The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-07
SMITH GETS TEN YEARS
He Testified That the Gun Went
Off Accidentally.
HIS DRUNKEN WITNESS
The Jury Didn't Believe Smiths Fairy
Tale and Found Him Guilty-When
Sentenced He Said the Court
Was a Slaughter House.

Special Correspondence Of the Standard.
Boulder. Aug. 4-The principal work
OF the July term of the district court
for his county closed to-day with the
sentencing of John +. Smith and
Charles Smith. In the case against the
first named, the circumstances were
shown to be about the same as hereto
fore given i'm the Standard: that Smith
had repeatedly made threats to take
the life of Pat Hastings. and that on
the night i'm question, the 9th of July,
when he met Hastings in the road he
pointed a gun at him and, with the
statement that his time on earth was
short, made him get down on his knees
and pray. and after that when Hastings
attempted to make his escape Smith
fired the rifle at him. These facts were
well established by Witnesses Torpey
and Monahan of Butte, Hastings,
Guthro and McLain of Bernice. Smith
testified in his own behalf, including in
his tale of woe that the gun went OF
accidentally. but 1t was evidently
doubted by the jury. His only other
witness, young Suhr. who was also ex-
pected to testify that the gun was in
| the naDlt OF BOlnE OH dCClutnNailN' was
so drunk that his testimony was hard
ly ineligible, and he was reprimanded
and fined by the Judge. 1t took but "A
very few minutes for the jury to find
the defendant guilty of assault i'm the
first degree. and the punishment being
left to Judge Parker, 1t was fixed at 10
years in the penitent1ary. "smithy,'
when asked II he had any good reason
to offer why sentence should not be
pronounced. SAT- he didn't have a fair
chance 10 get his witnesses In. and
moved for a new trial. and after the
sentence was announced he was taken
out muttering something about being
in a slaughter house. The Judge took
occasion TO remind him hat for many
years he had been a disturbing element
in his county and had been a great
source OF trouble To the officers and
expense To the county. Charles Smith
was found guilty Of burglary in the
second degree. committed at Clancy,
and was sentenced To three years in the
penitentiary. The two of them will
probably be taken TO Deer Lodge Sat
urday.
Wednesday afternoon at the Presby-
terrain parsonage here occurred the
marriage Of h. Lewis Hughes and Mrs.
Emma A. Howe, formerly Miss Axtell,
all Of Basin. Mr.. Hughes. editor of the
Basin Progress, has many acquaint-
anceS In the county VINO eNtend con-
gratulations. The couple were accom-
panied from Basin by Mr.. Godfrey and
a sister Of the bride.
About two weeks ago Heber Clayton,
with the GafTney Mercantile company
met with an accident. which at the time
did not seem to be very serious, but
which has since occasioned him much
troubles. With an adj he cut his knee
over the cap and the resulting wound
was OF suCh a nature that a surgeon
was called from Helena. On a diagno-
sis OF the case IL was thought advisable
TO take him TO ST. Peters hospital Ia
Helena. and a delegation of odd Eel
lows accompanied HIM there Wednes'
day.
Walter Harvey Weed. who has beer
in this part Of the state some time
work connected with the United State
geological survey, and Bailey Willis O
the same department. with headquar
tiers in Washington. were here durin'
N week. makdng a few final eNamina
tions TO be included in a report cover
ing the mining country and geolosi