davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04
MARK GRAVES OF VETERANS.
United States Will Mark Last Rest
ing Place of Her Heroes.

A short time ago, James M.
Croft, of this city, one of the
veterans of the Spanish American
war, wrote to Senator Joseph M.
Dixon with reference to securing
h adstones to mark the graves Of U.
5. soldiers and sailors who are
buried in this part of the county.
Mr.. Croft last week received from
the war department blanks which are
to be filled out with the names of
men who served in the regular army
or navy, we're afterward honorably
discharged and who are buried in
Fergus county, in order that the
government may send to this place
suitable monuments. These monu-
ments are sent freight prepaid and
Mr.. Croft desires that all persons
who know of any unmarked graves
of soldiers of sailors should COM
may send in the names.
There are a large number of for
mer soldiers who served in the civil
war, various Indian wars and the
Spanish American war buried in this
county and it is desired to have one
Of these headstones placed at every
grave. Mr.. Croft would like to fe-
ceive the list of names as early as
possible as the sooner the list is
sent to Washington the more quick
ly will the stones be received in this
city
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04
george CHARTERS
BURIED SATURDAY
WELL KNOWN CITIZEN OF
THIS PLACE GOES TO LAST
REWARD.

George Charters, an aged and we'll
known citizen of this community,
passed away last Friday morning at
10 o'clock at the home of his daugh-
ter, Mrs. H. P Imislund, after an ill
ness of two weeks The old gentle
man had been very low for several
days and his death was not unexpect-
ed by his children and friends
Death was caused by complication
Of ailments due principally to Mr..
Charters advanced age, he having
passed his 18th mile stone.
The funeral was held Saturday af-
ternoon at o'clock from the Imis-
lund home, the Rev. Taggart of the
Presbyterian church conducting the
services. Interment was made in the
city cemetery. A large number OF
friends were present to pay the last
token of respect to the departed.
George Charters was a native OF
Scotland but came to this country in
his youth. He was engaged in the
farming business in Wisconsin for a
county about l8 years ago with his
famlly, this county naVlnR Deen MS
home ever since. For the greater
part of that time he has made his
home in the vicinity of Grass Range
For almost a year past, he has made
ihs home with his daughter in this
city. Honorable and upright in every
transaction of life, he won and held
the highest esteem and friendship Of
all with whom he came in contact.
Six children, four sons and two
daughters, are left to mourn the
passing of devoted, generous father.
OF these, aJmes H. Charters and John
H. Charters and Mrs. H. P. Imislund
reside in this city William Charters
lives on a ranch near town, Robert
Charters is a merchant in Custer
county and second daughter, Mrs.
7. D. Malcolm. resides in Moore.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04
CHESTER Smith ACQUITTED
After Being Out for Eighteen Hours Jury Returns
Verdict Of Not Guilty-MuCh Surprise
at Finding. defendant Discharged.

Another Fergus county murder
case has passed into historv and nev-
er has the verdict of jury in this
county raised more general discus
sion and. it may as we'll be stated,
aroused more unfavorable comment
than that which permitted Chester
Smith to go unpunishcd for the kill
ing of Walter Fairbairn.
Case Goes to the Jury.
Three and one-half days were con-
sumed in the taking of testimony and
arguing the case which was finally
given to the jury about 4 o'clock
Friday afternoon
The jury Immediately retired for
the delibcration OF the case and the
Democrat is reliably informed that
the first ballot was eight for acquit-
tai and four for conviction. On the
next ballot, those in favor of con.
vlction lost one vote and the score
stood nine to 3 for several ballots.
Worked All Night. !.
The jurors wrestled with the prob
lem the entire night but gradually
the acquitters wore down the num-
Der of those in favor of conviction
until shortly before 10 o'clock Satur-
day morning, a unanimous verdict
was reached.
There were but few spectators in
court when Foreman Widdifcld
handed to the court the verdict OF
the jury. Upon the reading of the
decision Of the twelve men into
whose hands his fate had been given,
smith was visibly pleased but there
was a slight dinnution in this cx-
trcme satisfaction before the court
had finished with him few moments
later.
Judge Cheadlc made no efforts tc
conceal his displeasure over the
jury's verdict. He permitted a few
caustic sentences to appear in his
remarks in which the jury was dis
missed and to the defendant, Smith
gave a few words of advice which
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04

