The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-14
ROBILLARD, WHO WAS RECENTLY
CONVICTED, WILL ASK ONE.
GRAPHIC HISTORY OF THE CASE
Many of Missoula's Citizens Not
Pleased With Verdict and Much
Interest Manifested in Robil-
IL lard's Behalf.
Especial to Inter Mountain

NllSSOuId, Lee. 14.-fSdptlSIe lSODllIdfu
was today sentenced to eight years in
the penitentiary, the jury in his case
having found him guilty of manslaugh-
ter. The verdict was compromise, eight
standing for acquittal and four for MUIR
der in the first degree.
The jury was out 25 hours. and not I'M
nil those favoring acquittal consented to
q manslaughter verdict could agreement
Me reached. The verdict does not give
satisfaction.
During the three days the trial lasted
The court room was crowded and by far
the greatest number of those who heard
the evidence are convinced that Robillard
killed Antoine Michel in self-defense.
Some of the best men in the county tes-
kiied to Robillard's good character and
TO the bad character of the deceased, who
was known as a vicious man who had
committed numerous assaults upon per-
Sons during his life.
The tragedy took place near the vii
aage of Plains on the evening Of October
Is. There was but one eye witness to
the death struggle between the men.
Manuel Curley, and he was not placed
Upon the stand, though he is in Jail.
The reason given for the refusal to
place him upon the stand by either the
prosecution or defense was that Curley
might not tell the truth.
When Robillard was arrested Curley
told a story which if true would have
hanged Robillard, but when Curley was
arrested as an accompiice he told Joyce
and Mulrooney, Robillard's attorneys,
another story, which would have cleared
III, k~11 9th
able tales, and both sides were afraid of
him.
Robillard's Convincing Story.
The straightforward and convincing
story told by Robillard is still the subject
of the day. The Oldest attorneys and
men who have been around court rooms
all their lives agree in saying that no
such tale was ever heard on the witness
stand. In all accounts of celebrated MUIR
der trials no such evidence was ever in
produced as that given by Robillard in
his own behalf.
A simple uneducated man, he recited
The facts of the terrible struggle in the
dark--a man bent upon taking life, armed
with knife another unarmed man try
ing to save his own life, clinching with
his assailant, falling down, escaping from
his grasp, retreating only to be seized
again, and at last saving his own life
ny hurting stone with deadly aim at
his assailant, crazed with drink ana with
murder in his heart.
Dr. Fitzgerald, who conducted the post
mortem upon the remains of Michel, tes-'
Titled that both jaws of the dead man
were broken and that the blow which
crushed the bones was dealt after death
had ensued, as the flesh showed no signs
of bruise or discoloration. This testi-
mony aided materially in RObillards con-
NictOn.
A theory which finds many adherents,
sprung since the trial, is that Curley Is
responsible for the mutilation of the re-
mains.
Robillard testified that during the death
struggle Curley disappeared and that he
did not see him again until he had
mounted his horse and ridden away for
80 Yards or more, when Curley sudden
ty appeared from out of the darkness and
asked what had become of Michel.
Another theory.
Robillard told Curley that he had left
him lying upon the hillside, but did not
Know whether he was dead or not. The
belief now exists that Curley left Rob-
fllard, returned to where Michel lay dead,
and procuring a stone mashed in his skull
and broke his jaws
Curley had it in for Michel, so to speak
HIe had been stabbed twice by the vicious
half breed early in the fight. In fact
1t was Robillard's intervention to save
Curley's life that diverted Michel's at
&entiOn to himself.
Loyal to Curley, Robillard, knowing of
his companions mutilation of Michel's
remains, refused to betray him.
To Secure Pardon.
AN effort will be made to secure Robil-
aard's pardon, and that before long. No
difficulty would be encountered in secur-
ing the names of three fourths of the Cit
items of Missoula county to that petition.
I'm fact the majority of those who would