The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-11-16
MILLER CASE HALTED
CASES ARE DISMISSED
IN THE FEDERAL COURT, GOVERNMENT AC-
CEPTED A COMPROMISE ON CHARGES
HAD PROCEEDED WITH JURY
Defendants Plead Guilty to Technical Violation Con-
tanned in One Count in Indictment-Gross Got
Heavy Sentence-Soon Finish Term.

Acting on telegraphic advices from
the department of Justice this after
noon, the prosecution in the case O.
the United States versus the Mark 2
Miller Milling company and NJ. 2
Miller, indicted on four counts in two
indictments by the federal grand jury
at its last session here, before Fed
eral Judge Dietrich dismissed all tht
charges against the defendants will
the exception Of one count involving
the Indictment alleging the wrong
classification in shipments in violation
of the Interstate commerce act, spec.
ificaIly the shipping Of beans with wood
and billed as wood. To this Indictment
the defendants entered pleas of guilty
to technical violation.
Trial Suddenly Halted
1t was apparent this morning that an
effort had been made to strike COM
promise in the case when Judge Diet
rich called the cases. 1t was expected
that the cases. which had been con-
so1idated through stipulation, would
not be reached by the court until this
afternoon and the prosecution at the
outset advised the court that it was
awaiting kilograms from Washington
before it decided to proceed. The court
ordered the drawing Of the jury how
ever and the entire morning was con-
sumed with this task.
Charge Not Read
The prosecution which was conduct
ed by Assistant U. S. District Attorney
J. r. Smead, and H. B. Duncan, as
sistant attorney general of the United
States made no opening statement OF
the case to the jury, however, Frank
L. Moore, assisting c. ]. Or1and in the
defense, made an opening statement
citing the charges contained in the IN
dictments. The examining of jurors
had proceeded we'll into the afternoon
when, the message from Washington
was received, which ended the case.
Pass Sentence Tonight
The court announced today that he
would pass sentence at 5 O'Clock on
all defendants in liquor violations who
were awaiting judgment. The case OF
the government against Thomas Bills
was continued for the term. The only
case remaining for trial is that against
George W. Goode of Kooskia, charged
with liquor violation.
Sentenced Five Defendants
Saturday night Judge Dietrich pass
ed sentence on five of the IL defend
ants awaiting sentence in the federal
court for liquor violations. Jess Rit-
tenhouse of Mohler, and J. l.. Gross of
Kooskia both received heavy sentences,
though the court was not as severe in
the Gross case as he had first intend
ed being. The court in passing SEN
tence showed a tenderness towards the
defendants that waS unmistakable,
however, he was firm in his purpose to
administer justice rather than punish
ment.s
Lenient With Gross
In the Gross case the court stated
that he had intended giving the de-
fendant a penitentiary sentence but
that in view of certain representations
that had been made in his behalf as
we'll in consideration of the age
OF the defendant, he had decided to
make the punishment less severe. The
court stated that the Gross case was
one of the most fragrant violations of
the law in cases of introduction of Ii
quor on the reservation that had ever {
been brought before him and that ;
Gross violation had undoubtedly been !
the means of bringing others into ,
trouble The defendant was placed {
under oath to answer questions of the
court relative to his financial condi- I
ton Gross claimed to have nothing {
left but a building in Kooskia besides {
a note against E. E. Ping for $3.50 and s
that he had sold his bank stock in the l
Kooskia state bank in order to de- c
fray his expenses in the present trial. d
When the court announced that he i
must serve eight months in the county v
Jail at Lewiston and pay fine OF O
$3.50, Gross interposed by saying he t.
would prefer to serve more time than a
o be compelled to pay money and be b
broken up in business. o
Others Were Sentenced L
Other sentences passed were as fol- II
ows:
Jess Rittenhouse, nine months in the
county Jail and to pay a fine of $500.
w. w. McMains, three months in the +,
ounty jail and fine of $100. n
John A. Johnson two months in the 9,
county jail and a fine of S100 =
The court Saturday night deferred -
.ction in the cases against Jack Kid =,
Ter and Guy Lands. :,
Ping Found Guilty el
The jury in the case against E. E. h
'ing, charged with introducing liquor H
n the reservation at Kooskia, where tt
e conducts a pool hall, brought in a W
erdict of guilty after being out a d.
rief period II