Iditarod pioneer., 1916-08-26
SLAYER OF THOMAS PHILLIP SENTENCED TO LONG TERM
 BY JUDGE BUNNELL AT RUBY

After being out from 4l0 p. m. on the afternoon of August 7 until the following morning. the jury in the case case ot Charles Grover, charged with the murder of Thomas Philip at McGrath last May, brought in verdict of not guilty on the charge of hrst degree murder, but guilty in the second degree, and recommended him to the mercy of the court On Saturday, August 19 Judge Bunnel before whom the case was tried at Ruby, sentenced Grover to eighteen years imprisonment at McNelrs island
 The trial brought out the following facts according to the Record Citizen:
 Last May Charles Grover shot and killed Thomas Phillip at McGrath, the junction point of the kuskokwim and TokOtna riv- CTS. Both men were trappers in the upper kuskokwim region
 The shooting was the culminatlon of feeling of ill-will which was engendered be tween the two by a series of incidents It appeared that during the absence of Gro yer from his headquarters his cache and grub were burned He then went down the river for fresh supplies, and upon his return found that eighty-sx traps had been stolen He accused Phillip of being responsible for all these acts. Evidence was introduced at the trial as to statements in the nature of threats made by Phillip against Grover and of an attempt made by Phillip to have Gro yer bound over to keep the peace Dr. W. F. Green testified that Phillip who had been a powerful man at one time carrying about 220 pounds in weight, was under medical treatment last winter, and that he had reduced to 1S7 pounds in weight, and was in such poor physical trim that he (Dr Green had advised him to go Outside for an operation.
 T. J. Conley had a tent at McGrath on little point between the junction of the two rivers and on the afternoon of the shooting he observed Grover floating down the river in polling boat. He tied his boat little upstream from Conley's tent, un- loaded his tent grub box 3O30 Win chester carbine and piled them up about eight or ten feet back of Conley's tent, in tending to camp there. Grover had a meal with Con'ey and later sat in front of the tent, Conley sitting in the other corner in front of the tent, and Rice standing up Phillip appeared around the corner of the tent. and on seeing Grover, sad, Hello, Grover" Grover looked up but did not answer, whereat Phillip said Get up and put up your hands I'm going to settle with you"
 Grover picked up his hat and put it on "Nou are going to settle with me, are you?" he said. and started for the back of the tent. Meantime Phillip proceeded to. re move his sweater and jacket, hung them on the guy rope end advanced to about three feet back from the front end of the tent. Grover appeared three CT four feet from the rear end on the same side rife in hand Grover said, This is the way I'll nut up my hands to you" whereupon Phil lip extended his open left hand and said, Put down the gun, Grover and fight Ike a man" Growers answer was bullet throuph Phillips right breast penetrating the lurg and causing almost immediate death
 Phillip cried to Rice in his dying moment, Rice get q gun and shoot him for me" Rice testified that while Conley was sup porting the dying mans head across his knee Grover approached, gun in hand, and cursed Phillip, stating that he regretted that he had shot him where he did, as he would die too quickly Conlry pleaded with the armed man not to discharge another bullet at his dying victim.
 The witnesses for the government were T. J. Conlcy, L. r. Rice and Dr. Green; for the defense, Jesse Yoder Hugh ONeill, J. N. Sousa and the defendant Ire gov ernment was represented by Assistant Dis trict Attorneys Reed " Helig and Harry Pratt, and the defense by E. Coke Hill
 Court Notes
 An accounting with United States Mar shal L. T. Erwin as to his disbursements during the period from April to June 30, amounting to 5889002, has been approved by Judge Bunnel.
 The case of Robert Grifis vs Thomas J. Cotfey was dismissed with prejudice each party paying his costs Mir Grifis stated that the action had been compromised Nellie Douglas, convicted of robbirg liar vey Miles of $65 at Woodchopper, was sen fenced to three years imprisonment in the | Colorado state penltentary at Canyon City
 Charles Covey found guilty of larceny was sentenced to three years at hard labor at McNeiFs island This is the young man who came to Iditarod last winter with dog team alleged to have been stolen, and took two passengers over the trail to the coast, where he was arrested
 Katag Nicolai, convicted of murder in the first degree for killing his wife, Kaltag Anna, was sentenced to hard labor for life at McNeils island.