The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-30
ANACONDA NEWS.
new LINKS IN THE CHAIN
Bits of Evidence in the Cullin ane
Murder Case.
BENSON'S STORY UPHELD
Indications That He Told the Truth-All
Three Prisoners to Be Kept in
the County Jail Await
ing Trial.
.BENSON'S STORY UPHELD

Clinton DotSon and Ellis Persinger
will not be sent back to Deer Lodge
to lie in the penitentiary awaiting trial,
but will be retained in the county Jail
here. They are kept separate and are
not allowed to communicate with each
other. Charles oliver Benson, or "Ollie"
Benson as he is known among his rela-
tives. is also kept separate. Yesterday
the entire Jail was searched care
fully.
Yesterday Prosecuting Attorney ]. H.
Duffy filed informations against the
three men, charging them with murder
in the first degree. The cases will be
put on the calendar for trial at the ses-
sion of the district court which will
open Sept. s. There are a number of
important cases ahead of it.
So far the defense has not shown it's
hand, but is evidently depending on
lacking links in the chain of the states
evidence to save the necks of the pris-
oners. 1t is a strong circumstantial
case that has been shown so far, but
unless Prosecuting Attorney Duffy has
more evidence than he has SO far shown
conviction is not certain. That he has
held back some evidence is certain
Benson's confession, when analysed.
is not convincing except to show that
conspiracy to rob Culinane had been
laid He only intimates that Dotson
and Persinger killed Cullinane How
far such evidence would go in court,
unsupported by other evidence, is
something that cannot with safety be
predicted.
Benson, in his confession, has car
ried himself, Persinger and Dotson to a
short distance from the scene of the
murder. He declares he heard no shot
or shots
II is reported that the state has
found in Washington Guch witness
who heard shots at about the time, ac-
cording to Benson's confession, that
the crime was committed. This is one
piece of supporting evidence.
Another is that Noel Dusmorel, who
lives near Elliston, saw Benson, Dotson
and Persinger journeying both to and
from the scene of the murder.
If Mr. Dusmorel testifies to this the
case against Persinger is strengthened
materially. Persinger stoutly claims he
joined Dotson and Benson at Helena
and did not accompany them to Wash
ington gulch, but Benson says he did
go to the gulch and intimates he was
actively engaged in the killing of the
old man. Dusmorers testimony boil
sters up Benson's story and knocks the
props from under Persinger's de-
Tense.
There Is .another bit of evidence not
yet brought out that may be material.
That is the fact that while at the peni-
tertiary Dotson made damaging admis-
sions in regard to the case to a convict.
The convict repeated the admissions to
the prison officials and Prosecuting At
torney Duffy was sent for in hot haste.
Dotson, however, refused to make the
same admissions to Mr.. Duffy and has
since maintained silence. What the ad-
missions Dotson made We're something
the officials are carefully keeping to
themselves.
The evidence so far in sight is that
the trio of prisoners, according to Ben
sons confession, We're near the scene
of the murder when it was committed:
a bullet from a rifle such they car
red was found in the murdered mans
body: shoe tracks from shoes such as
they wore were found about the scene:
shots were heard while they were in the
vicinity; when they were arrested Gull
linane's watch was found in their pos
session, hidden away; Benson declares
they were all in plot to murder Gull
linane, and Dotson is reported as hav-
ing made similar admissions.
Surely a strong case, circumstantial
though it is. The fact that the pris-
oners offered no plausible defense is
much against them. Persinger made
an excellent impression at first, but
in his talks with the authorities has
been caught repeatedly in lies, and the
impression is growing that after all he
is in the crime as deeply as any one.
All the out of town witnesses who
were here Monday to attend the pre-
iimnary examination have returned to
their homes oliver Dotson, father OF
Clinton Dotson and grandfather of
collie" Benson, is among those who
went back to Washington gulch.