The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-07-04
LANG TRIAL
INTERESTING
Roberts Turns States Evidence and
Alleges Conspiracy.
TO DELIVER STOLEN CATTLE
To Lang, Who Had Agreed to Re-
ceiVe and Pay Price for Them
at Any Time-Lang Gives Evidence
in RebuttaI,

The prosecution sprung their sleeve
card in the Lang case Tuesday, when
they put Frank Roberts on the stand
to testify to the agreement alleged
to have been made with Lang, where
by the latter agreed to buy all the
cattle stolen by Roberts and Robinett
and brought to Kalispell. Roberts
gave his testimony unfalteringly and
was in no way disconnected by the
fact that every eye in the court room
was fixed upon him in curious inter
est. 1t was known that the state
would play him as their winning card
and the majority of the spectators in
the court room were there for the
sole purpose of hearing his testi-
mony.
Roberts stated that on the occa-
sion of John Lang's visit to the res
ervation in January he was with
Roberts and Robinett for several
days, and told them that he would
buy all the cattle they could steal
and bring to Kalispell. In accord
ance with this agreement Roberts
and Robinett, in the early part of
February rounded up % head of cat
tie, only one of which was owned by
Lang, and started for Kalispell by
way of McGregor's ranch. near Ma
rion. On the night of the sixth of
February they stopped at the Darling
ranch, just west of Kalispell, and on
the morning of the 7th he (Roberts)
rode over to Lang's ranch and told
him that he and Robinett had the cat
tie and for him to come over and
look at them. Together they left the
Lang ranch and rode through Kalis
pell to where the cattle were being
held, and on reaching them Lane
asked him if there were any Herman
cattle in the bunch, as, if there were
they would have to be gotten rid o.
at once. The cattle, % in number
of which % were stolen, were ther
driven to Lang's ranch and put il
the different corrals. Lang and Rob
erts had then returned to Kalispel
and, when opposite a lane east o
town, Lang had paid him $500 TO
his share, and was going to pay thu
same amount to Robinett, who hat
remained in town. He had afterwarC
met Robinett and the latter had sail
he had got his money.
Roberts swore positively that Ian;
knew the cattle were stolen at tn
time he had bought them, and ha,
agreed long before to take stolen cat
tie at any time. His testimony wa
very damaging to the defendant an
created decided stir among tn
spectators.
He was asked what reward he wa
to get for turning states evidence
and replied that the county attorne
had promised to treat him righ
What was meant by treating hin
right was not explained He toll
everything connected with the stea
ing of the cattle and every step tina
was taken until the cattle were d,
livered to John Lang. Then, havin
completed his part of the allege
bargain, he received his money an
left town that night, going to Sp,
kane, where he left for Oregon an
was afterward captured.
Both the defense and the prosecv
ton had an unusually large numbe
of witnesses on the stand. but the
testimony was merely corroborativ
of the principal witness and brougf
out nothing new or startling. Their
were more discrepancies betwee