The Anaconda standard., 1899-11-29
A COSTLY INTERFERENCE
John Vuknovich Found Guilty
by Judge Sullivan.
AND FINED FIFTY DOLLARS
He Assaulted Policeman and Liber-
ated a Prisoner-The Court Took
Little Stock in the Story
the Defense Told.

Judge Sullivan administered justice
with strong hand yesterday in the
case in which John Vuknovich was ac-
cused of interfering when Police Off
Ger Everts was arresting a man and
liberating the prisoner, or so hamper
ing the officer that the man got away.
The incident occurred about 10 days
ago, and was the one which created a
big excitement in East Park street by
reason of Officer McNally finding it nee
essary to take a couple of shots at Vuk-
novich, in order to effect his capture.
The case was tried before Judge Sui
lvan yesterday afternoon, and result
ed in the defendant being found guilty
of the charge of interfering with an Of
Ger in the discharge of his duty and be-
ing fined $50 .......
The case was prosecuted by City At
torney Lamb, and Chancellor O'Donnell
appeared for the defendant. The tes-
timony for the city was to the effect
that man whose name was not known
was conducting himself in bolster
GUS manner on Park street at late
hour at night; that Officer Everts
spoke to him twice, and told him that
he would have to desist from the dis
turbance. He paid no. attention, and
the officer spoke to him the third time
before he concluded to arrest him.
The third time Officer Everts arrest
ed the man and started to the city
Jail. AS he turned into Jail alley Vuk-
novich and T. Tomich. heading a large
party of the mans friends, followed
They had not gone far UP the alley
ed to liberate the prisoner. Officer
Everts was struck by the defendant,
and had his club wrested from him.
officer McNally came to Everts' assist
ance, ana a general melee ensued, in
which both lost their clubs, and the
prisoner got away Seeing he and
Everts We're getting the worst of 1t,
Officer McNally drew his gun, and then
Vuknovich turned and fled. The Off
GERS followed, and Officer McNally fired
two shots at uknovich before he was
finally captured
For the defense Vuknovich and To-
mich said that when officer Everts ar
rested the man they followed, intend
ing to bail him out AS they were go
ing up the alley, the prisoner nor any
one else offering any resistance, Off
Ger Everts suddenly dealt Tomich a
terrific blow with his club. This was
what started the trouble, and a gen
eral engagement followed, in which the
prisoner escaped. Tomich exhibited a
wound on the head, which he said was
caused by the blow Everts dealt him
as the starter of the trouble. Later
| Officer McNally said the injury on the
head of Tomich was caused by blow
| he himself gave him when he game Up
on the scene ana found his fenow Off
| Ger being worsted.
The defense produced other witnesses
| who gave their testimony through AL
| derman Medin, who acted as interpra-
| ter their evidence being intended to
| corroborate that of the defendant and
| Tomich but it failed to do so, and the
| court, in announcing his findings, said
he did not believe any police officer
would wantonly strike man with his
club who was not interfering with him
as was testified to, and expressed very
broadly the belief that the story was
trumped up to clear the defendant
He pronounced Vuknovich guilty, and
sentenced him to pay fine of $50. The
defendants counsel gave notice of APP
| peal,