The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-10-04
JURY TURNS G9ED
!. VE1DCT N ECT|R CASE
Charged With Taking Bride
When Serving as Reeve
nue. Inspector.
IN FEDEltll COURT
Six sslpa|Ksssssso II st,t'
Testify Is Gisifig Vafi-
Gus Amounts.
IN EE;iDI|egltA ouRT

After many hours Of deliberation
last ninht the federal jury hearing the
case of DR.. +. l.. r. Ector of Missoula,
turned fnfa sealed verdict. The trial
was held yesterday before Federal
Judge BourQuin, DR.. Ector being
charged with having accepted about
$45 In brihe money from various sa-
loon keepers 6f the state during the
time that he served as internal reve-
nue. inspector for the United States
government.
The case Of the government was
presented by United States District
Attorney b. Il. Wheeler. and Attorney
Charles Hall upheld the cause Of the
defendant.
The state rested its case upon the
testimony Of six saloon keepers and
hotel proprietbrs in several small
towns In the state These men de-
clared that Mr.. Ector had visited
them, as inspector. and had detected
what he claimed to be violations OF
the revenue stamp law. The Witnesses
alleged that they had given him
amounts ranging from 81 to $40 as
bride money. Not one OF them openly
declared that there had been any d.
rect threat of exposure made by Mr..
Ector.
Witness Repudiates Statement.
Charles g. Hall alleged in the wit
ness chair that he gave DR.. Ector -
when the latter found what he claimed
to be violations of the stamp law III
his saloon.
He told me- that l might give him
whatever wanted to- asserted Hall
Il gave him So
Federal Attorney Wheeler then pro-
luced a statement, which he claimed
had been previously signed by the
witness, in which it was declared that
MIR. Ector had promised not to report
Hall on consideration of the IS pay
ment Hall, however, backed doWI
and claimed that he did not remember
OF such q remark being made.
Charles S. Truax, proprietor OF tn
hotel at LAMA. alleged that he gave
DIR. Ector SO as an answer to the in
spector's query, What are you goint
to do about it," when alleged violn
lions of the tax law were found in hi
bar room.
Did Not Consider Il Bride.
On behalf of the defense. Attorne.
Charles Hall cross examined the vii
ness, and asked Hall to tell why Ii
gave f1naoseY,t o > AxtRg.. 'tiR; ny
asked II the idea of payment was Y
sWerve the inspector from the pnrs,l
ance of his duty.
No. answered Hall.
Did you consider the IS as
bribc2"
NO, thought of it as just settle
,nent," was the saloon mans eNpla
nation. s5.z
Assistant District Attorney Home
G. Murphy claimed that DIR. Ector ha
some time ago made partial con
fcssions to him of the alleged 1nisde
meanors, and had asked to have III
prosecution postponed until after u
had communicated with certain influ
entail men at Washington, j.. G,
Ector Denies Charges.
When. testifying in his own defens
DIR. Ector refuted the statement {
MIR. Murphy, and upon direct eaamina
ton denied the testimony OF the gov
eminent witnesses. lie asserted thu
he Mad never taken money from an
of the saloon Keepers, lie admitte
that he at one time accepted be
of cigars. which, he claimed. wa
given to him as a present.
Among those who testified TO IL
good character and apparent intee
rity of DIR. Ector were Senator Ed
ward Donlon and Mayor Wilkinson
The Jury left the courtroom at
o'clock.