The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-17
ANACONDA news.
STORIES Do NOT AGREE
Prisoners in Murder Case Make
Conflicting Statements.
AS TO THE HIDDEN WATCH
That Silent Witness They Find Difficulty
in Explaining Away - They Are
Brought Here From Bozsman
Without Incident.
AS TO THE HIDDEN WATCH


DAILY arrived in Anaconda, having in
custody Clinton Dotson, oliver Benson
and Ellis Perssinser, the men captured
near Central Park. Gallatin county,
Tuesday afternoon and suspected of
completely in the murder of Eugene
Cullinam.
Benson. the young man, and Persin-
ger were handcuffed together. while
Dotson walked apart. handcuffed also.
Dotson was the only unmoved member
of the trio, Benson and Persinger each
displaying nervousness.
As the train pulled into the yards and
stopped at the switch near the foot of
Cedar street, the deputies and their
prisoners dropped off. Under Sheriff
Morgan and several officers were there
TO meet them. but were not alone. A
crowd of several hundred curious men
and boys. anticipating a move of this
kind was there before them, but Of
tered no violence to the prisoners as
they left the train At the depot was
another crowd but it was doomed to
disappointment.
The prisoners were hurried to the
Jail office, where the wrist irons were
removed Prosecuting Attorney Duffy,
who had spent the day examining the
four men from Washington Gulch al
ready incarcerated, was there TO inter-
NirM , 90 +r,, oroudad condition
of the county Jail and the urgent need
to keep all the prisoners apart, the
1hrea men brought in Yesterday and
rho four arrested last Saturday, name
" oliver Dotson William Cachelian,
William Glover and Gabriel Hilder-
brand have been placed in the city
iaii cells Two guards constantly are
an dutv in the corridor of that prison
to watch all the men and prevent any
Communicating
When all arranrements had been
made clinton Dotson and Ellis Persin-
rar were led awav 70 the cells while
6,iver Renson was left ia he examined
l,, prosacutins Attorney Duffy alone
In tho newt few bours Mr. Duffy in
,,rrogated each of the prisoners sep
arataiv all questions and answers be-
mo tai,en down nv a stenographer
nan Of the three men told a story
a,efarnnt fron, the other On the mart
Of Dotson and Renson there was an
effort made 70 throw the responsibility
for The nrrsence of the murdered mans
watch in their baggage on Persinger
persinger on the other hand asserted
.be, he know nothing of the tinepiece
until the officers discovered it in the
mattress persinrer made a GOOD i'm
preston and did much 10 show his in
nncenre hut will he held as an import-
ant witness
E''eh'e 'e'"r"'' >" '"r'
Evidence against Oliver Benson. Gin
ton Dotscn and Oliver Dotson, the old
man, is accommodating, especially
against the first two. To sum it up
its chief points are as follows:
The watch carried by Cullinam has
been found concealed in the possession
of Clinton Dotson and Oliver Benson.
One of the two rifles found in the
possession of these men was a model
'73 Winchester, 3S-Caliber rifle, while
the ball that killed Cullinam was fired
from just such weapon;
Oliver Benson ana Cllnton DotSoh
We're in the vicinity of the murdered
mans cabin at the time the crime was
committed.
They cannot explain their possession
of the watch satisfactorily.
They had in their possession shoes
which fit the tracks found in the VI
entity Of the spot where Culllnam
body was buried. .,
They have no good excuse for travel
ing as they have been, and finally:
John thadWlck. nearest nelshpoI Oh
the murdered man, swears Clinton Dot
son and Oliver Benson sought to have
him enter conspiracy with them 10
murder Culllnam. lie laced Chntoh
Dotson, the supposed ring leader IN the
conspiracy, laft night, ana made these
statements fearlesslN and almost ORA
matically. while Dotson made a general
denial OF them.
so tar the evidence Is cllcuinstanual'
hut more direct proof is expected 10 De
forthcoming.
One thing that Oliver Benson ana
Clinton Dotson agree on, and that is
the statement mat they cahlpeo AZ the
point Where the volunteers 'dihped idSt
year near Helena, on july H. and re-
manned there until SUNDAY; aug. l5'
The murder was committed sunday
Monday or TUESDAY. Aug. D. or \.
Now, as to the discrepancies IN the
various statements regarding the
watch:
Benson saws Perslnser came INTO
their camp from Helena or ms own &C
hh rh