Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-06-23
NORDAHL IS GIVEN A LIFE SENTENCE
Murderer Of the Scheue Family Found Guilty By Jury and Sentenced
to the State Penteniay for Life by the Cour~He viii
Continue the Fight for His Freedom

that the evidence on that point was
sufficient.
THE really perplexing question is
which penalty should be imposed,
death or life imprisonment. The
consideration of this point has caused
the court much perplexity. The court
has no Conscientious scruples against
capital punishment as it is the belief
that the state has the right, for its
own protection, to infict the death
penalty.
IF you are guilty, no punishment
is too great for you. If revenge
were the object Of the law, no form
could be devised by human ingenuity
which would be too severe for you
if you are guilty of that horrible
crime committed down there on the
Musselshell
1T is the belief Of this court that
capital punishment is not expedient.
That form Of punishment had its
origin far back in human history and
there have been certain stages in the
history Of the human race when it
was, doubtless, absolutely necessary.
1t is the belief of the court that
society can now be protected by an
other form of punishment.
80 far as your own reformation
is concerned, society can do nothing
for yru, this court can do nothing
That is left to you"
Ine court then pronounced the
sentence, as given above.
Review of Testimony.
T1,a h,y 41,a
rious witnesses for the state was, in
brief, as follows:
Andrew Anedrson-Livcd three
quarters of mile from Schleuters
Saw fire down there about midnight
Wednesday. Saw fire at Schleuter
place. Together with a stranger.
Mullenbrook, who was stopping at
his place that night, and Mrs. An
derson. witness went down to scene
of fire. Could see nothing of Schleut-
ers. Supposed they had gone to the
home of some neighbor for the night.
Notified neighbors next morning.
Witness found foot prints leading
rom front door of house to store
house where coal oil was kept. Odor
Of kerosine quite marked about the
ruins. Two oil cans with holes cut
in tops found in ruins. Witness
knew that Schleuters were not cordial
in attitude toward Nordahl ao he had
seen them together Assisted in trac-
ing tracks leading away from burned
house to place on river bank where
a horse had been standing.
Warren c. Niles-Went to Schlcut-
er place after fire. Found tracks and
traced them down the river to place
where horse had been left standing.
AT order of officers, witness secured
overshoes and other articles from
Nordahl's cabin Both overshoes
were for left foot and fitted exactly
in tracks leading away from Schleut-
er cabin. Horse made peculiar track.
Witness secured Nordahls horse,
Mig, and found that animal made
exactly same sort of track as those
found where horse had been standing
on night of tragedy. Overshoes Sc
cured from Nordahl's place had
blood on soles. On cross examina-
ton, witness said there was an oil
can in room where he found Nor
dahl's blood stained clothing.
John Lugo-Lived near Schleuters
at time of fire. Secured some of the
articles from Nordahls cabin at re-
quest Of officers.
Mrs. Emma Lugo-Well acquaint-
ed with Mrs Schleuter and children.
Was on terms of intimacy with
Martha Schleuter. Knew that Mrs.
Schleuter and Martha feared Nor.
dahl. No Gimme, in Schleuter
house, the stove pipes simply ex-
tending up through the roof Knowl-
edge of prejudice which Schleuters
had against Nordahl was from hear
say.
John 0. Dae-Was at Schleuter
place on Saturday following fire and
together with Warren c. Niles and
others, examined the tracks leading
away from the house. Tracks made
bv two left foot overshoes. Witness
saw the overshoes fitted to the tracks