The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-12-29
MONTANA BRIEFLETS.
SHORT ITEMS OF NEWS FROM
ALL OVER THE STATE.

SHORT ITEMS OF NEWS FROM
ALL OVER THE STATE.
What Has Happened in Montana Dur
ing the Past Few Days.
GREAT FALLS, Dec. 22.-Hesringe
OF land contest cases which have been
pending in the Great Falls land office
for long perionds, some of them fox
years. will be conducted during the
first three months of the coming year
according to q calendar, which has
just been issued by Register Burlin.
game.
HELENA, Dec. 23.-John Gowsns,
nine years ago convicted of the muir.
der in Fergus county of "Slick Saddle
Sam," and sentenced to Is years In
the penitentiary, has been pardoned
by Governor Norris. Lately . peti.
tion was circulated in Fergus county
for Gowans' pardon and was freely
signed.
BUTTE, Dec. 23.-Thos. Howard,
Henry johnson and Rusty Jones, ne.
groes charged with having murdered
John Jones, white man on July 3,
10 their cabin in the "dope colony"
were found guilty last night of murder
In the second degree and sentenced to
Is years in the penitentiary.
BozEMAN, Dec. 22.-The secretary
of the state board of stallion regis
trars, Prot. r. w. Clark. has just
announced that the stallion law
passed by the state Legislature at the
last session is being tested for the first
time. Important prosecuti ons are
going on of persons who are violating
the law. These people are from out
side of Montana and have violated
the law, states Professor Clark, by
bringing in inferior stations recently
without the knowledge of the board.
LEwIsTOWN, Dec. 23.-The trial of
John w. Gass, jr., the slayer of Tom
King, an aged pioneer, several weeks
ago near Stanford. on q charge of
murder in the first degree, came to q
sudden end in the district court today
After the evidence had all gone in on
both sides, Gass announced his will.
ingness to plead guilty to manslaugh.
ter, and this was accepted by the state.
The trial was stopped and on the plea
Judge Cheadle sentenced Gass to
eight years in the penitentiary.
HELENA, Dec. 23.-News has been
received here of the death today at
Clarkson, Tenn, of Frank Bibb, for
q number of years claim agent of the
Havre. Butte branch of the Great
Northern. Mr.. Bibb's wife is resi-.
dent of Helena.
KALIsPELL, Dec. 24.-Consider able
prevailed at Big Fork last
evening when large portion of the
bank OF Big Fork river, which is $50
Feet in height, came tumbling down
INTO the river. The whole course of
;he river was changed just above the
power house.
HELENA, Dec. 25.-The second an
1ual report of the state railroad COM
covering more than 300 print
I'd pages, will be ready for distribu-
ion in few days. The report, which
q for II months ending November 30,
IS divided into sections and tha deal.
ng with train accidents and personal
INJURIES shows that among employees
here were Sc fatalities and 7O9 cases
If injury. Among others than en-
oloyes there were 81 fatalities and l59
Eases OF injury.
CUT BANK, Dec. PA coroner's
inquest into the death of Don Corallo,
presided over by c. q. Connor of
Jhoteau, resulted in the disch arge of
Dave Clair, who shot Corallo, from
custody. Corallo, who was Mexi.
an, was foreman of the Deveraux
anch on the Blsckfeet. The men
Vere alone when the tragedy took
lace, and Clair gave himself up to
be authorities, saying that the shoot.
ng was done in self defense. Corallo
ad been In town all the previous
'eek on protracted drunk, and had
threatened the life of Clair and sew.
! Cut Bank citizens.
BUTTE, Dec. A.-False and mis-.
sadiug dispatches sent out of Butte
ecently have given the impression:that
majority of the mines are closed.
While the Boston and Montana
which are unable to ship
1eir ore to the smelter at Great Falls
ecause of the strike of the switchmen,
ave suspended erations, and while
sversl other mines are down because
inability to secure fuel and sup
lies the majority of the nrOnerties