Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-28
CITTLENEN SAY NOT GUILTY
Arraigned at Basin an Charge Of Muir.
dering Sheep Herders.
TRIAL Is TO START NEXT WEEK
Course OF Proceedings Indicate There
IL Truth In the RumOr That Two
Of h Accused Have Turned
states Evidence.


BASIN, wyo., oct. ~s7.-(speciaI Tele-
gram)-The Unusual spectacle Of five men
appearing in court and pleading not guilty
to the charge OF numbering three men each,
was witnessed this morning In Basin. So
quietly was Il all arranged that not many
knew Of II outside of the inner circles Of
the court officials and the attorneys on
both sides. The number OF persons pres
emit was not as great as usual. Shortly be-
fore II o'clock Judge Parmelee decided that
the prisoners be brought before him In
order that they might plead to the informa-
lions, eighteen In all, charging them with
the murder of Joe Bmge, Joseph Ailemand
and Jules LRzier and with the additional
crime OF arson. About II two Of the men.
Thomas Dixon and Herbert Leroy Brink,
entered the court room between Sheriff
Aston and a deputy. This quartet attracted
much notice as they passed down the long
aisle and were followed by quite a crowd
tina had gathered at the court house,
which is some two squares distant from
where the trial will be held.
The two men answere distinctly the US
ual and formal queries put to them by
the court and waived a reading Of the in
formation, each pleaded not guilty in a
firm, clear voice. As soon as their plea
had been received and entered on the
docket the sheriff was Instructed to return
them to Jail and to bring the remaider OF
the defendants into court. For these there
was an armed guard for each man, as In
the case of Dixon and Brink. The court
was detained but a few minutes until
George saban, Milton A. Alexander and
Edward Eaton were brought before Judge
Parmelee.
Wife stand Trial.
One thing noticeable about all these men
is that they have strong faces and conduct
themselves as II utterly unafraid. 1t is not
meant to infer that there is any appear
ance or suggestion Of bravado. They are
as clean, manly looking five men as you
could wish to see. Saban. Alexander and
Eaton are married men. Mrs. Alexander is
in town now and she says she will stand
by her husband to the end. HE says, 1
am not guilty." stated Mrs. Alexander,
and I believe him"
She is conducting her husbands ranch
and cattle business all alone just as he
would do and she keeps his spirits up by a
brave front. Saban too, is a man with six
young children and with large ranch and
cattle interests that have to be cared for.
Brink and Dixon are single.
Asked II ready to plead the three men
answered In the affirmative and separately.
mot guilty. to the charge Of numbering
Emge, Allemand and Lazier, or of arson in
buring their wagons. The two other de.
PENDANTS. Keyes and Farris, were not in
court at this time being confined at Sherl.
dan.
Two Turn State Evidence.
While the state will not say It is pretty
conclusive now that these men, Reyes and
Farris, have turned states evidence, A
significant result Of Judge Parmelee,s de.
clsion and the work Of the Jury commissior
up to date ina return of over 4g60O names
and 1t is reliably stated that there will b,
at least 15o to 300 more placed upon the list
The prosecution has now indicated tina.
II will probably elect to try Brink first
The reason is that he comes from a remot,
part Of the county, has no family and Il
not so well known. Thu defense says I
does not care which one Is selected, sine,
many possible jurors will have to come a
far as 100 to $50 miles. 1t Is not though
that the trial will start before next week
The cattle men. with their roundup wagon
will be here and bring their cowboys. TIL
sheep men too are coming In and the com
ing week will no doubt find the vaean
. lots and the park dotted with tents an
wagons. The spirit of fair play and a
impartial and free trial has been great
enhanced by Judge Parmelee's decision
which has most fifty met a situation fu'
OF dangerous possibilities.
Special finding were asked for by tn
: state today to be incorporated in JudR
Parmelee's decision, in which It was sough
, to specifically exonerate Felix Aston. tn
sheriff. The judgment as finally signe
does not refer TO Aston at all. this act
regarded here as significant.