The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-31
THE BANK STOCK CASE
Sensational Testimony Given by
the Compliments.
HOW THINGS WERE"FIXED"
Mrs. Niedenhofen Tells OF Statements
Made to Her by Talbot in Rela-
ton to Work Done
by Her Son.

Very sensational testimony was in
troduced by the complainants yester-
day in rebuttsl In the case of Harriet
A. Wood VS.. A. ]. Davis ct al, over
the bank stock. After a suspension of
several weeks the hearing was resumed
before Referee Blair yesterday after
noon. and Mrs. N~eidenhofen was
placed on the stand. giving sensational
testimony as to statements made to her
by James A. Talbot In regard to work
done by her son in fixing things in
the bank stock case.
The proceedings opened with an at
tempt of the defendants to introduce
an affidavit, which was objected TO on
the ground that all the time allotted the
defendants for introducing testimony
had expired and they could introduce
nothing further without order of the
court. After some argument the mat
ter was temporarily dropped. and will
be brought up later.
Mrs. c. Neidenhofen was the first
witness put on the stand by the COM
~plainants in rebuttal. She said she has
resided here about % years, and dur
ing 20 years Of that time has been en-
gagged in the merchandise business. h
a known James A. Talbot for 20
years and is related to the Talbotts by
marriage. Her son married Mr.. Tai
bolts daughter in 1896. She knew the
reputation Of MIR. Talbot for truth in
the community in which he resides. h
considered the reputation very bad. She
considered his reputation for honesty
and integrity as bad His reputation
for truth in the year 1894 was very
bad His reputation for honesty and
intppTltV that NR1r No alec ho5 l.,
the opinion OF the witness. She had
seen Mr.. Talbot frequently during the
past summer as he passed the store.
Her son died in 1897, on Jan. /. Mr..
Talbot came to see her about that
time. She had conversation with him
In regard TO the bank stock suit about
that date. He said to her in a consol-
ing way that she didn't lose anything
more than he did; that he had thought
he had someone now he could depend
on in the bank. He spoke of what
a good boy her son was. He said to
her that in the district court they had
everything fixed: that they couldn't
lose the bank stock case; thai they had
the jury fixed, and they had Mediation
fixed. He said that they had to give
Mediation plenty. 1t cost them a lot
of money.
Did he explain to you what all this
was dom for"
I'm order to get the bank stock for
Andy"
WHO was Andy?"
"a. j.. Davis, jr., the defendant in
the case"
"Who did Mr.. Talbot tell YOU had
done these things for the defendant"
My SON."
What was your som full name?"
Henry Alexander Neidenhofen."
DO / understand hat he said your
son had done this purchasing"
Yes"
Did he explain to you why your son
did these ~things?"
Yes, he had done IT in the interests
OF Andy Davis"
Did Mr.. Talbot tell you what your
son did these things for?"
Yes; so that Andy could win the
bank stock case"
I'm that conversation did Mr.. Talbot
tell you who got your son to do these
~thingsT'
Yes: he told me that he got my son
MIR. Talbot said he induced your
son to do it?"
Yes"
What position ala your son hold
just prior 10 his death?"
He was clerk Of the district court IN
this county. He had held the position
four years and was clerk during the
. ear 1919. |
I'm your conversation with Mr.. Tai
bott did he say anything else to you in
to the bank stock suit? ?"
"Oh, yes"
: "What else ala he saw
He told me that he gave my son
to go to Helena TO knock out
the bill for increasing the number OF
judges from three to five"
Did he say why he CAV the money
knock out this biIl?"
They did not want fve-they only
three judges"
Did he say what his object was I'm
the $4,000 to defeat this bill?"
yes: so that Andy could win the
stock"
The complainant offered In evidence a
bill introduced in the Montana legisla-
ture, March 4. 1895. for the increase OF
supreme court by two additional
This was admitted.
who was Mediation. referred TO by
by Mr.. Talbot in his conversation with
He was Judge OF the district court
here while nv son was clerk. He was
in 1894"
Mr.. Forbis cross-examined Mrs.
.eidenhofen. In reply to his questions
the witness said her son and Mr.. Tai
daughter were married two and
half years before her sons death.
She and MI. Talbot were good friends
at that time. The conversation with
Talbot took place about a week
after her sons death and two or three
days after the funeral. She and Mr..
were alone in her kitchen at
the time OF the conversation. He had
come there TO condole with her and