The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-13
KRE|G IS FOUND GUILTY
Six Months in Jail and a Fine of
$500.
HE GAVE SHORT WEIGHT
He Vas Arrested en- a Complaint Made
by the Maggie s~isters-They Kept Tabs
on Him for Thirty Days Found
They Were Being Cheated.

John l.. Kreig. proprietor of the meat
market at Al West Granite street.
against whom a criminal action for
petit larceny was begun a few days
ago for giving short weight and making
overcharges in the sale of meat to the
Maggie sisters, who conduct a restaur-
ant in East Granite street, was given a
heavy sentence by a jury in Justice
L~aurandeau's court last evening. He
vas found guilty and by the verdict a
Jail sentence of six months and a fine
of $500 were imposed.
The Nagle sisters had bought meats
of Kreig for five years. In the latter
part of June they began to suspect
they were getting short weight and,
procuring a-set of scales, they proceed
ed to weigh their meat each day for 30
days. At the end of that time they
found they had been charged s21.77
more than they should have been, and
upon complaining to the county attor-
ney's office, a complaint charging petit
larceny was filed n Kreig was ar
rested.
The case came to trial yesterday af-
ternoon before Justice Laurandeau and
a jury. Chief Deputy County Attorney
c. p. Connolly appearing for the state
III Hty 1HdTlcS Leonard LOT Ine
defense. The specific offense alleged in
the complaint was that on the 29th of
June Kreig had overcharged the Maggie
sisters IS cents for meat. This was re-
duced to "a cents in the evidence. The
prosecution showed that the overcharg-
ing or giving of short weight had been
systematic n had been carried on for
at least 80 days. How much longer
did not appear in evidence.
The prosecution nut I'M a very stronp
case, while Kreig was himself the only
witness for the defense. The case was
called at 2 o'clock in the afternoon and
it was s o'clock in the evening before a
verdict was reached.
Mile Nagle. one of the Maggie sisters,
was the first witness called. She testi-
fed that she was one OF the firm of Ma.
gle Sisters, who conduct a restaurant
in East Granite street. For five years
the firm had purchased meat from the
defendant. On the date mentioned in
the complaint 331a pounds of various
kinds was purchased. Witness had
previously concluded to weigh the meat
and had purchased a. set of scales or
that purpose. On this particular date
the meat was under weight to the ex-
tent that "a cents was charged more
than should have been, instead of 50
cents, as alleged in the complaint. The
witness further stated that several
NAe - 5cAA5 WIZ SCI WHICH, Silt
weighed the meat. Mr.. Connolly asked
IL there had been shortages on other
days than the 10Th of June. Mr.. Leon
ard objected on the ground that any,
thing happening on any other day than
that mentioned in the complaint was
incompetent as evidence. Mr.. Connolly
argued the point at length, citing au-
thorities to how that the prosecution
had the right to show these small
shortages had been of regular occur
renee. He argued that it would be ri
diculous to bring a criminal action for
a matter of IS cents if there had never
been but the one shortage, and il II
could not be shown that there were
more the state would be without a
remedy, as, although these shortages
may have totaled up to 81. 900, the de-
PENDANT could only be prosecuted for
petit larceny and no jury would return
a verdict providing adequate punish
ment if it could only be shown that
there had been but the one shortage.
The objection was pverruled and the
witness stated hat she began weigh
ing the meat on the 10Th of June. and
from then till Aug. 3 there was always
a small shortage in weight. The scales
used the witness had tested by the
sealer of weights and measures. Wit
ness presented the bills that came with
the meat, covering an extended period.
The number of pounds were not set
down on any of them. but merely the
charge made. Witness had asked the
defendant to set down the pounds. but
he said he was selling meat cheaper
h the union allowed and he feared
If he put down the weight he would BE-
fined. On this statement the witness
did not press the matter. CONTINUING,
the witness, referring to the bills and
her accounts, enumerated the amounts
of shortages from day to day, aggregat-
inp for On havE fO1 - Mr. nnna~1 10
quired if the bill for July had been
paid, and upon the witness replying
1t had not he objected to the introduce
ton of h evidence, holding If the bill
had not been paid the evidence was in
competent. He also objected on the
ground that the shortages being re-
ferred to occurred subsequent to the
date of the complaint. The court over
ruled both objections and the evidence
went in. On only one instance the wit
ness testified was the defendants bill
correct, and the error was always in
his favor. The monthly meat bills
amounted usually to from El25 to $50.
The bills as read were submitted in ev-
idence over the objection of Mr.. Leon
ard. Mr.. Connolly then submitted the
aggregate bills. showing the total diff
ferences in the two accounts in the
same manner.
Cross examined by Mr.. Leonard, the
WILKES Sdlu hTeIS was III the udDll oI
submitting a bill at the end of each
month, which would be paid. She never
had any material difficulty with Kreig
over settling during the time the firm
traded with him. She admitted that
an error due to a credit not having bean
reckoned. reduced the shortage Of June
% from So cents. as alleged in the COM
plant. to "a tents In response to fur
ther questions from Mr.. Leonard the
witness aid her firm had an under
standing whereby the price they were
to pay for meat was always to remain
the same unless they were notified. She
was not in the habit of weighing meat
up to the 29th of June. She settled with
the defendant for the June bill. on the
9Th of July. which included the bill TO-
the 10Th Of July. and did not protest
against the overcharge of that date,
her reason being that she did not wish
to saw ANYTHING about the shortages till