The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-07-04

the stories told by the witnesses for
the state than for the prosecution,
but the general conclusion was about
the same
There was an unusual interest
manifested in the whole case from
beginning to end, and at times the
court had to severely reprimand some
of the spectators before order could
be maintained. The ones who were
in hurry to leave the court room
and made a rush for the door as
quick as move was made to take
a recess were the greatest offenders
in this respect, and the court in the
course of few remarks on the i'm
propriety of such proceeding, said
he would fine the next man who
rushed for the door before the bailiff
announced recess or adjournment,
as the case might be. After that bet
ter order was maintained.
Never before in any case in the
history of the county have so many
attorneys appeared for the prosecu-
ton of any case as in this instance.
that the accused was tried on the
charge of committing crime that
at the most would mean but five
years in the penitentiary, with a
minimum sentence of six months in
the county Jail. The number of wit
nesses for the state was also unusu-
ally large and went to prove the re.
mark of Attorney Grub of the de-
tense, when he stated that it was
partly a case of revenge.
The feature of the Lang case
Wednesday was the testimony of
John Lang, the defendant, who is on
trial for receiving stolen property
knowing it to have been stolen. He
went on the stand at about 230 p.
m. and for several hours he held the
close attention of the crowded court
room as he related his connection
case in recent years. He told his
story in a clear voice and was at all
times ready with an answer to any
question his attorneys would ask. He
needed no urging to talk, but, on the
contrary, had to be checked in several
instances when he showed an inclin-
alton to dwell on circumstances that
had no bearing on the case at issue.
In the direct examination he was per-
fectly cool and at all times perfectly
at ease.
He stated that he had lived in the
Flathead valley ever since 1888, and
was SO years of age. He is mar
ried man and has one child. His
parents, brothers and sisters are all
, residents of this county at the pres
ent time.
For the past ten years he has been
f engaged in the butcher business and
has dealt in cattle, horses, sheep
| hogs, chickens, etc, besides ranching
| On the morning of February Z, 1902
+ Frank Roberts came to his ranch, or
| the east side of the river, and told
f him that Joe Robinett, Jim Turner
r and himself had been sent to Kalis
g pell with a bunch of cattle by Larry
/ McGregor, and that with the bunch
4 of McGregor cattle he (Roberts) haC
d eight head of his own that he would
like Lang to buy. Lang asked hin
9 where they were and Roberts tolC
e him they were near Sedan in charg,
d of the other two men. He ther
/ wanted to know why they were helC
s there instead of being brought t.
d kalispell or to his ranch, and Rob
e erts told him that they had decided
that it would be best for them tt
S have Lang help them drive the cattl
) through town; another reason. Rob
V erts said, was to give Lang the frs
t. opportunity to buy the eight head be
a longing to him before they were seel
d by other butchers. Lang finally cor
/ sented to go and look at the cattle
It and the men saddled up and starte,
e. out. This was in the morning abou
9 s or 8 o'clock
ID When the two men were opposit
d the ranch of Charles Downing, on tn
o. Smith valley road, they met Turne
d and Robinett with the cattle. Rot
erts then pointed out to Lang tn
Il eight head claimed by him that h
er wanted Lang to buy. There were 2
lr head of cattle all told in the bunch
re two cows and 81 steers. Of these 1
1t head were his own, but were con
e monty called McGregor's cattle, fror
n the brand, II bar II. There was ais