Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-11-24
.ARLEY BECK A CATTLE Thief
Jury After Being Out Twenty Minutes
Find A Verdict OF Grand Lar
Ceny AGAINST Him.

|
) sion of district court, Altmiller
was recalled and testified:
bought this red COW on the
10th day of October, 1890.
VIM. McElroy was also re
called and swore: | rever
sold or delivered this red COW
to any person. | did not de.
liver the red cow to Baker
Ball.
Ed Liston was put on the
stand and testified that the
black hide, identified by Alt
miller, as one belonging to the
black and white cow sold him
by Arley Beck, belonged to
him and was his personal
property. That hide belong.
ed to COW which belonged to
me; she ranged near my place
or near that of Asa Jones who
lives a mile and a quarter from
my place. i never sold this
cow to anybody. | bought
her from Mr.. Cone, July IS.
That hide belonged to my
COW; | recognize it from the
brand and marks. Burns had
charge of my place while |
was gone to Crooks Corral
where | had a contract. |
have sold no cattle lately.
There is no mistake about
that being my COW or its hide.
Here the state rested its case.
Then J. F. Ailshie surprised
every one by announcing that
the defense would not intro.
duce any testimony. On the
evidence introduced by the
State, the defendant does not
consider himself or his counsel
called upon to introduce any
testimony and consequently
rests its case, and asked for a
short time to prepare instruct.
ion which he asked the Court
to give the jury. Judge Steele
granted recess until o'clock
After the noon hour MIR.
Scales addressed the jury for
the State. This was case of
prosecution net persecution,
and if the State failed to Sc.
cure a conviction it would not
be the fault of the County At.
torney's Office. He then show.
ed how consistent, corrobora-
tive and convincing the evi.
dence was; how it all fitted in
perfectly like a chain. Made
a strong point of the fact that
although it should not initiate
against him in the minds of the
jury, it was a peculiar fact that
the accused did not 60 on the
stand in his own defense or
put in any rebntting testimony.
He had done his sworn duty
and the responsibility now lay
on the shoulders of the Jury.
J. F. Ailshie opened by
stating that he was not there
to ask for mercy, but for just.
ice; there was no proof that
the defendant had stolen the
cattle; it was a clear case for
acqnittal. # they acquitted
Beck they would only be do.
ing Justice; defendant was a
poor boy, SO poor that the
Count had been forced to APP.
point him counsel. That the
defendant did not go on the
stand could not be used against
him. He closed with an elo.
quent plea for mercy.
County Attorney Scales
closed. He repeated that it
was a perfect case and the Jury
was bound to find a conviction
for the State. There was only
one thing more which he
could have proved and that
was that the criminal had been
caught in the act, but men like
Beck did not commit their
crimes in broad daylight, but
in the darkness of night, and
in some isolated spot. This
was perfect and absolute case
of cattle stealing and if
this man were not convicted it
would be useless to try any
more cattle thieves.
Judge Steele proceeded to
instruct the Jury and define the
law to them.