The Anaconda standard., 1899-09-03
IDENTIFIED THE COPPER
The Preliminary Bearing of
Eugene o. Mellier.
SIX CATHOLICS STOLEN
The Defendant Was Nabbed While He
Was Attempting to Sell the Cop
u. per to Mr.. Goldwater. the
Junk Dealer.

The preliminary hearing of Eugene o.
the alleged robbery of some cars on the
Butte, Anaconda & Pacific railroad last
Sunday was begun before Justice Nichols
yesterday afternoon. The cars robbed
were from the Anaconda smelters and
contained refined copper. Six cathodes, or
about 800 pounds, of the metal were
stolen. Mellier tried to sell the copper to
NJ. Goldwater, the junk dealer, and while
negotiating the deal was nabbed by the
sheriff's officers. At the preliminary yes
terday Attorney Beatty appeared as spe-
cial prosecutor and acted for the state in
conjunction with County Attorney Con-
nelly. The defendant was represented by
Attorney j. N. Kirk. The hearing was
not finished, but was continued to Tues
day afternoon at the request of the de-
fendants counsel at the conclusion Of the
testimony for the state.
The first witness to testify was Supern-
tendent Wilkinson of the refinery depart
ment of the Anaconda smelters. He iden-
titled one of the stolen cathodes of cop
per, which was offered in evidence, as the
product of the Anaconda refinery, and
gave details concerning the making and
shipping to show that there could be no
doubt as to where the copper came from.
John w. Naugle, agent of the B., A. e.
p, testified that three cars of the B., A.
e. p. were broken open last Sunday in the
West Butte yards. Some copper had been
found outside of one car and some section
men had put it back and notified him. He
had the cars placed at the station and
checked the contents. The checking re-
vealed that six cathodes of electrolytic
copper were missing. These cars came
from the Anaconda smelters and were
loaded and sealed at refinery.
Deputy Sheriff Dennis O'Neil was next
called. He said he was sent to Goluwa-
ter's junk yard to watch for any person
who might offer the stolen copper for sale.
The defendant drove up and in few
minutes witness saw some sacks at the
lower yards. Going to it, he found the
six cathodes Inquiring who brought it,
Goldwater said the defendant brought it.
Witness asked Mellier where he got it and
he said another party gave it to him to
sell and he had taken an oath not to tell
who it was. He had never told, Witness
took possession of the copper and Under
Sheriff Murphy took Mellier to Jail.
James Finlen told of going to Goldwa-
ter's junk yard to look for the copper. He
saw the six cathodes found as described
by Deputy Sheriff ONeil.
M. Goldwater, the junk dealer, told of
Mellier coming to him and saying a party
had about 500 pounds of copper which he
wanted him to sell. He told the defendant
to bring it down and he did so. Mellier
did not tell witness who the party was
who wanted him to dispose of the cop
per.
At the conclusion of the states case
Mr.. Kirk asked that the case be allowed
to go over. as he was not quite ready to
proceed, and a continuance was granted
to Tuesday at 1:30. After the completion
Of this case Mellier will have a hearing on
a second complaint, in which he is
charged with receiving property, knowing
it to have been stolen. The second case
was the result of Mellier having bought
some castings which had been stolen from
the street railway company.