Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-12-22

The tension under which the en-.
tire community had suffered for sew
eral days, following the arrest Of
James Sherman and the subsequent
developments in the Studzinski MUIR
der case, was greatly relaxed Tuesday
when Sherman made his true confess
sion, admitting that he alone COM
mitted the murder as we'll as a num-
ber of burglaries. Everywhere SYM
pathy was expressed for the innocent
men who had been placed in Jail
through the falsehoods of this remark.
able young criminal in order to shield
himself. Especially was this true
with regard to DR. Edward A Long
the we'll known dentist. His host Of
friends felt from the first that a ter.
rible mistake had been made, yet
Sherman himself stood as high as
any one else in the community and
the general public did not know what
to believe. The confession has clear
ed everything up, and while the inno-
cent have been exonerated, the exper-
ience they have undergone is one
they can never forget.
Eager For information.
The public was eager for informa-
tion, and Tuesday when the Argus
was issued, the news stand was be-
sieged with persons, all eager to Sc
cure the details, and hundreds of cop
les were quickly sold. Sherman's s
confession had the effect of calming
the public mind, and, indeed, the SEN
timent which was arrayed solidly
against him on account of his lies,
modified somewhat and some express
sions of pity over this awful finish
of what promised to be such a bright
career were heard. When Sherman
once got down to the truth, he held
back nothing, and while many points
were covered hastily, and some were
overlooked altogether, this was not
from any desire for concealment. He
realizes that that stage is past for
ever, and that while the truth may
not help him, it cannot hurt him
now, and even if it did, he would tell
it.
Will Make No Defense.
Sherman will make no defense. as
the term is understood. He will be
represented by an attorney, but this
will not be for the purpose of keep.
ing anything back. The prisoner
would not permit this, if it were pos
sible. He has asked God to forgive
him, he says, and wants a jury to pass
upon the whole facts. A man cannot
of course, be Judged in case Of this
kind upon plea of guilty The fden
Of a trial, at least, must be gone
through, and while this part of the
case has not yet received attention
it is supposed that the final act will
not be long delayed.
Statement to the Argus.
Since his confession of last Tues
day, Sherman has made a full state
ment of mis- criminal career to the
Argus-the first of the kind covering
in detail every point, that has come
from him. The prisoner was found
lying on his cot in the steel cage al
the county Jail, and greeted his call
er pleasantly. In firm voice, Sher
| man commenced his statement, and
at various times, when further expla
nation was asked concerning some OBJ
scure point, went back in his story
and gave it. He is much changed
and shows evidence of some mental
suffering, although he is cheerful, and
he faces the future without shrink
, ing. The change noted is not sc
much as compared with his appearance
prior to his arrest, but during the
period when he was holding back the
truth and duplicating men indiscrimi
nately. He seems to be relieved thai
he is no longer carrying around the
secret of his crimes and will accept
whatever fate is meted out to him as
| just. For his mother he displays the
deepest concern, and it was only wher
he was talking of her that he showed
signs of softening. His advice tG
young men was given in very earn
est manner, and while there may bt
wide disagreement as to whether
his fall was due wholly to gamblins
or the criminal instinct was simpl!
brought to the surface through tina
agency. and would have cropped ou
some time anyway, there is no doub
whatever that he is sincerely and pro
foundly penitent.
| James Sherman's Story.
When asked for a full statement
Sherman said:
II intend to repay all who have los
anything through me. and to beg tn
forgiveness of every man whom
have wronged. l shall square mysel
On everything except the killing O
the old man. OF course, canno
square that, but l have repented an
asked forgiveness of God. The Bibl
says that a murderer who confesse
and truly repents can go to heave
as well as any other man, and I hav
done that. l have my Bible herr
and l pray to God.
81 know what l have done, and
expect to suffer for it can onl
hope that the terrible fate that ha
overtaken me may prove lesson
all the young men in this communit
to live right. I have no defens
There can be none. l will tell you a
the facts, and then they can han