The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-27
ACCUSED HER OF MURDER
How Frank Rice Tried to Get
Even With His Sister-in-Law.
HIS STORY TOO GAUZY
He Held a Red-Hot Poker to Her Nose
and She Fired Five-Pound Bucket
of Butter at His Head-They
Were Playing, He Says.

Dan Lomax sprung a large sized SEN
sation in the police court yesterday
while his trial for assaulting his mis-
tress was in progress before Judge
Terrell. In a moment of contrition and
as an extenuatiHg circumstance posi-
bly, intended to ingratiate himself into
the favor of the court. LomaN confded
10 Judge Terrell that the woman ne
was accused Of beating had committed
a murder few months back and had
confessed the crime to him. Apparent
ly little stock was taken in the sensa-
tionaI story. for after the woman thus
graveiy accused had been questioned by
the court and prosecuting attorney, and
had denied the truth of the charge, she
was allowed to go, the authorities con-
Guiding further investigation unneces-
sary.
The right name of Lomax is Frank
Rice and he is barber by occupation.
The complaining witness in the case
was Mrs. A. ID. Culber, as she stated
her name to the court. She had form
erly been the wife of Rice's brother and
lived in Utah. She separated from the
brother and some time afterward went
to live with this member of the Rice
family. Her paramour was unfortunate
enough To get caught in the act of COM
hitting a burglary and went to the
Utah penitentiary. After he got out he
gave the woman cruel beating, and as
a result served three months more AT
the expiration of his term the woman
was forgiying and went back to live
with Rice again.
Eventually the couple came to Mon
tana and for some time have lived at
403 South Main street, as man and
wife, the woman following the occupa-
ton of nurse. Last Friday Rice and his
mistress fell out and he proceeded to
discipline her. According to the wom-
ans statement. cDrr0bDratpd by her
appearance when she complained to the
police, Rice was simply deVilish in his
inhuman treatment of her. Rice was
arrested and yesterday afternoon was
given a hearing on charge of assault
in the second degree Deputy County
Attorney Stivers appeared for the state
and Rice conducted his own case, dis
playing a marked familiarity with
court proceedings.
At the opening Of the case Mrs. Gull
Der took the stand and related the cir
cumstances of Rice's abuse of her. She
said they had some difficulty and Rice.
who was possessed of a violent temper,
threw her around the room. tearing her
clothes and hurting her severely. lie
then took a hot stove poker and held 1t
10 her nose and told her if she moved
he would burn her. His hand was not
very steady and the iron touched the
skin, causing a burn. Not satisfied
with his work Rice threw a knife at the
woman, cutting cash in her cheek.
she thought he was going to kin her
and threw a pound-bucket of butter
at his head
Rice took the stand in his own behalf
and practically admitted that the wom-
ants statements were true coloring his
version of them. however TO favor his
own case. He said he could not under
stand what was the matter with the
voman that dav to have him arrested.
as II was a common thing for them To
emf nm and NAV in that manner. He
went over and kissed her after it was
all over and had no idea she viewed
tba circumstance in the light Of a fight
until she had him arrested. He antici-
mated that he would be discharged. and
fold the court that if such were The
case he would get out of town and out
IF Montana. and would telegraph his
honor when he crossed the border to
prove he had been as good as his word
Az Rice finished talking with refer
ence 10 his case he struck an attitude
and informed the court he had some
thing on his mind and wished To unbur-
den himself. Then he began the recital
Of the story which for a few minutes
excited his listeners. He said that some
two or three months ago his former
mistress was employed TO nurse a sick
woman named Bessie Reese. The pa