The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-26
AN AL|B| FOR PHILLIPS
Evidence Tends Strongly in That
Direction.
IS CHARGED WITH MURDER
Letters From Spokane Assert That He
Was in That City at the Time
the Crime Was Committed
in Whiskey Gulch,

The evidence is accommodating tend
ing strongly to establish an albi for
Sam Phillips, who is under arrest for
the murder of Adolph Schwade. AL
though several witnesses testified in
most positive terms that they saw Phil
lips near the scene of the murder on
the 18th of May, 1897, he claimed that
he was in Spokane at that time and
for a long time prior and subsequent to
that date He also claimed that he
was in hospital in that city about
that time. suffering from a bad cut On
his left thumb. He showed the scar
and gave the names of persons
who, he said, could substantiate his
story. Yesterday his attorney, George
B., Dygert, received three letters from
prominent Spokane parties confirming
his story in every particular
$ One of the letters is from r. A. Will
son. a police officer of Spokane. He
says: Il can say | knew and befriend-
ed one by the name Of Sam Phillips, a
Jew, who chopped his thumb very near
off in Spokane about March L. and if
your client is the same Phillips. he will
show the marks of the wound On his
left hand, if / remember right. | will
also state for his benefit that l went
anu SAW Oul OI1lpllpllpI, MT. lIbDES5
Liebes. and we found time checks for
work he did on our streets on May u,
10 and IA, and received the same on
May 49, 1897, and If you want duplicates
of them he viii send them to you. My
wife and myself will swear to an affi-
davit to Phillips being in Spokane from
the latter part of January until the lat
ter part of June, 1897, and he can write
to Hon. G. Wolf, attorney and state
senator, whom he worked for in the
latter part of May and June. 1 want
you to answer and let me know if I
can help you with any more Informal
ton, if this Sam Phillips is the same
man with the scar on his thumb"
j. A. Schiller, councilman from the
third ward writes: "On investigation
al the street commissioners office of
this city, find that Sam Phillips work
ed for the city the 18th, 18th, 18TH 14rh
and 18th of May, 1897, and our comp
troller's Office shows that he drew his
time check for. this on the 10th of May.
After that it is we'll known here that the
man worked at several places until the
latter part of June. 1897. I am assured
of this by Police Officer Wilson of this
city. Aside from this l also learn that
he worked for Mr.. G. Messe of Messe &
Co. of this city for a long time after
working for the city. I should think
that Phillips himself had not ought
to have the least trouble to designate
such people that he worked for in this
city long after the dates and even dur
ing, the data$ that the murder is sup
posed to have been committed. From
what can gather here / think there is
not the slightest doubt that you nave
the wrong man charged with crime
of such enormity, as it can be clearly
proven beyond peradventure of doubt
that the man was sick here in a hos
pital with a hand nearly chopped off
long before the crime was committed
and would have no trouble to prove ly
our city records that he was here dur
ing the date name above. and drew
his check himself on the 18th. HUI
manity and justice alone prompts me
in this case, and anything that I might
be able to do in the matter Of clear
ing a guiltless man, l beg you to COM
mand me-"
G. Messe. a business man. writes:
"R. A. Wilson of this city showed me
your letter addressed to him in regard
your city on a charge of murder. l can
worked for me in the early part Of
May, 1897 and after he left me was
with other parties in this city for some
time. I wrote the sheriff at Butte to
this effect on the It'll inst. and presume
he received the letter all right. If I
can give you any further information
do not hesitate to call on me-
Phillips preliminary hearing will be
resumed on Saturday.
pa rio of 1a ha mi eop,ast rra.