The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-08-12
JUSTICE MOVES SWIFTLY.
Valley County Murderer Sentenced With.
In Twenty-Five Days Of His Crime.

Valley County Murderer Sentenced With.
In Twenty-Five Days Of His Crime.
GLASGOW, Aug. lO.-Something Of
q record has been established in the
district court Of this state in the trial
and conviction OF Robert Walsh here
for the murder of Joshua Truax at
Hinsdale on the 10th of last month.
Only % days have elapsed since the
commission Of the crime, and today
Robert Walsh Is on his way, in COM
pauy with Sheriff Cosner, to Deer
Lodge. there to spend the remainder
Of his days. Judge Tattan's prompt.
ness In getting the jury together and
the thoroughness Of the trial in this
case. has served to strengthen the con.
tidence OF the law abiding citizens Of
Valley county in the efficacy of the
courts, aud It is safe to say that the
lawless are equally impressed and
will consider this poor country for
their pursuits. When the justice OF
the peace, on the preliminary hearing,
allowed Robert Walsh to go back to
his old haunts on ten Thousand dollar
bail, there were many murmurs Of dis.
satisfaction about Hinsdale, and but
for the prompt and imperative order
OF Judge Tattan that the defend ant be
again placed in custody, it is feared
that summary proceedings would have
been taken by citizens.
Walsh was ably defended by his at
torneys, Hurd and D.gnan, and the
States attorney had some difficulty In
getting witnesses to tell all they knew
about the affair, but Notwithstanding
this, the jury were not long in decid.
ing that Walsh was guilty Of murder
in the second degree, some OF the jury
even desiring q verdict Of murder in
the first degree. Walsh's defense was
that the pistol with which he dia the
killing was accidentally discharged
while struggling with the deceased for
its possession. This theory, however,
was not sustained. The Witnesses tes.
titled that Walsh struck Truax in the
face with his revolver, knocking Truax
partly down, and that while Truax was
endeavoriug to regain his feet, Walsh
deliberately placed the gun to his neck
and fired the fatal shot. Truax was
not armed. The killing took place In
back room OF Richard Pledges ga
loon at Hinsdale, whittier the two men
had gone, accompanied by friends for
the purpose OF talking over some dit.
ferences, and words soon led to q
fight. Both Walsh and Truax have a
reputation Of being quarrelsome, and
Walsh has been known for some time
as "Six Shooter Bob," on account Of
his frequent gun plays. He has wife
and two children. Truax was an un.
married man aud neighbor OF
Walsh.
Judge Tattan, Ia sentencing Walsh
said: II have given your case con.
siderable thought, and l have en-.
deavored to find some mitigating cir.
cumstances In your case. With that
In view, have asked your neighbors
and fl.e.e.s u prescut whatever they
knew t..a. might lead me To some ex.
tenuatins features in this crime. The
only expression that | have received
from them, however, has been one OF
sympathy for your wife and children.
Ia truth, you had no defense, and the
law demanded your life for the life
that you had needlessly and without
excuse or justification, taken. The
jury, however, declared that justice
would be satisfied with less. | am un.
able TO allow my sympathy for your
family, under the oath that | have
taken to do equal justice to the state
and the individual, to swerve me from
what my conscience tells me is my
duty. The judgment Of the law aud
The sentence of the court is that you,
Robert Walsh, be imprisoned in the
state prison Of this state during your
aatural life.
Walsh remarked 10 the deputy, as
ae was being taken back 10 Jail:
"Well, the old man handed me the
whole bunch
Major liridgeman's Trial.