The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-21
BEVAN'S TRIAL.
Attorney Freeman Gives an Outline of
the Defense.

Attorney Freeman Gives an Outline OF
the Defense.
Great Falls, Sept. 2O.-The trial of
Mark H. Bevan attracted but few peo-
pie to the court house this morning, al
though it is probably the most inter
esting case on trial at this term Of the
district court. The case was called for
yesterday evening, but not until this
morning was a jury secured and the
actual trial of the case begun. The
jury is composed of the following per
SONS: F. C. Baker, p. S. Matthews, w.
I. Hickory, A. J. Gates, W. A. McCar-
thy, E. Harbordt, G. w Dunlap, Louis
H. Bower, A. l.. belong, Ed Hammill,
P. ]. Bryan, CD. Wilt, James w.
Freeman. who is counsel for the ac-
cused, this morning outlined the de-
tense as follows, stating that they
would attempt to prove that defendant
had been very busy during the wool
season, and that during the time when
the alleged shortage occurred the
clerks under him had been changed
people unacquainted with the business
had been put in and the work had got
behind. Revan was charged with keep
ing the money, but three or four peo-
pie had the combination to the SAFE
the key to the cash drawer was gone,
as We're the keys of the other inside
drawers Bevan, when he took charge
of the office in October, had suggested
that the combination be changed from
that used by his predecessor, but 1t
had never been done. Defendant ad-
mitted having found himself three or
four hundred dollars short in June, but
had not had time to check up the cash
hook and see where it was. 1t was not
an appropriation but atemporary short
age from lack of time to cheek up.
The Great Northern railway, said the
attorney, had received every cent that
had been paid to Mr.. Bevan for them.
He never made false entry or raise
statement.
After the name Of AL J. Smith of
Minneapolis had been entered on the
records as assistant states attorney,
r. p Richards, cashier of the Great
Falls national bank, was called to the
stand as the first witness for the state,
He testified that on July he paid to
Rowan for the Basin Live Stock COM
pany a freight bill of s212.39, which is
one of the items with which BeVan IS
charged, A. j. Shores next testif1ed
that he and Smith had had talk with
Beyan at Shores Office on August IL,
in which they talked about shortage
which was assumed to be fact az
through the conversation. Bevan sam
he did not think the shortage would
amount to over $500, and two particular
items about which Smith had asked
Beyan acknowledged having received
and having used in part to cover a
previous shortage of $3.50. At all times
during the conversation Bevan SAID
that he had not spent any OF the
money from the alleged shortage, hut
did not offer any explanation OF its dis :
appearance He also agreed to go TO
Helena, he following morning, and try
to obtain money with which to make
the shortage good.
p. B. Babcock. travelling auditor or
the Great Northern, was the next VIII
ness for tie state, and he remalnPd
on the stand until court adjourned Tor
the evening. He was the expert VINO
had checked up the books for the com
pany, and he had discovered the nj.
legged shortage. He identified dllterent
books introduced by the state as the
ones IN use at the freight house, ana
told about discovering the shortage,
He admitted that he had appied
money from the August collections 10
make good alleged shortages in july
and thought that a proper proceed ufe:
although it was criminal on the part OF
the prisoner. He was inclined to arsu.
the matter on the witness stand anu
on the whole made a rather poor VIE
ness for the state. Attorney freeman
questioned him very closely on cross
examination, and several times ne APP
neared to contradict himself.