will probably prove useful to that
very lucky young man. In dismissing
Smith, Judge Chcadlc said:
Terrific Arraignment.
Chester c. Smith, stand up. A
jury of this county has acquitted you
Of the charge upon which you have
been tried, thus proving anew fact
already proved too many times: that
it is far safer for man to commit
homicide in Fergus county than it is
to steal horse or COW. While your
story has imposed upon men not ac-
customcd to weighing evidence in
criminal matters, l desire to say to
you before you are discharged that
the Court at least is not imposed up
on or deceived by your extraordi-
nary narration There is at least
one point i'll your story which is un-
deniably false, and that gives the
right to distrust it all ii it be true,
as you say, that Walter Fairbarn
rushed upon you down a sharp slope
at the time he received the fatal
wounds which you inflicted upon him,
and if it be true that he then and
there fell up that slope on his back.
as described by you and all the wit
ncsses who saw him lying at full
length with his head uphill on that
fatal spot, then the laws Of gravita-
ton was suspended at that time and
place. 1t is absolutely impossible
that this part of your story is true.
1t is not probable that Fairbairn, un-
armed, rushed upon you to do you
harm while you were armed with a
deadly weapon. Your counsel has,
in wouldbe pathetic manner, re-
fcrred to you as "an innocent and
unsophisticated youth Of only thirty
one years Of age ! cannot forget
that younger man than you lies in
his grave today because of your
foolish and wicked act 1t is alleged
that your victim Fairbairn had illicit
intercourse with your wife, thus Civ
ing the color of attempted plaus-
ibility to his untimely taking off at
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04

health Under the laws of Montana
(sections 97O-o71, political code) the
governor and certain other enumerat
ed state officers are prohibited from
aDsenting themselves from the state
for more than 60 consecutive days
unless on business of the state or with
the consent of the legislative as
sembly."
1t may be that the legislature is
without authority to interfere with the
tenure Of an office created by the
constitution Buf if it is competent
to do so, it is not improbable that
plausible pretense might be invoked
to evade SO stern a statute, however
wholesome it might prove in a par
ticular case. But, whether the law
is right or wrong, wise or unwise,
have no disposition to contest its
plain divisions or defeat its manifest
meaning.
"It is not, however, without deep re-
greet that | surrender my commission
nine months before it's expiration and
sever official relations with my asso-
ciates who have been most helpful to
me in the transaction of the public
business.
81 am reminded at this time, and
may be pardoned for recurring to the
fact, that my political life has covered
a wide range-twice district attorney,
member of the legislature, twice dele
gate to congrfess in territorial days,
member of the constitutional conven-
ton that framed the organic law Of
the state, and with the exception of
eight wears, governor of Montana
since its admission into the Union
During my several terms as governor
almost the entire body of existing
laws has been enacted.
at would be strange, indeed, if dur
ing the last quarter of century, in
which party feeling has often run
high, mistakes have not been made
and criticism more or less deserved
had not followed; but today, void Of
all animosities-personal, political and
otherwise-I find no comfort except
in pleasant retrospect"
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04
BURGLARS ARE STILL BUSY

That burglary is by no means a
lost art in this city was again demon
strated last Friday night when two
members of the craft entered the
Montana Hardware store and carried
away couple of valuable revolvers,
two rifles, some ammunition, several
razors, a number of pocket knives and
close to $40 in cash. The burglars
started to blow up the safe but evil
IDENTIFY got cold feet before they got
to the point of touching off the ex-
plosive and skipped out.
The two men were easily tracked
from the rear of the store to a saloon
on lower Main street.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04
BEGIN GRINDING wheat

