The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-03
BELTS MURDER CASE
Leyden on Trial For Killing Victor llg
In December.
A JURY NOT SECURED YET
Brief History of the Case-Saie OF
Farm-A Fire in Choteau and
Generous Hearted People
Offer Relief - Notes.
A JURY NOT SECURED YE


Great Falls, March "A great deal OF
interest is shown throughout the city
and county over the murder case of the
state VS.. Leyden. which came up this
morning before Judge Benton in the
district court. County Attorney Free
man handles the prosecution and the
defendant is represented by Leslie &
Downing and William Wallace. The
day was spent in impaneling a jury,
and at the time of adjournment the
jury was not yet secured. out of 80
jurors examined one was excused on
the ground of his objection to capital
punishment. 1t is expected that the
case will occupy the attention of the
/ court for a week at least.
The crime for which Steve Leyden is
on trial for his life is the murder of
/ Victor Zig in Johnson's beer hall at Belt
/ on the night of Dec. 2. Leyden was
faro dealer at Johnson's and was in his
usual place when Zig, who was drunk
at the time. entered and took a seat at
the table. Without placing any money
on the card, Zig called bet The card
won, but Leyden refused to pay. After
some words, Ilg leaned forward and
made a grab at the chip rack. Leyden
j pushed him away. but Zig persisted,
Y anu picked up a revolver anu
struck him several times over the head,
! cutting him severely and forcing him
| into the middle of the room.
Zig left the beer hall only to return
shortly afterwards. He was seen to
stand for awhile around the stove,
mumbling to himself and was then OBJ
served to start towards Leyden, who
pushed him away, at the same time
picking up a revolver with his free
hand The two men grappled and Ley
den placed the gun close to llg's side
and fired. Another shot was fired by
Leyden and then Zig fell over a chair.
| and while he was in this position Ley
den is alleged to have deliberately
placed the revolver to Ilgs temple and
! fired. the ball passing completely
! through and coming out above the ear.
Leyden was Immediately arrested and
| brought to Great Falls to await trial.
He is well known here, where he has
dealt faro at the Bristol, the Black Ea-
gle and Casey's, and bears a reputation
as a quiet peaceable man. In an inter-
view, directly after the shooting, he
confessed the act, but pleaded that ii
was i'm self defense. Zig was % years
old. and almost a boy In appearance.
He had previously worked I'm the mines
at Sand Coulee and had never been
known to be drunk before. He was on
the point of leaving for Chicago on a
visit to his relatives when the tragedy
occurred.
Frank Wocasek and Hermann After
bach have purchased c. n. Dickenson's
interest in the business OF the Great
Falls company. The Central avenue
property. which is among the most val
liable in the city, was not included in
the transaction. II. F.. Brown, present
manager of the company, retains his
interest and position. The money in
volved in the transaction amounts &c
I col n fFaer fanr
The value of farming lands in Teton
county is shown by moneyed transac-
ton recently made, in which S. c. Che
sum sold to T. w. Pearsall a farm OF
800 acres for the snug sum of $4,000
This is at the rate of $25 per acre
straight. The farm implements, water
rights and the like were also purchased
by Mr.. Pearsall for an additional $1,000
the two deals aggregating $4,000. The
land involved in the transaction is nc
better than thousands of acres lying
around Choteau, which is destined &c
become one of the solid little cities OF
Northern Montana.
The residence of George H. Bower
at Choteau was destroyed by fire Wed
nesday afternoon during a heavy wind
storm. Mrs. Bowen was i'll at the time
but her husband succeeded in carry
ing her and child from the burning
; | structure to the house of a neighbol
| anu tHtH Itlulnth W INNf
house and its contents In ashes. Mr.
Bowen is a poor man and the gener
GUS hearted people of Choteau, real
izing that he had lost everything b!
the confiagration, raised a fund of 500
and presented ii to the family a few
hours after the fire. Those people wh'
. live in Teton county carry great biz
hearts around with them and are eve
willing to assist neighbors whom mis-
fortune has visited
Hon. c. NJ. Webster, mayor of thi
city, will head the Great Falls delega
ton to the immigration convention AM
make an address before that body OF
THE Resources of Cascade County
= Mr. Webster is an able speaker and tn
important subject assigned TO him 70
the occasion will be treated in a man
ner that will attract wide attention L
the unlimitable resources Of the wealth
, lest county in Northern Montana.
Hon. It. f. Collins. also of Grea
Falls, will address the convention Of
the Coal and Iron Industries of tn
State of Montana" II Is a broad sub
I oughly familiar with. and his address
e will be interesting to those concerne
| in the development of these two grea
- factors in the industrial progress of tn
} state.
D The annual meeting OF the stockhold
q ers of the Montana Central Railroa
| company will be held at Helena 10
morrow afternoon. At this meetin
!. five directors will be elected for IN
ensuing year and there is reason I
believe there will be a radical chang
made in the directory. as IL now stands
!, w. A Chesman and Charley Cannon
well known and prominent residents q
Helena, will probably be retired fror
the directory. and on the new boar
y Great Falls will have at least one reT
resentative. Now that Helena Is sim
!. ply a water station on the Montan
5 Central. II IL not thought necessary {
) have two or even one director locate