The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-06
ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE
John Hesley Faces the Charge
of Murder.
TESTIMONY is COMPLETED
Arguments Will Begin at 10 O'clock
This Morning-Story of the Kill
ing OF Currie as Related by
the Witnesses.

Inc Irlal OF JOnn lesley Tor the muir
Ter of John Currie, which was inter-
rupted on Saturday. after jury had
been obtained, by the excusing of W.
M. Dyer, juryman, was resumed be-
fore Judge Clancy yesterday morning.
There was an entire absence of such
awe as usually clothes murder trial,
and the taking of evidence was hurried
along with as little ceremony as would
be devoted to the veriest petty larceny
case. In the forenoon half dozen wit
neSseS for the state were examined and
a strong case was made against the de-
PENDANT. The testimony from these wit
nesses, cohering in a consistent chain,
went to show that Hesley, the defend
ant, followed Currie, the man slain,
along a street at midnight and crushed
his skull with a stick Of limb cord
wood
The first preceding when the case
opened was to have incorporated into
the minutes of the court the reason for
which Dyer was excused. The roll of
the II jurors already in the box was
read by the clerk, and then James Jen-
kins was called and questioned as to
his qualifications to serve as juror.
He was passed by both counsel for the
state and the defendant.
The state will now take it's fifth and
last peremptory challenge" said the
court
I'VE waive" said Mr.. Connolly.
The defendants counsel used his
ninth challenge and excused Mr.. Jen-
kins. Another venireman was called,
examined and passed, and then counsel
for the defendant used his last chal-
lenge and excused him. Sam Johnson
was the next man called He was
passed for cause, and the jury was
sworn in to try the case
The jury was as follows: J. R. Nc
Kenzie, James Gavin. Thomas Trewin,
T. ]. Trull, John Odgers, w. NJ. Berry
man, Christ Christianson, E. o. Morris,
r. H. Wearing. w. T. Jennings, Thomas
Rowe and Sam Johnson.
Deputy County Attorney Kelley read
the information, charging the defend
ant with murder, to the jury. He then
stated the case that the state expected
to. prove against the defendant, saying
that the alleged murder occurred in
South Butte in the neighborhood of
Utah avenue and South Arizona street
In. the statement he ayerred that He's
ley crushed Currie's skull as he lay on
the ground.
John N Kirk waived his right to
make statement for the defendant.
The name of William Pennington was
by consent entered upon the back of the
Information as states witness
P. ]. Sheeran, the county physician,
was the first witness for the state. He
said that he made an autopsy upon
. Currie, and that the latter's body was
that of a well-nourished man.
II found, upon examination of the
body, that there were two good sized
scalp wounds and fracture of the skull
extending from the right eye to the
back of the head. A piece Of skull
three inches long and an inch wide was
missing, piece of bone was embedded
in the brain and portion of the brain
the size of an egg was involved in the
injury" said DIR. Sheeran.
what caused the death of Currie 2"
asked Mr.. Connolly.
AN injury to the BRAIN" answered
the DOCTOR ~
would you say the injury was caused
by an instrument of some kind?'
Il should say it was made by blunt
instrument, with a crushing blow
How many fractures were there alto
gether?"
1T was a compound fracture; many
simple fractures running from a CEN
ter
The doctor exhibited bits of bone
taken from Currie's brain at the au-
topsy.
In the cross-examination by Mr..
Kirk he stated that the fracture was