For the first time in several months,
the Judith Basin mill was started to
work this afternoon grinding wheat
into flour. The mill is started up
through an arrangement made by a
number of ranchers with the owners,
by which the farmers furnish the
grain and operate the mill, paying a
certain rental for the plant
At meeting held in this city sew
eral weeks ago, twelve thousand
bushels of wheat was pledged by a
number OF ranchers and practically all
of that wheat is now in the mill ele-
vator.
J. A. Copeland, of Belgrade, has
been employed by the ranchers to
look after the grinding of the wheat.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04
METTLER A SUICIDE.
Well Known Young Man of Great
Falls Takes His Own Life.

Albert R. Mettler, of Great Falls,
committed suicide last Friday after
noon by shooting himself through the
head, the deed having been committed
in his office in the Conrad bank build
ing.
Acute melancholy brought about by
continued i'll health is given as the
motive of the rash act. The decedent
is a brother of Frank w. Mettlei
formerly assistant attorney general,
and cousin of f. w. Mettler, th<
well known young attorney of this
city. His rash deed is a great shock
to his cousin in this city.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04

These were evidently the same par
ties that burglarized the Judith Hard
ware company store couple of
weeks ago and carried away some re-
volvers and ammunition, as their
mode of operation was about the
same. They broke glass in the
back door, drew the heavy bolts which
held the door shut, and then walked
in When they went away, they ac
commodatingly stuffed rags in the
hole which they had made in the
glass.
The city and county officers are
working on the case and hope to
round up the operators before they
have had an opportunity to do any
more store breaking.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04
Property Owners Protest.

A. Hogeland and other property
owners in the proposed sewer dis
trict bounded by Fifth and Ninth
avenues and Evelyn and Montana
streets, were present to protest against
the creation of an Improvement dis
trict within the bounds mentioned,
stating that the property in that dis
rict is not sufficiently built up to
justly the expenditure at this time.
1t is stated that the protesting prop
cry owners own over fifty per cent of
the property in the district, which will
have the effect of knocking out the
proposed improvements.
City Attorney II. l.. Dekalb pre-.
sented the draft of an ordinance ex-
tending the fire limits over several
blocks. Starting at the intersection of
Watson street and Fifth avenue, the
fire line now runs north to the inter-
section OF Fifth avenue with the alley
between Main and Janeaux; thence
southwest on the alley to Sixth
avenue ;thence northeasterly along
the center line of Sixth avenue to the
alley between Main and Broadway;
to Fifth avenue; thence along the
"NNhuN " w StISCl, dllu oCC-
ond avenue; thence along second
avenue to Watson street; thence along
Watson street to Fifth avenue.
Resignation Not Accepted.
David Hilger presented his resigna,
ton as a member Of the board Of
trustees of the public library but, by
a unanimous vote, the resignation was
not accepted. Mr.. Hilger gave as his
reason for resigning, his desire to de.
vote more Of his time to his private
business.
Last Payment From Carnegie.
The secretary read to the council
a letter, recently received by Mrs. A.
w. War;, secretary Of the library
board of trustees, from one of Mr..
Andrew Carnegie's secretaries, as fol-
lows:
''In response to yours Of the 23rd
inst, l enclose herewith check and
voucher to your order as secretary Of
the library board for $500 in payment
of balance of account of Mr. Car
negies grant Of $4,000 for library
building in Lewistown.
"Your letter with reference to an
increase in grant, | am referring to
Mr.. Carnegies secretary for attention.
Yours very truly, r. w. Franks"
The usual grist Of monthly bills
were ordered paid, after which the
council adjourned
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04

