The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-01-23
TEMPEST IN
A PASTE POT
Rival Painters Mix Up Bad Batch
In Court.
WHO STOLE DALY'S PASTE
The Absorbing Question-BelI Ar.
rested for the Alleged Larcenous
Act, But Daily Fails to Appear to
Prosecute-Suit for Defamation OF
Character Threatened.

An evil smelling bucket of paste,
SO old that it grew fungus whiskers
and would stop scavenger wagon,
has stirred up all kinds of trouble
among the painters of the city and
even threatens to disrupt the paint
ers' union. Some time last week T..
r. Bell, one of the city painters and
paper hangers went into French
Bros steam laundry, equipped with
the necessary ingredients to mix a
bucket of paste, the laundry being
selected on account of the steam
hose. French showed him bucket
of paste which had been standing in
the place for month or two, or so
long that he had forgotten the origi-
nal maker, and asked him if he
wanted it, as they wanted somebody
to take it out of the way. Bell in
spected the dope and thought he
could make some use of it and carted
il Off
Not long thereafter F. G.. Daily, an
other painter, the original owner of
the paste, put in an appearance and
claimed his paste bucket, but as
French had already disposed of it.,
DAILY was handicapped. French told
him Bell had taken away the paste
and bucket, and to him in hot haste
went DAILY and demanded the instant
return of his copyrighted mixture.
Bell had used it, and seeing that it
was not forthcoming DAILY threatened
to have the law on him.
Sure enough, on Saturday DAILY
swore out a warrant, charging Bell
with the larceny of one bucket of
paste, of the value Of $1.5O, and one
bucket The warrant was served,
and Bell was hailed to appear before
his honor Judge Wallace for trial
Wednesday. Bell determined to fight
the case and employed McKeown &
Conrow in his behalf, and the defend
ant and his lawyer. McKeown. and
half a dozen witnesses were lined up
at the appointed hour in the city
court.
DAILY had other engagements, and
not appearing to push the prosecu
Mr.. McKeown briefly stated to the
court that his client had witnesses
to prove that the prosecution was
malicious and without foundation
| further. that the commodity alleged
to have been stolen was not worth
ten cents at the greatest, and he
made a motion to dismiss the case
complaining witness to be taxed
with the costs. This was done.
Now DAILY claims that he regretted
his hasty action and failed to appear
and prosecute out of compassion fol
Bell, at whom. he admitted. he was
much incensed. but on thinking il
over had concluded not to subject
the defendant to the odium of convic
ton and the court expenses.
Bell is the one that is now ag
grieved and threatens a damage sui
against DAILY for defamation of char
acter and soiling his reputation will
a dirty, mouldy paste, which was no
worth the purloining anyhow. A sui
for $500 was talked Of and Bel
also says he will enter charge!
against DAILY in Tile painters uniol
and have him expelled if possible
Inasmuch as the paltry grievance ha
been inexpensive to the taxpayer
through the ready wit of Attorne.
McKeown. in causing the costs t,
be taxed against the complaining wit
ness, the public is in position t.
enjoy this revolt of the paste makers
hut such trivial matters should no
be countenanced as causes of actio1
in any court of even limited iurisdi(
ton. Mr.. French says he did wan
, to get rid of the bucket of old past
: and would probably have thrown
out into the alley had Bell not al
rived OPPORTUNITY. and an Old buckle
o. paste is easier to use when on
is in hurry than to concoct neN
mess. so Bell took it, and evel if h
surmised to whom it belonged it wa
ridiculous to ascribe criminal inten