The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-07-20
THE. TRUTH BADLY TWISTED
Witnesses for and Against Goldstein
Clashed, Contradicted and
Quarrelled

Quarrelled.
That someone has his wires crossed in
police court this morning and had but
little respect for the unauthorized truth
there can be little doubt, as shown by the
testimony of the witnesses in the case
against Louis Neir charged with robbery.
Ihe hearing came up yesterday after
noon and was continued until this morn
ing. The statements made by several
witnesses are directly contradictory of
one another. Judge Boyle was in a
quandry when it came to deciding how
many falsehoods had been uttered dur
ing the hearing. Neir was accused by
B. Goldstein with having taken from
Goldsteins room 100 Utah avenue trav-
cling case, twenty dollars in money and
some other articles Of small value Every
one connected with the case with the
exception of the court and the states
attorney was of Jewish descent, the court
room being crowded with that NATIONAL
ity.
All seemed to have hand in the affair
and took sides one way or another. An
interpreter was sworn and took the an
swers of those who could not speak En-
glish. Amusement was plenty.
NJ. Fried of Colorado street saloon
acted as attorney for Neir. He made
things lively several times for the
prosecution. Mr.. Fried fought all
ob.e ctions hard and refused to give
IN an inch when he objected on the
ground of relevancy, competency or
materially. Judge Boyle was compelled
to take a hand in the affair several times
and straighten out the mess only to have
everything upset moment later by all
wanting to talk at once. In the excite
ment the English language was forgotten
and there was nothing for the court CIR
his assistants to do but to look wise and
emphatically call "Order, Order, Order!!"
Goldstein testified that Neir had brok-
en- the lock from its fastening and enter
ed his room during his absence. He said
that Neir had been staying with him for
about a month and half, but that re-
Gently he had requested him to move.
This, Neir, according to Goldstein refused
to do so he decided to put an additional
lock on the door and on Monday last
he did so. Goldstein said that he left
his room for a few moments and that
when he returned the travelling case and
money were missing.
Mrs. Schomowitz, the proprietor of the
house in which Goldstein had been living
testified that that man had rented the
! apartments from her and that he always
paid rent She said that she had seen
Neir about the place Monday last and
that he was hammmering at the lock.
Myer Schomowitz an eight year old lad
lad testified to seeing Neir about the
pace on that day and said that he saw
him tear the lock from its fastenings
with a Ratchet. He did not see the de-
PENDANT put the lock back on the door
and didn't think he did. Edith, the boy
sister told of Neir's disappearance with
| the satchel some few minutes afterwards.
On cross examination the little girl
said that the family had had trouble
with Neir, but it was owing to the fact
that he had insulted her.
| Louis Becker for the defendant told an
entirely different story from that related
| by the witnesses for the prosecution. In
| fact it was directly contradictory In ev-
| ery particular almost. He told OF meet
| ing Neir Monday morning and of going
| to Goldstein's room with him. He SAID
| that Neir went into the house with a
key; that the lock was not torn off and
that Neir only took his own satchel from
| the room. He stated that there were no
children about the place. that the clothes
line mentioned by the other witnesses
did not exist, and that no one saw them
60 into the house or come out.
| Policeman Auerbach testified as to the
good character of the defer dant, and
stated that Goldstein had inf rmed him
that he would gladly drop the case pro-
! vided the court would order Neir out
and thus prevent Goldstein from suffer
ing trouble by reason OF his prosecu'
ton.
On being further questioned Goldsteir
stated that he had not had any CONVEX.
sation with the policeman concerning the
case.
Mr.. Freid took the stand in behalf o.
| his client and told of his good charac
ter. He stated that the young man hat
worked for him for nine months: tina
during that time he had on various oc
casions left three or four hundred dol
lars in his saloon and had gone out will
no one in the place but Neir: that thu
money was never touched. He consider
ed the defendant an honest man. Gold
| stein had told him that he would dismiss
| the case if ne could be fixed with tn
| court.
Samuel Melrunt testified in a simila
| line and said that he offered his testi
mony in behalf OF the defendant be
cause he considered that he was limo
cent of the chargfe.
Neir stated on the witness stand thu:
Goldstein and he had always paid tn