The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-11-16
GOT THREE YEARS
BURGLARS PLEAD GUILTY AND
ARE SENT TO PRISON.
ASSOCIATES ARE DISCHARGED
Men Who Burglarized Mulch &
Young's Store Take Short SEN
fences Today-Dramatic
Scene in Court.

There was a dramatic scene III Judge
McClernan's court this morning.
William Burns and Matthew Sheridan,
charged with burglarizing the store OF
Mulch & Young, pleaded guilty to the
crime and were sentenced to three years
in state prison.
william. Benton and Edward Lacey,
charged jointly with Burns and Sheri-
dan, were discharged from custody.
These were the four men who were
captured near Anaconda about 10 days
ago by the one armed under sheriff there,
Morgan.
They were brought back here to answer
to the charge named after Under Sheriff
Michigan had gone to Anaconda anu
looked at the goods found on them.
Loaded Down With Tools.
Burns, Sheridan, Lacey and Burton
were loaded down with burglars ac-
couterments when captured. They mad
nitro glycerine, giant powder, caps ana
fuses, and soap.
Also in their possession was found a
! lot of goods supposed to be part OF the
| fruits of their depredations here and
elsewhere.
The different fates that befel! the men
in court this morning were due largely
| to the fact that the things named were
| found in the possession of Burns ana
| Sheridan, nothing discriminating being
| found on Lacey and Burton.
Only Three Men Involved.
| The burglary mentioned. and other bur-
glaries which the men were at first be-
| lieved to have committed, developed evil
1 dence to show that only three men were
| involved in them.
| That the men were burglars there was
J no doubt in the minds of the authorities.
A little of the ro-glycerine taken from
| them was exploded near Anaconda and
| shook the courthouse.
Attorney Booth represented sheridan
! and Burns, and when the four men mad
| been brought in, those two were sesre-
| gated in jurors chairs from Burton ana
Lacey, VINO were given seats at the law
| yers' tables, and Mr.. Booth addressed
the court.
| Sheridan was a mi6dle-aged man With
beard and Burton and Lacey were
| dark-skinned men somewhat younger
| All three were heavy-set and OF me-
dunn height. Burns was young man.
| with black wavy hair and rather a
| finer cut face than the others.
Reading Is Waived.
The attorney announced that his
| clients would waive the reading OF the
information, which had just been tiled
and would waive the statutary time al
lowed them to plead and plead guilty az
once. Sheridan then stood up to be SEN
fenced.
The court said:
"Nr. Sheridan, YOU have been in
formed against for the crime OF bur-
elary. and have pleaded guilty. The
court has determined in your case thai
YOU are guilty Of burglary in the flrs'
degree. Have you legal cause to show
why you should not be sentenced now!
Sheridan answered the question in the
negative and the court continued: II
is the Judgment of the court that vol
be confined in the state prison at Dee1
Lodge for three years at hard labor.
Sheridan sat down and Burns ros'
and received the same sentence.
Discharge Asked For.
Then Mr.. Yancey stated to the cour
that the county attorneys office mac
thought at first that all four mon were
equally guilty of burglary, but that sufti
cient evidence ito convict Lacey ant
! Burton could not be secured. ana n
asked the discharge of the later. Th
court discharged these men with TIN
statement that they were very forum
ate to get off in such fashion.
Sheridan and Burns were then Or
dered returned to Jail. and as they ros
with three years Of captivity STARING
them in the face, and their friends go
up to go out of the court room to lib
erty, the dramatic character of the seen
was intense.
Burns face indicated that he felt tn
situation keenly. and he cast penetra
ting look upon the men who were free
that seemed both accusing and resent
full.