The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-11
KO[NKER FOUND GUILTY
GRAND LARCENY CHARGE
Sentence Has Not Yet Been Pro-
nounced-His Conviction Goes Far
Towards Breaking Up q
Nest OF Burglars.

The case Of the state against Jarl
Koenker. charged with grand larceny.
was the Ease brought up yesterday in
the district court. Some time about
the middle Of last February Frank
Benson and Tom Conley were arrested
at their cabin, about L. miles north
west of Garrison, for an alleged burg
larry in stealing from the shaft house
of Jacob Hetz in the Zozel mining dis
trict. The defendant. Jari Koenker.
had been living with Benson and Con-
ley.
When Benson and Conley were ar
rested and taken to Deer Lodge and
thence to Anaconda. Koenker was left
at the ranch near by Benson's prop
erty. Benson had been confined in Jail
since to await trial on the charge of
burglary. Conley pleaded guilty and
Is now in the penitentiary at Deer
Lodge.
1t appears from the case yesterday
that about April l Koenker received
word through a third party from Con-
ley that it would be best for him TO
make himself scarce, or advice to that
effect. At least he concluded to leave
the country, and about April 10 left his
work and went to the ranches of Mrs.
Palmer and c. B.. Allen. where part of
Benson's property had been left. He
proceeded to fit himself up with a
travelling outfit. He took two wheels
and an axle from Benson's wagon and
manufactured them into a cart, which
he loaded with a great deal of Ben
sons personal property. including
clothing, saddle, bride. gun and other
articles. and started West. He assert
ed that he was I'm search of work.. but
~ amman rod that he hod haan x-.rr,r-
for a neighbor. Mr.. Sessions, who de-
sired him n even begged him to stay
at work.
After he had gone about nine miles
he met George Bergerman, to whom III
traded the saddle. bride. gun whip
and received In cash S.. When he got
to a toll bridge, about nine miles west
of Bearmouth, he told the toll. coIlec-
tor that he had had his house burned
at Anaconda, lost his wife by. death
n sole all his cattle to pay the ex-
penses of the burial. He also told him
a lot of other improbable stuff. Koen-
ker went on until he had arrived a. a
point about Is miles beyond Mis-
soula.
In the meantime a warrant had been
issued and placed in the hands of Dep
uty Sheriff c. X. Fardenbrook. who
overlook Koenker at this place. He ar
rested him and brought him to Jail. He
got the property, which was identified
by Benson at Deer Lodge.
The defendant claimed, at the trial,
that the property was placed in his
possession and that he had rendered
services to Benson and had a right to
DISPOSE of 1t to reimburse himself. But
Benson denied the indebtedness to
Koerker. and in addition the defense
went down before the Instructions of
the court. At the conclusion of the
trial the iurV rendered. a verdict In
five minutes. finding the defendant
guilty of grand larceny. leaving the
punishment TO be fixed by the court.
II is claimed hat these convictions
will break up a nest of bad characters
aroun Garrison. Last winter the cell
lar of Nathan Smith. a merchant and
hotel keeper at Garrison. was bur-
glarized and a lot of property stolen.
In January one of the cars OF the Mon
tana Union railway at Garrison was
broken into and property taken. Tes-
timony had been laid before County
Attorney Trippet that both Conley and
Roenker were concerned in these
burPlaries. and at the very time that
Koerker was skipping out with Ben
sons property, preparations were be-
inc made to have him arrested.
The trial of Benson for the burglary
of Hetz' shaft house will beein to-day.
What the evidence is is unknown ex-
cept to the attorneys in the ease.
benson. however. has made a clean de-
NAL Of his complicity in the affair
His case will be the last criminal trial
until near the end Of the term.
There has been a great number OF
convictions during the past month
some eight or ten persons pleading
ment at Deer Lodge.