The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-08
]. R. RYAN WAS ABSOLvEO
Charged With Biting Murphy's
Finger in Q Fight.
ARRESTED FOR MAYHEM
Murphy Interfered in a Row Between
Ryan and His Wife-They Rushed
b 0rowler The Case
Was Dismissed.

accusation of mayhem yesterday. On
the evening of the cath Of March Ryan
had trouble with his wife at their home
in the Anaconda road and Con Muir
ply. a brother of Mrs. Ryan. interfered.
A fight between him and Ryan follower
i'm which Murphy got a broker finger.
He claimed IL VAS broken by Ryan Bit
ing 1t. and Ryan was arrested for may
hem He had his preliminary hearing
in Justice Laurandeau's court yester-
day afternoon. Deputy County Attor-
ney Stivers appearing for the state and
Attorney Cole for the defense.
Con Murphy was the first witness.
He testified that on March cath he was
at Ryan's house In Anaconda Road and
Ryan asked him to have some beer. He
sent his boy to get the beer and then
went to bed When the beer came wit
ness and his sister. Mrs. Ryan. drank
the beer. Ryan then came out of the
bedroom. and for no apparent reason
assaulted his wife. The witness told
him he would pay for this and left.
Ryan followed him out and attacked
him. He fought back but Ryan got his
finger in his mouth and bit IL until he
broke the bone. DIR. Alexander dressed
the injury but he had not since been
able to use 1t. On cross-examination
by Attorney Cole for the defense. the
witness said he knew Ryan had abused
his wife. He denied that ne called Ry-
an vile names or that he put his finger
in Ryan's mouth and tried to tear II.
He admitted he worked the day after
the assault.
DIR. j. n. Alexander testified to dress
ing Murphy's injured finger. The skin
was not broken but the zone was. The
witness could not tell from the nature
of the wound what had caused 1t. He
said there would be no permanent in
jury.
Alexander Dickson was a witness to
the fight and helped pull Ryan Of Muir
ply. He did not see Ryan bite Muir
phys finger. He heard Ryan say: Il
wouldn't hurt you. Con" as though he
was trying 10 make II up.
Murphy was recalled and said Dick
son told him after the fight he had seen
Ryan with his (Murphy's) finger in his
mouth.
John Ryan took the stand when the
defense opened. He said Murphy had
some beer with him the night in ques-
ton and then left the house. He had
some words with his wife and MGlphy
came In and called him a vile name. He
followed Murphy out and the latter
struck him in the face. He then went
after Murphy. He denied that he bit
Murphy's finger. but Murphy got his
finger in witness mouth and tried to
pull his jaws apart.
This closed the testimony and Mr..
Stivers said there was a plain case
against the defendant and asked that
he be bound over. Mr.. Cole said there
was no evidence Of mayhem and held
that Murphy was a trespasser on Ry-
ans premises. Judge LaurandAlu said
he did not think there was sufficient
evidence to believe the defendant guilty
of mayhem and dismissed the case.
A complaint was filed yesterday In
Justice Laurandeau's court charging
Thomas McMann. a miner employed at
the St. Lawrence mine, with assault
in the third degree. James nj
the engineer at the mine. the complain
ant. alleged that yesterday morning
when McMann came off shift. they had
some words about drills. and McMann
assaulted him while his attention was
engaged at the engine. Justice Lau-
randeau issued a warrant on the COM
plant for McMann's arrest.
Another complaint vas filed with
Justice Laurandeau against Edith Som
mers and May Davis, the two grafters
who are accused of robbing j. McAl:is-
ter. a California stockman. Of $l45. with
grand larceny. Through the confession
the colored woman. May Davis. made
to a couple Of stool pigeons. the county
attorney believes he has a strong case
against the women and there are
hopes that at last the notorious graft
ers will get their deserts. The police
have for a long time endeavored 20 get
a case against them. but this il the
first time they have succeeded in get
ting good evidence.
At the preliminary hearing of G. JEFF
ferson. the colored man arrested last
week and charged with assault in the
second degree. which was set for
yesterday. the charge of assault
in the second degree vas with
drawn and jefferson pleaded guilty u
assault In the third degree n was
fined 81 by Justice Laurandeau. II was
alleged hat Jefferson used "a razor on
j. A. Mcconnell when the latter at
tempted to eject him from a lodging
house ne keeps. but IL developed that
no razor was used. and hat jefferson
merely resented being put out .i;havt
his clothes.