Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-11-14

up. the defendant being ready for a
hearing. Mr.. Ayers, however, arose.
and said that as the Long case had
been dismissed, and there was no
more evidenve against Taylor than
Long, he would move that the case
he also dismissed. and that Heinicke
he formally discharged.
Continuing, Mr. Ayers said that Sher.
iff Slater and Mr.. Lavigne had pro.
cured much evidence which the par
ties furnishing it had subsequently
found to be erroneous. The parties
from whom they had obtained mucn
very important information has sim
ply made mistakes, which, of course
misled the officers. From the evidence
that had ben presented to them, must
say that the officers were fully war
ranted at the time in making these
arrests. l will ask that the docket
show that all of the defendants are
discharged at this time
Huntoon is Severe. :.
In reply to this Mr.. Huntoon, of
counsel for Taylor, said he took ex-
ception to the statement of the coun-
ty attorney, as the officers had no
evidence whatever that would bear
scrutiny against Taylor. He had new
er in his life been in Studzinski's
place, and little investigation would
nave revealed the fact. I'VE accept
the motion of the prosecution for the
discharge of the defendant, but we
accept it as matter of right, and not
as any favor whatever at the hands of
the state. We want that distinctly un-
derstood by the people at large"
And so ended proceeding that has
stirred this community deeply. Pub
lie interest was again SHOWN by the
crowd that assembled in the district
court room, where in the inquiry was
held, although there had been no pub
lie announcement as to that.
In reviewing the case, it may again
be stated that attention was first di-
rected to Long, Taylor and Heinicke
ir connection with this crime from
the mere fact that they lived in a
house directly in the rear of Studzin-
skis place. From that circumstance
alone, 1t was natural to suppose that
some information might possibly be
obtained from them. At the outset of
the PinkertOn detectives investiga-
tion. however, he was misleh by 9th.
ers giving information who were COM
pletely mistaken as to dates. Follow
ing up this misinfOrmation, he soon
secured some more of the same kind,
and finally reached point where pos
tive suspicion against the three men
was aroused. 1t was the intention to
thoroughly sift and prove each phase
or the case before any step was TAX
en-, but just at that time a prema-
ture 1ntimation of what was coming
reached the public, and forced the off.
GERS to act before they were fully pre-
pared to do SO. This was done in the
expectation that the information OBJ
tanned would be found all right, but
as 1t turned out it was found to be
all wrong.
The Pinkerton man labored under
many disadvantages from the begin
ming. The crime had been committed
so long before he was sent for that
many OF the evidences were scattered
and the sources of information was
also gone. Theories that might have
been exploded in an hour on Aug. 25,
required many days by the time ne
came, and a large amount of work
was done without result. The same
course would have been followed with
regard to the evidence in this particu-
lar case had not the detectives hand
been forced.
Slater vii, Continue.
Although Mr.. Lavigne, the Pinker-
ton detective, left for Seattle yester.
right On at work on this battling mys-
of solving it.
What Lavigne Says.
Before leaving, Mr.. Lavigne was
asked for his views Of his mission to
Lewistown, and replied:
Il have only the kindest words Of
praise for the assistance rendered and
kind treatment received by me at the
hands of the press. Sheriff Slater and
his brother officers. In fact I have
never received better treatment in my
life than was accorded me by the citi-
Zens OF LIewistOwn in all walks of life.
or the few acquaintances at whose
hands l received special attention and
hospitality shall always cherish a
fond remembrance. and feel thankful
and grateful for the pleasures and
courtesies extended me. It is against
the instructions, regulations and policy
OF the PinkertOn National Detective
association to cause arrests as hastily
as was done in this instance, but
number of mitigating circumstances
forced deviation from our rules,
which may or may not ever be ex-
planned.
For the men arrested. their wives,
relatives and friends, | have only the
kindest feeling, but will add that did
only my duty in following out the
clews as believed they tended to leaI
me-"
WRECK AT MISSOULA.