Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-11-30
JUDGE MISSIONER HAD
BUSY time LAST WEEK
Dispenses Justice with Il Sure
and Unerrins Hand.

District court in Cherry county
occupied conspicuous place in
the daily papers last Sunday in
quite lengthy account of the
criminal cases and the order issued
by Judge Westover at the close of
court to the sheriff and county at
torney which has caused much
favorable comment in our city.
The criminal docket was large and
speedy work disposed of it in one
week most creditably. Peter La
deaux was tried for stealing horses
some two years ago and found
guilty. The case was reversed by
the supreme court on the insufic-
iency of the evidence. When ar
raigned this time he plead guilty,
which reverses the supreme court
and sustains Judge Westover and
the jury that found him guilty.
The judge gave him three years.
Henry Pretty Eagle also plead
guilty to stealing a horse and was
given two years.
Thomas Fielding and Charles
Conner plead guilty to the charge
of larceny and were each sentenced
to one year in the pen.
Harry Thorne, colored ex-sOl-
der, plead guilty to shooting with
attempt to kill and also got year.
VIM. Craig and VIM. Rash, COL
ored, were found guilty of MUIR
dering Elijah Custard, NJ Co. 25th
Inf, on the 18th of Sept. 1t was
on Sunday afternoon when Craig
and Custard became engaged in
quarrel in house of prostitution
run by the former and with little
ceremony Craig rushed behind the
bar and picked up a big six-shooter
with which he struck Custard over
the head, partially stunning him.
Some other soldiers caught hold
of the revolver to stop his further
action and Craig finding the weap-
on securely held, took second
revolver which Rash handed him
after being told to shoot the s.
of b" and deliberately shot
Custard in the top of the head,
who at the time was sinking to the
floor from the blow he had receiv-
ed from the other revolver. A
complete report Of. this case would
fill the paper. Enough to say that
they were found guilty of murder
in the second degree and Craig
sentenced to the pen for life and
Rash was given ten years.
Clarence Frazier was -tried for
the murder of David Harris, a
companion, at the same resort.
Frazier had tried to get gun
away from Lloyd Wilson to shoot
a girl who had shot at him because
he demand SOC which he complain
ed that she took from him. In
the struggle for this gun it was
discharged, shooting one man thro
the arm and another bystander,
David Harris, in the groin and
through the liver, lodging near the
backbone from which he died a
| few days later. Frazier was found
guilty of manslaughter and sent
to the pen for four years.
During these trials it developed
that the keepers of these resorts
were engaged in the selling oil
liquor and that they conducted
gambling in violation of the law.
| Accordingly at the close of the
last case Judge Westover ISSUED
an order to Sheriff Layport tt
make a raid ON all the sporting
houses, to collect and take charge
of all gambling devices and para
phernaIia which he may find.
Howard Layport and II. S. Say,
age were sent out in wagon and
soon returned with wagon loaC
from the two houses south of town
At STATIONS place another haul