The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-09
oecial Dispatch to the Standard.

Il.
Helena, Mont, Nov. S.-To any one
who followed to-day's proceedings in
the trial of John B. Welcome before
the supreme court it must have been
very evident that the accused Butte at
torney derived very little comfort from
| them.
The accused and his friends had hoped
Tor something from the searching cross
examination Of Fred Whiteside, the ac-
cuser, which they expected Attorney
Wallace to make. They were not dis
! appointed in the examination, but in
| the result. A more vigorous and thor
| ough oss-questioner was never he ard
| in Montana court; but the examina-
| tlon had not the slightest effect on the
| witness.
He told and re-told his story of the
bribery of members of the legislature
| by the Clark agents and related it with
| out single instance of material vari-
ance-either before the legislative N
| vestigating committee. the Helena
| grand jury or during the two days in
| which he has been on the stand in the
! trial of Mr.. Welcome.
! Efforts were made to confuse him. to
get him to contradict himself, but with
out success.
He was as cool as any man in the court
room and did not answer a question
until he fully understood it and had
analyzed it in his mind. He was under
cross-examination all day, and when
he left the stand there was not flaw
nor discrepancy in his testimony.
Under the ruling of the court the
cross examination took the widest pos
sible range. but with no good result to
the accused.
A noticeable fact throughout the trial
so far has been the absolute fairness of
the court in its rulings, giving the.ac
cused every right he may have and
every opportunity to bring out any evil
dence that may be favorable to him,
and yet at the same time 'determinGdS
to know for itself the whole truth
This was not day particularly pleas
ant to Mr.. Welcome and his friends.
State Senator w. A. Clark of Virginia
City, one of the principal witnesses
against Mr.. Welcome. arrived in Hell
ena at noon from Kansas City and will
remain throughout the trial.
There are those here who had hoped
that something would happen TO pre-
vent Mr.. Clarks return in time for the
trial, and their faces grew very long
when he appeared on the scene to-day.
He had been in Missouri on legal busi-
| ness, which he closed up successfully,
and is now here to give his testimony
in the disbarment proceedings.
Attorney General Nolan this after
noon created a mild sensation in court
by making a statement that it had
come to his knowledge that friends and
representatives of Mr.. Welcome had
been accosting and annoying some of
the witnesses.
Allowed to Stand.
When the hearing was resumed this
morning Chief Justice Brantly, revert
ing to the motion to strike out the tes-
timony of DR.. Minshall, who said he
had tried to negotiate some matters
with Senator Myers and Representative
Woods of Ravalli county at the in
stance of W. NJ Bickford to secure
court had determined to let the testi-
mony stand for the present for the
reason that it was taken out of order
and it was therefore impossible to say
whether the testimony was compe-
tent or not, and it would be allowed
to stand until other proof was heard,
SO thai it could be determined wheth-
er DR.. Minshalrs evidence was ma
terial or not.
Mr. Nolan said it was already in
evidence that Mr.. Bickford was con-
nected with Welcome in the conspir-
acy, but the chief justice said that
would be considered later
Cross Examination Resumed
William Wallace resumed the cross
examination of Mr.. Whiteside, and he
asked the latter If he did not testify
before the legislative committee that
Welcome had offered him $4,000 for
his support of Clark on the second of
January, and If he did not put it, in
his affidavit of accusations against
Mr. Welcome, as 'about the first of
January
correct, and Mr.. Wallace wanted to
know why he had made a change in
the date.
Il know of no particular reason"
replied the witness, Except that about
the first of January is also about
the second Of January"
The witness was asked as to several
other unimportant changes in his tes-
timony and he said he did not remem-
ber just what the language of his tes-
timony before the legislative commit
tee was.
1.-The fact is, however," Mr.. White
side said.
''Just hold on" interrupted Mr.. Wal
lace. You are an intelligent witness
and can answer my questions directly.
If you will do that we will get along
much better"
Attorney General Nolan protested to
the court that Mr.. Wallace should not
chide the witness, and said that II
there was any lecturing to be done
the court should do it.
You testified yesterday that when !
Mr.. Welcome paid the $4,000 to Mr.. |
Clark of Virginia City Mr.. Welcome
walked to the southeast corner of the |
room?"
Yes. sir'
Was there any furniture in that |
corner of the room?'
There may have been a desk there"
A Peculiar Picture.
Did you see the money Mr.. Well
come placed in the envelope?n
Yes, sir; MIR. Welcome remarked.