The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-24
BUTTE News.
VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE
Not Likely That Smith Will Be
Prosecuted for Murder.
THE ETHEL GILL MYSTERY
James Shea Ordered Committed to the
Reform School-Accused of Burglary.
The Boy Confeseed-An Infor-
nation Against Jones.

Charles Smith, alias Higgins, the
young fellow who has been suspected
Of the murder of little Ethel Gin about
six weeks ago, was up before Judge
Clancy yesterday for arraignment on
the charge Of receiving stolen property.
The property is the quantity Of knives,
~revolvers, razors. etc. stolen from the
Ras Rochester store on June 3, a few
nights before the Gill murder. The
property was found i'm Smiths posses
sion at the time and in the immediate
vicinity of the Gill murder, and he was
under arrest at the time the murder
was discovered. He had a preliminary
trial for the robbery. but 1t could not
be proved that he had actually stolen
1t, and the county attorney concluded
1t would be best TO charge him in the
district court with receiving stolen
property. He was arraigned n said
his name was not Higgins but Charles
Smith. He was given until Monday to
plead.
The fact that an information on that
charge was filed against him indicates
that the officers have about
the attempt to connect him with the
murder of Ethel Gill. 1t was stated
yesterday that Notwithstanding many
different stories, the fact was that prac-
tically no evidence had been produced
against the fellow that would justify
the county attorney filing an informa-
ton for murder against him. NO one
has yet identified him as the man last
seen talking to the little girl, and there
is much weakness in the other testi-
mony that has been brought against
him, and unless stronger evidence is
produced 1t is not likely that he will
ever be prosecuted for the horrible
murder.
James Shea, a 16-year-old lad and
son of Con Shea of Dublin gulch, was
ordered committed to the reform school
yesterday by Judge Clancy. During
the past week or two the county attor-
ney had two charges of burglary
against the boy, but did not wish &c
prosecute him and SEND him to the pen
itentiary on account of his youth, AND
the boys father was consulted and ne
agreed that the lad should be sent tC
the reform school,. An information was
consequently filed against him yester-
day morning and he was tried in the
afternoon, Attorney Roy s. Alley haV-
ing been appointed to appea for him
When the boys father came to give hi
testimony he had relented and wanted
TO give the boy another trial. He salC
he had been a good boy up to abou
two years ago, sine which time tn
rather COulu 90 nOlnlnB With HlnH' VII
boys mother being dead Shea thought
however, that the boy might do bette
IL given another trial. Deputy Count.
Attorney Yancey and Under Sheriff
Murphy testified that the boy confessed
to them that he had broken into twi
buildings for the purpose of burglary
The defendant was questioned by tn
court and he admitted that he hadn'
been to school in a year.. The tudg
put him through IN examination an
discovered that he was very ackwa
in his studies and concluded that tn
reform school was the right place TO
him, as IL might keep him from goinI
to the penitentiary eventually, an
would teach him habit of industr,
and 10 make hay"
An information was filed sgains
Charles Jones charging him with gran
larceny for stealing a bicycle fror
Frank Carter. He was arraigned an
was granted until Monday to plead
Smith is a frequent defendant in Grim
inal charges, but heretofore has Away
managed to get off with a light ia
sentence. He is one of the fellows VIII
were tried about a year 9 for steal
ing ore from the Anaconda compan!
for which he got six months.
On the request of the county attol
ney, Judge Clancy made an order tina
Nellie Corbett, the prosecuting witnes
against Ed Mahoney, be committed
the custody of the sheriff until her ties
timony could be taken. The county a
torney was afraid she might not be o
hand when wanted for the trial.
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