The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-23
It WAS A PUT UP JOB
Lipsom Says Bartlett Robbed
His Own House.
THERE WAS NO BURGLARY
The Witness Said the Scheme Was De-
liberately Planned for the Pur-
pose of Defrauding Bart
let's Creditors.

The order to show cause why F. A.
Bartlett should not be compelled to dis
gorge certain moneys alleged to be I'M
lawfully retained by the bankrupt came
on yesterday before Judge Knowles Of
the United States court on an order of
the court the day before granting the
attorneys for Trustee Mackel, Root and
Welcome. permission to introduce tes-
timony in support Of their contention.
The order to show cause was denied
and thus ended the court proceedings
against the bankrupt and the defend
ant will plead to the charge of perjury
tomorrow.
The trustees attorneys introduced
evidence, and one of the witnesses,
Samuel Lipsom. exploded that burglary
fairy tale which Bartlett sprang some
time ago for the purpose, evidently,
of creating the impression that all the
money he received from Rochester for
his stock of goods that he had not paid
to creditors had been stolen by bur-
glar. Before Lipsom testified NJ S. Bart
lett, who sat by her husband in the
court room, was excused and she re-
tired
Lipsom said that he had worked for
Bartlett in the store for about three
months last year. The substance OF his
testimony is as follows:
about four weeks ago Mrs. Bartlett
sent for me and 1 went to the house,
where Mr.. and Mrs. Bartlett We're. Mr..
Bartlett told me that the house was
going to be robbed that night and that
if l could manage to be present at the
robbery I could thus be Of great benefit
to Bartlett in his court litigation; that
if he could prove that he had been
robbed he would have nothing further
to fear from the courts. Mr.. Bartlett
spoke of some money he had tied up in
the courts and that he anticipated
trouble because of the fact that he had
turned over to his wife a large sum OF
money. The plan Of the robbery was to
break open the rear door, which was
fastened by a bolt: then go down to the
opera house and buy tickets for the
play and then return to the house and
give the alarm. Bartlett was to fire
revolver to attract the police. Bartlett
and pushed the door open and it made
it appear as if a. burglar had got into
the house
while we We're returning from the
opera house we made up story to tell
the police. We We're supposed to see a
man running away from the back door
and Bartlett was to shoot. Bartlett got
nervous and asked me to shoot. which
1 tilu tHieS llfleS. IHtii IodItiell ran
out through the alley and l after him.
"On the following day after reading
the pieces in the paper Mrs. Bartlett
asked me to come again to the house. /
felt uneasy and told Bartlett So He said
that I needn't worry; that he had $500
in his brothers safe, and if l got into
trouble he would go my bail. He said
that $500 was all he had left for him
self out of the sale of the stock"
s'Whaf did he ahO11t the Sa1e IN
Ras Rochester,
Bartlett came to my house and want
ed me to go in the court and swear that
l had received the money frcm Mrs.
Bartlett. He wanted me 20 liX NJ some
scheme whereby it could be shown that
she had paid the money to me II" said
he had told people that he had received
over $4,000 from Rochester, but had only
received $1,000 for himself. but he want
ed to protect Rochester,
"What agreement as to pay was made
with you?"
Bartlett said he would pay me for all
my trouble. He said he would give me
$25 I never received the money, hrt
Mrs. Bartlett gave my wife $50. My
wife wanted to so back to her hume in
Scranton, Pa. A few days later Mrs.
Bartlett called on my wife and wanted
to get the $50 back, promising 10 call
around the next day and give hcr five
$40 bills"
What threats were made by Bartlett
about turning states evideace?'
Bartlett met me on the street one day
and said that if I wanted to push tie
case he would swear that I had robbed
the house"
On cross-examination Lipzom said he
had been engaged in the clothing tusi-
ness in Scranton before coming TO
Butte.
"Have you ever been engaged in the
business of robbery and burglary?"
asked Judge Mediation, counsel for
Bartlett.
mo, sir; have not
But you We're so engaged, you. say,
on this Sunday night?'
We'll I just helped them to push in
the door,
did you not suggest this scheme2"
mo, sir
Mrs. Lipsom corroborated the testi-
mony of her husband relative to Bart
let's visit to their home and a conversa-
ton relative to helping Lipsom out if he
had any trouble over the matter.
H. r. Bartlett, brother Of F. a.
Bartlett. also testified that after the
bankruptcy proceedings he had been
handed an envelope by his brother.
which he asked to place in the safe. A
few days later Mrs. Bartlett called for
the money and it was given her.
At the time the alarm was given from
the Bartlett house the public and police
seemed to have certain kinds of an
opinion of their own which, in some
instances, was expressed outright.