 get some wash 4
ng, my husband being out OF work
old him i wanted the washing TO pay
ne meat bill. He told me / was too Y
eleate to do washing and that II
'ould do as he said he would furnish
ne all the money / needed. He petted c
ne and called me a nice little woman y
le gave the children some candy 1 i
Did my husband all about Il. He Wis n
ed the house about four months. He 4
ometimes made presents OF money and
ave me about SIS altogether once
e gave me $40 to take TO the butcher r
hop and pay my meat bill. so his wife
ould not object TO the bill we We're
INNING. Another time he gave me 500 n
Dr the same purpose. Detective Mel
leJohn came with my husband one
ay and told me TO try not TO do any | o
ing 10 make Ray suspicious He told
le to take the key out OF the door. and
ARK fhe door with chalk so we could | q
III which room they were in. He told | q
e IL would be lots better for me 10
ndress and have Ray undress. too. 50 .
3 TO have a sure case. a
That night the detective came in =
IN a revolver in his hand. Then nv v
lsband came in but without any gun. G
y husband said. Mr. Ray. / never
lougat you would do such a thin. To :.
p and said TO me- That's the kind J.
a woman you are Ny husband said
ytntng about money. but MeiklefOhp I G