The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-05
told BY WITNESSES
Men Who Saw the Leyden-Ilg Trag,
edy at Belt.
THIRD DAY OF THE TRIAL
The Coroner Describes the Nature
of the Wounds-One Man Who
Didn't Want to See the
Trouble at All

Great Falls, March 4.-The third day
of the Leyden murder trial opened with
the recall of Sheriff Dwyer to the stand.
He was examined as to the condition
of the body when he arrived. the ma
ture of the wounds discovered and the
position of the table, chairs and boxes
near the faro layout. He also testifed
that the body was stripped and the
clothing carefully searched and that no
weapon of any kind was found upon
him. He also said that there was moth
ing to show that the chair. table or
boxes had been removed since the trag-
edy. Upon cross examination he said
that he did not move boxes around to
see what the effect would be on the
sawdust. He also testified that Zig did
not have on any coat.
]. M. Walker, a iveryman at Belt,
next testified to the fact that he knew
Zig and had him employed to look after
his horses.
Alex. Fairgraves, a miner at Belt,
testified that he had not known either
Zig or the defendant; that he was in
the beer hall the evening of the shoot
ing and witnessed the first part of the
quarrel and returned after the killing
and went for the constable. Fair
graves was standing at the bar. just af-
ter Zig had been pounded by Leyden.
The former came up and asked If the
witness had a gun. Also heard him ask
several others the same question.
William Enyon was next called. He
was not personally acquainted with
either Zig or the defendant. He saw
defendant pummeling Zig over the
head with a gun, but did not see Zig
strike Leyden at that time. Witness
saw a chair placed between the faro
table and the wall, in order to keep Zig
Tlp drunk ON cross
examination, witness said Zig was be-
having in a noisy, boisterous way, and
during the encounter pushed Leyden
half way to the floor In reply to furth-
er questions, the witness said that he
knew of no Ill feeling between the
gamblers and miners around Belt. Zig
was talking to Leyden, claiming that
he had not had a fair show, and was
going to get even with him. Upon be-
ing pressed for the exact words or
oaths used by Zig, Judge Benton inter-
rupted, saying that there was no neces-
sty for repeating indecent language.
DIR. Weitman, the coroner, was the
first witness called by the prosecution
in the afternoon. He gave the details
of the post norton. He said he found
one bullet hole in the head, above and
in front of the right eye. The other
wound was in the abdomen, the bullet
cutting a vein, an artery, penetrating a
kidney and lodging in the skin at the
back, near the spinal column. Both of
the wounds he pronounced mortal. He
found four bad bruises on the head and
at one place the scalp was cut through
to the bone. He said that a blow of
that character would produce a shock
that would injuriously effect the judg-
ment and reasoning faculties. On cross
examination, he stated that the injury
to the mind would depend on the force
of the blows and would not say that
II I'D. 4x.d 80 H. H.
blows made any lasting impressions
He also stated that Zig was 5 feet II
inches tall, and weighed between 16C
and 165 pounds; that he was well mus
cled, and would describe him as a big
man.
DR.. Ladd, who assisted DIR. Weitman
at the post-mortem, was then called
and gave substantially similar testi-
mony as the coroner He said that a
dazed condition would naturally follow
blows such as Zig received, which might
last minutes or even hours, and the in
jured man when he felt the pain would
have a strong desire to get at the mar
who inflicted the wounds. On cross
examination he said that he considered
Zig a fine physical specimen of man.
hood.
Norman Mcdonald, a miner from
Belt, testified that on the evening OF
the tragedy, he saw Zig come out of the
peer nall, go ABOUT 10 feet into the
street, and then turn around and re.
enter the beer hall. He did not see Ills
have a gun about him or strike defend
ant. Mcdonald was subjected to a clos,
cross-examination. but his direct evil
dence was not materially shaken.
William Smith, a miner, testified tina
he was present while two shots wer,
fired and then he raised a laugh by
stating he would have left before IL h,
had had a chance. He said he heard
Leyden say when Zig went towards
him, Take him away, or I'll hurt him.
James Forsyth. another miner, addeC
very little to the previous evidence
save that Zig grabbed Leyden, pulling
the latter towards him.
Jose Martin, a Portuguese, was thu
next witness called by the prosecution
Martin gave a very circumstantial &C
count of the shooting, of which he sale
he was an eye witness. The defense did
not attempt to cross-examine his testi
mony but tried TO bring out that h
was a tramp, whose evidence was o
little account. Martin acknowledge,
that his usual mode of travel when on
of funds was in box cars. The defens
also intimated that IL would prove tina
Martin was half a mile away at tn
time of the shooting. At this poin
court adjourned until morning.