The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-26
ON A SERIOUS CHARGE
Assault With Intent to Commit
Murder. y
WILLIAM LING RELEASED
His Defense Was That Mrs. Laura John
son Wanted Him to Marry Her
and He Positively Refused
to Do It.

The serious charge of assault with in
tent to kill, which was brought against
William Ling, a MINER about a week
ago, at the instance of Mrs. Laura
Johnson, was dismissed yesterday at
the conclusion of Ling's preliminary
hearing which was held in the after
noon before Justice Harrington Ling
set up the defense that Mrs. johnson
wanted him to marry her and insti-
gated the action because he refused to
have anything to do with her. This
was not the basis of the dismissal,
however, which was granted upon the
motion of Deputy County Attorney
Roy Alley, who stated to the court he
did not regard the evidence sufficient
to warrant taking the case into the
district court. Ling was his own law
yer and conducted himself in very
erratic manner, asking a question and
then calling the witness a liar and fire.
quently had to be called down by the
court.
Mrs. Laura johnson, the nrosecutrix,
was called to the stand as the first wit
ness. She said the defendant came to
her house at 250 East Mercury street
and came into her kitchen. One Of her
pldi ueIS SIaGICu MIN Dut Oh the IlDuS0,
but he refused to go, and drawing a
gun, threatened to shoot her. He had
for long time. been in the habit of
lettering around her place and calling
her vile names.
The defendant ss-examined. did
! pull gun and point it at you?' he
asked. The witness replied, You
did,
You're dirty liar" said Ling.
'sWp 6nnff want 10,
in this court said Judge Harrington
sternly, to Ling. You vii get your
chance to testify"
Continuing. Ling asked: Didn't you
come to me and throw your arms
around me and say Wouldn't we make
a fine coupler and didn't l say we
would make a fine couple a long way
apart ?? +"
mo, you're liar, you're a liar"
screamed the woman.
john Lelner, one Of Mrs Johnson's
boarders, took the stand and said Ling
came to the house and knocked at the
front door. Mrs. Johnson went to the
door. and seeing who was there closed
the door and went back to her kitchen,
she said to witness she was afraid of
Ling. and when he opened the door and
came in, witness ordered him out He
replied, Get out yourself, you -"
lie then went up to Mrs. Johnson, and
pointing something at her, said, '.I'l
blow your head off" He then went
outside and icaIled to witness and an
other man in the house to come out
and he would Shoot them Witness did
not see what Ling had in his hand and
could not saytit was gun
Ling took the stand and told q story
OF how he had stood good for grocery
bills for the prosecutrix when she was
IN need. out of sympathy for her, and
then said: "One day I went to her
house and she threw her arms around
me and said, Wouldn't We make a fine
coupler I said. Yes, a long way
apart and would have nothing more
to do with her He then told Of going
to Mrs. JohnsOn's house On the day the
alleged assault took place, as be said,
to collect what she owed him. He had
just come from work and had his
candlestick in his hand but did not
have gun nor any other weapon. He
demanded his money, and when or
dered out Of the house left, but did not
threaten any one.
Mr.. Alley stated to the court he did
not believe the evidence warranted
binding the defendant over and he was
Mrs. Johnson protested to Mr.. Alley
after the dismissal and said she was
afraid Lin" would take her life. She
was assured a course with reference
to Ling that would afford her adequate
protection. From this it was inferred
steps would be taken to inquire into
I4ing's mental condition