The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-31
Was HER OWN COUNSEL
Little Mary Sheehan Is Some
thing of a Prodigy.
IN THE POLICE COURT
She Was Accused OF an Assault on An
other Girl and Conducted Her
Own Cause.-The Charge
Dismissed.

Is something of a prodigy, and IL she
win a place in the fronk ranks Of wo-
men solicitors. Mary conducted her
own case before Judge Terrell in the
police court yesterday in a prosecution
for third degree assault. and so sue
cessfully that she got of with a faith
promising not to do it again.
The juvenile defendant is the girl
complained against some weeks ago by
the parents OF Bernice sinnick as hav-
ing assaulted Bernice with a dinner
bucket. striking her on the head and
causing s~rievous injury. A complaint
charging Mary with assault in the third
degree was granted at the time and a
warrant for her arrest was issued. but
Mary's mother succeeded in keeping her
daughter out of the way of the law
until a few days ago. when Sergeant
of Police Leyden came upon her in the
street and took her to fail, where
Mary's mother appeared later. and hav-
ing no money with her, put up a
$4,000 deposit check for the girls ap-
p~earance.
The case came to trial yesterday af-
ternoon before Judge Terrell with tie
prosecution in the hands of Deputy
County Attorney Stivere. while the girl
scorned legal assistance and handled
her own defense. When the case vas
called. Mary arose from the audience,
which filed all h benches i'm the court
ROOM. and with q toss of her head.
which seemed to denote a fine contempt
for lawyers and court. hounced within
the bar and seated herself In a chair
usually assigned for counsel for de-
PENDANTS at the end of n long table. At
the other end sat Mr.. Stivers with the
prosecuting family at his side.
The witnesses were sworn and Ber-
nice Sinnick. a demure little miss about
the age OF the defendant. took the
stand. Mr.. Stivers thinking to enllght-
en- the young lady defendant on her
rights. informed her she was entitled
to counsel. and inquired IL she desired
to be represented.
II guess I can take care of myself"
replied Miss Mary haughtily. and Mr..
Stivers was sorry he spoke.
Then II developed that the witness On
the stand could not speak English. and
her father n mother being the only
others present who could speak her
language, the father was sworn as in
terpreter. Through him the child testl-
fed that she was walking in the street
the day Of the alleged assault. when
the defendant came up behind and
without any ~provocation. deliberately
struck her on the head with a tin buck
ct.
This was the effect Of the witness
testimony and Mr.. Stivers inquired OF
the defendant:
DO you desire to cross-examine?"
For reply. Miss Mary started in like
a lawyer.
us IL not a fact" she inquired. that
I came along past your house. that you
and your father and mother were
standing out in front. and that you re-
marked: There goes that dirty little
chippie?'
The witness replied in the negative
and Mary had nothing further to ask.
Slnnick and his wife gave the same
testimony as their daughter and the
state rested. The defendant took the
stand and denied the allegations of the
prosecution. and said IL was true tSat
Bernice had called her the bad name.
and that she had retaliated by striking
Bernice with her bucket.
Mr.. Stivers was too gallant 10 make
an argument against a female defend
ant unrepresented by counsel. and con
tented himself with reading to the
court the law provided in such cases.
leaving IL TO the court to Judge Of the
evidence. Mary's argument was a plain
statement that she did not believe II
would appear reasonable to the court
that she would strike another girl with
a bucket. II there were no p~rovocatioh
of any kind. as had been alleged.
Judge Terrell read a fatherly lecture
to Mary on the evils OF young people
allowing their tempers to get the bet
ter of them. and after exacting a prom
Use from Mary that she would be a good
girl in future. dismissed the case.