He arrived here Friday night and ev-
erything is in shape to go right ahead.
Mr.. Copeland is a miller of several
years experience with Montana wheat
and believes that he can make just
as good -four at the local mill as can
be made anywhere.
Local merchants have agreed to
put the flour in stock and use every
endeavor to sell it and if the product
grades up as to quality. there is little
doubt but that it will be given pre-
ference over all imported fours.
The wheat market has been very
weak for the past week. falling to 68
cents at the wool warehouse yester-
day. There continues to be steady
demand for oats at 81 per cwt.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04

collections of water rents for the
month OF January in the sum of
$74l.10.
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04
Continued on page 8.)

matter Of raising the necessary funds
and while they have not yet made "A
systematic canvass among the bust
ness men and citizens Of the city,
they believe that they will have no
difficulty in raising all that is re-
CURED
Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1908-02-04

will probably prove useful to that
very lucky young man. In dismissing
Smith, Judge Chcadlc said:
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-01-16

Tho following official circular
has been issued by District Secrc-
tarY Norris
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-01-16
THE CURTAIN
{ HAS FALLEN
On the Moyer-Haywood- d-Pettibone
Persecution---Most DastardIy
Conspiracy Against Organized
Labor Ever Known.

The curtain III the last act of the
great Western melodrama of real
life has fallen. George A .pcttibone
mas been pronounced not guilty of
completely in the murder of Ex-
Gov, Stounenberg and the case
against Charles III, Meyer has been
nollied. Pettibone has been in
prison for two years and is n phys.
lcal wreck and it is doubtful wheth-
er he will ever recover his health
throughout the trying ordeal of
two long years of imprisonment,
during which period the mine on
orators and their Pinkcrton thugs
plotted in every way possible to
railroad the miners to the gallows,
fettlbone, secure i'll the knowledge
of the innocence of himself and his
colleagues, looked out upon the
world with perfect confidence and
fearless, unwavering belief in the
Justice of the working class cause,
All fair reports agree that his
cheerfulness and sunny disposition
while suffering the most damnable
persecution concocted by the rich
mlne.owners and their unhanged
dogs, was nothing short of marvel
GUS and demonstrated his entire
innocence OF all wrougdoing With.
out a single sentence of further
proof, Yet he suffered martyrdom
for two years because the sense of
righteousness and justice for the
working class Smoldered in his
bosom so strongly that he dared to
resist the brutality and tyranny
OF the Guggenheims and Peabodys
and fight the battles of the poor.
Who will give back to him those
two years of life and libertyg Who
will make restitution for this
crime! If the working people of
Colorado have any sense of the
eternal fitnesst of things they will
now demand an eye and a tooth
for a tooth, and elect Pettibone
governor. And then let the pris-
on yawn for the dastardly conspir-
ators, who sought to destroy Moy-
er, Haywood and Pettibone, who
prosecuted thousands of innocent
men, women and children, and
who have succeeded in dragging
the fair name of Colorado to such
depth of infamy that it is today
greeted with a snecr in all haunts
of civilization. While the curtain
has fallen the lessons of this drama
will never be effaced from the
minds of libertyloving Americans.
There is still Il tableaux to be ,>ro-
duced, and, unless truth is forever
upon the scaffold, those response
bile for this monstrous injustice will
yet meet the reward they SO richly
deserve.-Cleveland Citizen.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-01-16
UNION MEN GUIDING
THE SHIP OF STATE

The first legislature of the new
state of Oklahoma, which is now
in session, is practically a union
labor legislature and is under a
constitution which was very large
ly drafted by union men. In or
der that there may be correct
news report of the proceedings of
the legislature available news bu-
reau was opened at the capital
On January l. Writing of the ne
cessity of this action j. Harvey
Lyuch, the editor, says:
"There is no one who knows bet
ter than you the real attitude of
the associated press toward our
movement, and how they through
their reports, rarely, if ever, give us
asquare deal before the worlds Jury
They misquote, comfort and abso
lutely lie about the lofty ideals and
purposes of our splendid efforts.
all OF which tends to prejudice tn,
public against us and often veal
ems our !weak-knee members
which greatly hinders progress.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-01-16

