The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-04-21
Peterson, the Boy Grim nal. Will
Have Several Years
IN THE STATE REFORM SCHOOL
Court Proceedings During the First
Of This Week Quite Interesting
Convictions and Sentences Rapidly
Handed Out-Holdup Men Will Be
Tried May 4.

Yesterday was busy day in the
district court, the busiest by far of
the session. At the close of the
days work. one man had been sent
to the penitentiary boy to the re-
form school, and two applicants for
freedom from marital bonds were
made happy. A large amount of
other business was also transacted
Fred Peterson, the youthful thief.
who was arrested last week for steal
ing a horse belonging to H. Bose.
was present in court. and expressed
his desire to be sentenced On ac-
count of his being only II years of
age there was some difference Of
opinion regarding where he should
be sent. to the reform school or to
the penitentiary. County Attorney
Grubb held that the boy was a habit
Lal criminal and that confinement in
the reform school would not have
the desired effect. 1t was finally de-
cided to try the reform school, and
Peterson was ordered to be confined
there for four years. or until he was
p years of age. The lad was the
least concerned Of all about his fu.
tIre. and laughed and chatted as il
at a picnic. He related the story of
stealing the horse without hesitancy.
and it seemed evident that he did
not realize the enormity of the crime.
The judge asked him a number Of
questions about his home but be-
yond stating that his parents reside
in Chicago. he would not divulge any
particulars. He refused to give his
son was a name assumed by him. In
answer to a question he stated that
| he stOlT because he was hungry. He
ran away from home some time ago
and since that time he has been
knocking around the country The
night he stole the horse, he had just
been released from Jail. where he
had served sentence for stealing
saddles. Having no money. and be-
| ing hungry, he decided to steal the
lorse. When he was returned to Jail
after being sentenced, he whsted
sret or pangs OF conscience.
A. J. Cornet, who has been in jail
fot several weeks, waiting trial on
a charge Of forgery. withdrew his
former plea of not guilty. and sub
stituted one of guilty, instead In
LIS behalf County Attorney Grubb
nisde a few remarks, stating that he
| had investigated Comets past his
| tory since coming to this county, and
| found that he was a hard working
nan, with but few bad habits. and
stated that in his opinion the mini
mum sentence would be sufficient. In
accordance with this the Judge sen
fenced him to one year at hard labor
il the state penlLentiary.
William Davis, J. p. McCourt, and
John Black, who are accused of be-
ing the trio of hOldups who robbed a
man near the Conrad house several
weeks ago, were arraigned and upon
their statements that they had no at
! tcrney or means to secure one, the
court appointed B. J. McIntire to de-
! md Davis; F. Joe Rice to perform
similar duty for McCourt. and F.
=. Nash to look after Blacks inter
ests. The men were then returned
t. the Jail. and will plead May 4.
Maria Rollins was granted di-
vorce from r. Rollins, and Mary
Julian was granted her freedom from
Peter Julian.
Contrary to expectations, the jury
was not called, and it may not be
this term, although the court has set
May for setting the case for trial,
and the jury may be called then.