Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-02-06
VERDICT IN
SHERMAN CASE
time, but this was ruled out.
CONTINUED from page IT,

he Salu IudL IL was nOl utCHSSaI-
lily the statement of an insane man.
If asked Mr.. Belden, 1.-The details
as given in that confession were after
wards verified, would you say it would
have been possible for the defendant
to have given them unless he had &C.
tually been present at the murders"
The witness said he did not think
il would be possible. He stated that
the day before Sherman was arrest
ed. he saw the defendant playing
the slot machine, and his appearance
then was just what it usually was.
The witness stated that he and DR..
Long CHANGED to meet the defendant
near the Argus office on Dec. II, and
showed him piece of cord like that
found around Studzinski's neck. The
witness was going on to state what
was said and how Sherman received
it, when the testimony was ruled out
on Mr.. HuntoOn's objection.
A Very Important Witness.
Miss Alice Richards was then call
ed. and proved to be one of the most
important witnesses called in rebuttal
She stated that she resided in the
house next to Studzinski's place.
there being about 20 feet between the
in from the country on Tuesday, Aug.
%, and the following evening, Wednes-
day, Aug. 90, the night of the murder,
she went into the yard. to the well,
just few feet from Studzinski's. 1t
was then growing dark. and some
where near 9 O'Clock. She heard a
man speak at Studzinski's door. and
heard the latter reply or at least
speak. The conversation, whatever
it was, ended there, although the wit
ness did not know whether it termi-
mated through the party entering the
place or not. Miss Richards returned
TO her house. and went up stairs. in
tending to go to bed. The night was
warm and dark, and she sat at the
open window until about II O'clock
During all that time there were no
men in front of Studzinski's place talk
ing. She was sure of this. because
al that distance, 20 feet. such talking
could not possibly have occurred with
out her having heard it. Owing to the
position of the two houses, she could
not have seen person directly in
front of Studzinski's, but could have
heard any talking there
Dr. r. S. Stokes, a specialist in
mental diseases and general practic
Toner, answering the Hypothetical
question stated that the defendant
was sane when he made his confes
sion. The witness also stated thai
it would have been impossible for any
person to state all the details of this
crime, subsequently born out by the
evidence unless he had knowledge o
the facts he narrated.
Mr.. Huntoon: If it We're shown b!
alive as late as midnight. when tnt
defendant said he killed him at some
where about $50 in the evening, wha
would you say as to his Statemen
being delusion?
The witness: 1t would not be :
delusion so long as the statements il
his confession had some real and sub
stantial basis.
Kelsey r. Watson was recalled ant
said that ne had been intimately fam
liar with the defendants habits
about the Argus and generally TO
some years. He was great han'
to eat fruit. especially oranges, ant
he also frequented ice cream parlOrs
In all the years he had been employ
ed at the Argus. he had never misset
a day through illness, although he hat
been hurt once or twice-Once in
base ball game. The witness had new
eT on any occasion heard the defend
ant complain of having a headache
The defendant was a great fisherman
and went out shooting sometimes. HI
also bowled a great deal. Sherman
learned to operate the linotype ma
chine at the Argus, and operated i
sometimes. The witness did not know
positively as to whether he had eve
set up reports in regard to the Stud
Zinski case.
Court here adjourned until SatuI
day morning
Closing the Evidence.
The first witness Saturday mornin'
was Mr.. Watson, who continued hi
testimony. He saw the defendant a
the Jail Friday, the day he was takel
into custody, and at that time he wa
sane In the morning. before his ar
rest, Sherman showed much nervous
ness.
Deputy Sheriff Siverthorne sal,
that as jailer, he had frequent talk
with the defendant in which the mur
der was discussed. The stories Shel
man told in which he implicated 9th
ers We're all prior to the interview
with the court on the morning of Det
IS. After that time, Sherman neve
implicated anyone else, and stuck I
mis- confession Witness had notice
that the defendant was great cate
of fruit. He had known him to ef
dozen and half of oranges in on
day. He had heard Sherman say b
was sorry for having killed the Jey
but the regrets expressed We're on a
count of the defendants motne
When the four men implicated by hi
were released, Sherman asked to sc
them and told them he was sorry fl
what he had said and asked them
forgive him.
Sheriff Slater testified positive
that he had never asked the defen
ants father to go in the cell and tai
with the defendant with view to sc
ting a confession. AT the time tt
defendant made his confession he VIZ
sane. the witness was asked if h
had not suggested to the defendant
father the possibility that the priso
er might commit suicide, and reptile
that he might have done so. Witne!
had handled 65 to 20 insane men ar
he was satisfied Sherman was san
''He has acted to me-" said tt
sheriff, simply like a man who
resigned to his fate"
z. G. WINS was recalled and aga
questioned about certain points in Il
published interview given him