The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-05-07
MALICIOUS MISCHIEF
chas. Thorpe Gets Six rlonths IN
Jail and q Fine OF 5000 for
Cutting Fence.

One of the mos, fragrant cases OF mailer
ous mischief that has occurred IN valley /
County was tried before Justice w
Mathews Tuesday evening.
The case was the State VS.. Chas. Thorpe. |
charged with maliciously cutting a wire
fence and gate belonging to Mrs. L. < /
Moore.
The witnesses for the state were Mrs.
Moore. A. L. Danielson. Mat Danieison
and Miss Clara Kennedy. County AttoT-
ney Dignan was not present for the state
and Justice Mathews conducted the exam
ina,ion of the States witnesses.
Attorney Siattery, of Glasgow. appeared
for the defense.
The evidence tended to show that Mrs
Moore has been living on the claim alone
since her husband was sent TO Deer LodBe
last summer for being implicated in Inc
HAYES affair: that she went to visit one oil
her neiehbors nearby when her baby was
born las, October; that she left her furni-
turs and household goods there IN her own
house while at her neighbors with her IN
FAINT child and that about Christmas she
went to Bottineau and visited her sister
during tue coolest weather. returning to
Culoertson the latter part OF March and
has been living 10 her house on the claim
since that time with her baby and girl
named Clara Kennedy, who stayed with
her for company.
The evidence also was to the effect that
Chas Thorpe had abandoned his own
claim nearby and moved his shack onto the
Moore cl.im about the middle OF February
and was living there when Mrs. Moore and
baby returned from her visit to BottIneau.
that said Thorpe had proceeded to pa; IN
crop on the 40 acres OF breaking done BY
Mrs. Moore last year knowing that Mrs.
Moore had made arrangements to put 1t in
for her own benefit. Mrs. Moore alleged
that Thorpe had begun system OF pefse-
cu,ion and intimidation against herself
annoying her by hurting stones az her
house and making life burden in various
ways.
Ma, Danielson testified that ne had been
working for Mrs. Moore eral days dur
ing April, fixing the fence around the pas
rure and barn, a water hole being located
in the pasture. Tha; on April goth the
fence VA completed and "iEe gate put in
near tie baru. He sad that he and his
brother KEEP, watch that nigh; aad that
a0cli 0 click the Defendant TrorPe came
to tae oa-a 18th Al al and cut the gate
do~u a. both eaas. z.!2~Iag defendant
cate &c eater the pasture. This tsss!Goa,
"a. z1-.c5sE.;=G - n :. D&ns=lson sac
Cara E=--@1y-
Tz= G=.=a4zat Chzs. Thorpe ~. tn
ccIT =IG-=zs called b. Attorney Slater
tor TIE 5=t=zs-. although some atteen 9th
srs Lad be-a subposaae1 aud we've PEesen
a. TIE hearing.
Thorpe Is an ugly locking customer an
IS said 10 bs considerable Of bruIser. Fl
tes,ifed tha, when he went onto the clair
in February he considered that no one Va
living there and that ne had as good rigt
TO il as any one. though he admitted IN;
the house Of Mrs Moore was locked an
blinds were down and that he could not 81
inside. Thorpe said he moved his shat
over onto the Moore claim with four hes
of cattle and poney in February and h
lived there every since.
Defendant Thorp said that on the 90
day Of April of this year he went to Il
fence near the Moore barn and cut Il
gate down with an Ak, so that has eatt
could &c, to the water hole in the pastur
that he thought the gate was fastened sh
with wire.
Judge Mathews decided that the fenc
barn. house and improvements made
Mrs. Moore and her husband belonged
her and that Thorpe was guilty as charge
He placed the sentence at the limit. viii
was six months in the county jail and a fl
Of 5000.
Attorney Slattery at once gave notice
appeal and bonds were fixed at $3.50. viii
was furnished. Mrs. John Hayes ana MI
Thorpe. wife OF the defendant. signing /
bond.
1t appears that this man Thorpe,
brother and a brother in law have ca
jumped an improved claim in that nell
boThood. one belonging to Mrs. DO
whose husband died in Glasgow of CT
sumption last Friday. taking advantage
the fact that Mrs. Booi was absent
Glasgow nursing her husband. The oil
claim belonged to Paul Wagner who v
released from custody last Friday at
serving six months Jail sentence for
ing implicated in the Hayes riot last JUL
Indignation is at white hea, against |
Thorpe outfit and if they keep on persec
ing innocent and helpless women mt
trouble is liable to occur than has alrea
haonAned