The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-14
Dismissed the Guardianship Petit
ton of George Taylor.
SAID HE WAS I'LL TREATED
The Petitioner la Some Startling Tes-
timony-ssid His Mother and Step
father Knocked Him Down
and Made Him Steal.

partially heard by Judge Clancy yes
terday, but before he got through with
half the testimony, he got Disguised
with the case and dismissed the petit
tion.
The boy gave some startling testi-
mony regarding his bringing mp. He
said he was the son of the late William
Taylor of Shamokin, Pa, and that his
mother, some time after his ather's
death, married Washington A. Strasser.
with whom she is at present living at
Meaderville. The only other relatives
he has living in this city are Mr.. and
Mrs. James Coutts. an uncle and aunt.
The boy testified that he left the home
of his mother and stepfather because
they i~ll-treated him.
why did you leave home?" asked his
attorney, Mr.. Burbage.
because they always treated me so
mean: knocked me down with sticks
and clubs n threw rocks and hatch
cts at me. They gave me no clothes
and very little to eat
The boy said he worked all the time
and that his stepfather took all his
earnings. He also said Strasser got
drunk whenever he got any money,
and that he seldom works.
He only works when mother gets
him a job. but he never holds II long.
because he always gets discharged
after WORKING a week OF TWO.
on cross-examination by Mr.. Hinkle,
the boy recited several instances when
he was knocked down and abused by
his stepfather.
What were you doing at the time?"
Il was working in the mine for him
and he said ] wasn't doing enough
work. He started to whip me and ! ran
out and he followed me and thew a
rock and a Ratchet at me"
You say you didn't get enough to
eat; didn't you get as much as the rest
of the family"
yes, but Strasser wouldn't work and
I had to rustic ore and had TO go up
town and rustic scraps of dog meat,
and we would pick out the best of IL
and eat it,"
The boy said he had to wear his step
fathers shoes, and in winter time he
a to steal gloves to keep his hands
warm while working.
Did Strssser tell you to steal them
mo"
Did he ever tell you to steal any
thing?"
He told me to steal ore. He made
me steal ore from the Mountain View
mine. and ! had to get up every morn
ing last winter and go up there and
steal"
Mr.. and Mrs. Coutts did not induce
AAAaAA - Nv A'AhANs 49, 49,
did not.
Have not your mother and step
father and Mr. and Mrs. Coutts
had a great deal Of trouble?"
NO; Strasser owes them for board
and won't pay IT,. That Is all the
trouble they have had"
Don't you know that Mr.. Cameron.
whom you want appointed as a guard
ian. is a gambler and drunkard?"
mo, sir: l don't know IL. and I have
known him for four years
Did not he and his wife part be
cause he is a gambler
"I don't know anything about hat
I know she went away, but ] did not
know they had parted"
Did you ever drink or get drunk
while you were at home?'
II only drank some beer when they
brought IL home, but we didn't get il
very often"
The youth said that about six weeks
ago some BOYS stole some wine and he
drank some Of II and got drunk. but
that was the only time he had ever
been intoxicated. He said his mother
used TO whip him with a club. and his
stepfather made him rustic ore, and
when he got a ton together ii was sold
and Strasser took the money received
for 1t. The boy said he had been rust.
ling ore for four years, and thai
Strasser made him do II.
"What do you mean by 'rustling p .
inquired the court.
stealing" was the reply.
The court questioned him regardinf
his schooling. and the boy said he haC
attended school only about two months
since he began stealing ore.
His aunt. Mrs. Coutts, testified tha'
she saw the boy go out as early as
o'clock in the morning to steal ore. ant
that about five years ago she hea
I = H. @ 49,
rustic" ore and coal. She denied tina
she had anything to do about the boy
leaving home. and said that after h
had run away she begged OF him TO x
back 10 his mother. but he aid III
would not. as they treated him too
badly. She said the only trouble SIN
aver had with Strasser was on accom-
of money she loaned him Ito bring hi
woman out" and which he never paiC
back. Mrs. Coutts said she had know
Strasser Is years and had never known
him TO do much work. She had no
spoken to the Strassers in sever
years.
Then you don't know how the!
treated the boy at home7"
81 have got enough kids Of my owl
to look after" Vas her reply.
We'll, | have heard enough OF thi
TO see what ls In it." said the court. In
t%errupting the hearing.
w would IKE 10 o1eT some TEST
mony." said Mr.. Hinkle.
We'll, you will not get the chance,
replied the Judge. Il see that to ap
point this man guardian would be go
ing from Simon drunk to Simon sobeI
The uncle seems to be about as bad a
the stepfather. and 1t is nothing but
family quarrel"
But. your honor" said Mr.. Bur
bage. I'VE do not ask to have the unCl
appointed guardian. Mr.. Cameron !
not his uncle. and Strasser Is not /
this case at all.
That makes no difference. II is jus
the same. The boy is &c years old. an
IL he does not want to stay at home h
can go somewhere else to work"
Mr.. Burbage took an exception TO tn
courts decision and that ended IN
matter.
Ho for Basin.
n...a .Earfar No . n L : WI