Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-04-28
C0NLEY OWNED
MUCH OF GOODS
MOVED |SPR00F
Supplies Came Out Of
Commissary Conduct
ed by Former Warden.
Attorneys Clash Over
Possible Pardons for
Testifying TRUSTEES.
(helena Bureau of Tribune.

able evidence was put upon the court
records Thursday in the trial of the
action of the state against Frank Con-
ley for the recovery of moneys alleged
to be due the state as The result of
methods followed by Conley in the ad-
ministration of the affairs of the state
prison. all Of which testimony was OBJ
tanned from convicts or former con-
victs. the testimony of one of these
witnesses was rather favorable to the
defendant, in that it tended to show
that at least a good part of the mer-
chandise and other articles taken from
the prison store on the night of April
| 13, 1921, was property which he had
| lieved around the prison. to belong to
! Conley. Several other witnesses, how
ever, testified to the removal on the
two ensuing days of quantities of
meats, flour and sugar to places own
ed or controlled by Conley.
Father Of 20 TesGifies
During the day, Attorney General
W. d. Rankin unexpectedly aligned
himself upon the side of Governor
Dixon by protesting against the fire.
quent injecting by counsel for the de-
Tense of the name of the governor
into the case, the attorney general in
sisting that this was not case to
which the governor was q party in the
character of plaintiff.
An interesting incident developed
during the day, when it was brought
out that one of the witnesses, q former
convict from Anaconda, who had been
sent to prison for a statutory offense,
was the father of 20 children. IS bows
and two girls. This witness, who was
unable to remember the date of his
marriage. referred to it as the "lucky
day" and clapped his hands gleefully
when telling of it.
Rankin Aiigns With Dixon
When the cross examination of the
convict. Ike Cohen, was resumed
Thursday morning, Attorney Q.Cenner
questioned him as to the crime for
which he had been sentenced. He re-
piled that it was for receiving money
under false pretenses and explained
that he was employed for a time by
the Hansen Packing company and
upon being let out by that concern he
went out and bought car of cattle.
giving check in payment He said
Hansen had called up the owner of
the cattle and told him the check was
no good and that. later, the seller
tuh hVo 0c"h Vic Nucth. lie SdlQ ne
had an account in the bank, but did
not have enough to cover the check. |
He was convicted in Madison county
and his term expires May /. 1922.
Here Mr.. O'Connor brought the !
name of Governor Dixon into the case
by asking Cohen if he had made ap-
plicatlon to the governor for q pardon. |
Attorney General Rankin protested |
against counsel for the defense con- /.
tinually injecting Governor Dixon into !
the case.
This is not case of Dixon against |
C0nley, it is the case of the state
against Conley." he said.
Rankin Parole Head
O'Connor asked if the governor was
not at the head of the parole board
No, replied Rankin, II am presi-
dent OF the parole board"
We'll, he is at the head of the ad-
isn't he?" exclaimed
O'Connor.
Again giving his attention to the
witness counsel brought out from
Cohen that the bacon he saw Mullan
hauling away was either of the Armour
Or Cudahy brand, he did not remem-
Der which
He repeated the declaration that the
ihiiie Hc Raw imprinted upon the flour
.aken from the prison was that of
Nelson Story, Jr.. Bozeman. He said
ne saw Afullan load two loads of flour
hat day. Friday. The first load con-
sisted of four or five sacks and he
moved the two loads just as fast as he
'ould go up to his home and back
Il guess he went to his home" wit
less said. He was in a hurry and
I'D not seem to want anyone to see
lim. He did several things that day
le didn't want anyone to see On the !
second trip he loaded five sacks of ;
lour. l believe it was the same kind
-Bozeman, Montana, flour"
ConIey Seemed to Own All,
When asked if he did not know that |
'onley owned all the saddles and har-
'ess around the prison, Cohen ne
lied:
Il don't know, but Conley and Nc
'atridge came to the barn and asked
he for the keys and Conley said. Now,
II this harness belongs to me-" ,
"And the saddles. So far as you
now. all the saddles belonged to Con-
ay:"
We'll, as far az 1 know" he re-
lied.
Louis Cass, who had testified previ-
usly during the trial, was called to
i've his knowledge of the moving Of
<Contanusd on Psge Elsveal