The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-25
NEWTON WAS IN SPOKANE
jumped His Bail in Butte a Year
Ago.
WAS A CROOKED LAWYER
Practiced His Smooth Tricks in Spokane
but Made His Escape Before
Warrant Could Be
Served on Him.

William Newton, the crooked law
yer who cut such a crooked swath in
Butte about year ago and jumped his
bail while under arrest has turned up
in Spokane. where he practiced more
of his crooked tricks, but made his es-
cape again before another warrant of
arrest could be served on him. In
Butte Newton was popuiist politi-
clan in good standing and dogs hind
leg wasn't in it with him for crooked
ness. Concerning his career in Spokane
the Chronicle of last Wednesday has
this account:
The sudden disappearance of William
| Newton from the city is no longer a
! mystery 1t is now supposed that he
left to escape arrest on a charge of
obtaining money under false pretenses,
although the warrant had not been Sc
cured TIL to-day.
Sunday afternoon. it is charged. New
ton induced J. l.. Stiner, barber work
ing in the Bon Ton shop in the Zeigler
block, to cash a check for $40. repre-
senting that he had money in the Old
National bank, but that on account of
the bank not being open he was COM
PEELED to get check cashed on the out
side. Stiner, who had known Newton
for some time, cashed his check for
him, and on presenting it to the bank
the following morning was informed
that Newton had no account there.
Thinking there must be some mistake
Stiner did not report the matter until
yesterday. when, having been unable
to find Newton. he applied to Justice
cd 20, Np
arrest on the charge Of obtaining money
under false pretenses. Justice KEENAN,
referred Stiner to the prosecuting at
tOrney, but before seeing that officer
Stiner learned that Newton had left
the city and concluded not to press the
charge against him.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kim
ball was informed, however that New
ton had passed several other bogus
checks, and this afternoon induced
Stner to swear to a complaint upon
which warrant will be issued. making
Newton practically fugitive from JUS
tice.
Newton was last seen in the ty early
Yesterday morning when he took a
street car for Hillyard. and it is sup
posed that he caught a Great Northern
train out of that town.
The check which Stner cashed for
him was only one of several of the same
kind, cashed Saturday night and Sum
day. One for $40 and one for $40 were
| cashed by one of the clerks at the Man
haitian billiard parlors in the Fernwell
block. and it is said that no less than
| seven different checks which were sign
| ed by Newton We're presented to the
Old National bank Monday morning, all
of which were rejected. Newton having
no funds on deposit there.
Newton came here about three
months ago and during that time had
made many acquaintance and created
very favorable opinion, both as to
his good character and his ability as
! an attorney.
But notwithstanding his coed beha-
vior since coming here, it has been
learned that this is not the first time
that he has been in trouble.
He claims to have a wife and two
children in Denver.
The only thing definite which has
been learned is the following story
which was told to a Chronicle reporter
this morning by T. D. Barton, eX-sher-
| if of Nez Perez county, Idaho:
| civilian Newton came to Lewiston
some time last summer. representing
himself as an attorney who had just
arrived from Denver, where he had left
his wife and children, who. he said
would join him at Lewiston in a few
ing in the city he induced Cash Cole
saloonkeeper, to cash several checks
which he had drawn on the Camas
| Prairie bank claiming that he had
money on deposit there.
1T was discovered that the checks
| We're no good and Newton was arrest
| ed as he was trying to leave the city
and was bound over to await the ac.
ton of the grand jury. I had him il
! custody In the county Jail for severa
weeks, when he escaped while the prs
oners were out in the yard exercising
Cole did not seem anxious to prosecute
the case and l made no effort TO re
capture Newton.
after his escape from the Jail h.
went to the vicinity of Cotton. wher
he went to work in the harvest field
| have been Informed that he Wen
from Gotten to Colfax. where he ais
f1oated some checks. but escaped prose
cution. Newton was former residen
of ColfaX. having lived there a nun
Der of years ago, and it is said he use
the influence of some of his oil
frienls.'