oone trial Governor Goodinc, the
mine owners tool, has attempted
TO force Auditor Bragaw to draw
warrants for thousands of dollars
lor the Plnkertons and Attorney
Hawley. Bragaw pointed out that
such warrants We're illegal and re-
FUSED to comply, Gooding cursed
IKE a pirate and made all sorts of
threats, as did some of his under
strappers, but Bragaw, who seems
TO be an honest man, would not be
niufted and defied the whole gang.
The facts have leaked out and now
lhe people are taking a hand, Ev
erybody is standing by Bragaw
and Gooding and his fellow graft
ers are hearing things, Meanwhile
the hungry ''Pinks" are having
lean plckings,
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-01-16
Laws Were Violated.

West Virginia statutes prohibit
the employment in mines of child
rem under fourteen years of age.
Already score of boys under that
age have been taken dead from the
Monongah mine. The men who
employed those boys in direct
violation of law are murdcrers-
red handed murderers-and as
such should pay the extreme pen,
atty of the law. But they will
not. such men violate the laws of
man with impunity.-La Crosse
Labor Journal.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-01-16
ECONOMIC
INVESTORS
First OF a Series Of Studies by the
Rev. Charles Stelz1e.
"Ihe Humnn Side of the Labor
Question:" the Subject of Dis
cussion---Whose Business Is IT..

The courts of law have decided
that mans market value is lust
about 81, $50 more than a sheep :
unless the sheep has fancy pedi-
gree. He is worth, this human
machine, $4,000. Wen accept
the figures, even though they make
us feel small and of little value.
But here comes man who
wants thousand of us-worth
So, 600, 900. He wants us to be-
come a part OF his great system of
production. He needs us, because
without our trained movement his
system will be worth just so much
iron for the scrap pile. He had
nothing to do with our develop.
ment- a thousand factors have
entered into our makeup for which
he was not in any way responsible.
We therefore, advance him tive
million dollars in the persons of
ourselves, at a stated rate of inter
est, to be paid US in wages. Eco
nomlcllly speaking, some of us are
really worth more than a five
thousand dollar machine, but some
of us may be worth less. Let us
take it for granted for the present,
that we are receiving just what we
are worth.
But the thousand of us pay
back in taxes, of various kinds,
the money which helps establish
the community in which his facto-
ry is located, and we help main
the peace and prosperity of the
town, supporting legislators and
municipal officers, which make the
town a safe place in which to
transact business. In the making
of the laws, we as citizens, had one
thousand times as much to do as
the factory owner: We helped to
make the charter under which he
| runs his business. He cannot say,
therefore, that "this is my business
and / shall run it as | please"
cit is OUR business, and we shall
run it to our mutual in ereSt," !"
must be the true sentiment which
make it the finest business, that we
know how to make it.
Both Of US must seek each others
welfare. Everything that hinders
the progress of "our business
must be eliminated. There must
be an absolutely square deal on
both sides. We have, together,
let u. say, ten million dollar in
veStment at stake. We should
earnestly seek to avoid the usual
hindrances to Success-namely
strikes, lockouts, fire, flood and
peStilence. Mostly should we
guard against the human frailties
which emperil every enterprise,
and which will stand in the way of
progress.
If either of US insist that this is
MY business, exclusively, acting
as individuals and seeking only
CUR individual interests, then we
at once place ourselves outside the
realm of mutual helpfulness, and
we become veritable anarchists,
deserving the penalty which at
taches to that position-to go it
alone, without the privileges which
| come from the social forces that
must make this world a comforta-
bic, happy abiding place, and
which we have ali had hand IN
producing.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-01-16
Attention Carpenters

The Carpenters Union have
moved from Assembly Hall to the
Odd Fellows Hall, and commen-
cling tomorrow will meet on Friday
evenings instead of Thursday eve
nlngs, as heretofore. a full at
tendance of the membership is ear
nestly requested, Business of i'm
portance.