Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-04-29
CONLEY TOOK
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had q key to the warehouse. ellis was
boss over the witness.
Stanich testified that generally the
flour was issued by him, that usually
10 or 10 sacks a week were obtained
for the prison bake shop, and that
flour was also issued to the various
ranches, some Of which he delivered
himself. In the car Of flour received
shortly before the change in wardens,
there was also some oatmeal and corr
meal, he said.
Looked Like Prison Blankets
John Usher, who had previously
testified, was again called by the state
to testify as to the moving of goods
from the prison store on the evening
of April IA, 1921. He said he was out
side the walls on the night of the
moving and went up to the store,
where he gave some assistance. He
said he carried a bunch of grey blan-
kets. four or five. which looked like
the kind used in the prison. He also
carried out some barrels and handles
and that several truckloads of goods
were moved, but he did not know where
they went to. He said the work was
not carried out hurriedly and that he
saw Mullan standing around there but
did not see him nov anything.
On cross-examination witness said
he had not noticed Conley's name
printed on the blankets and that he
did not hear the guard, Ackley, who
vas directingt he work, give directions
to move Mr.. Conley's stuff.
Food Claims Read Into Record
Most of the afternoon session of
court was devoted to the reading into
the record of about 30 claims against
the state for sugar, flour, beef, bacon,
matches. tools and machinery furnished
the state prison. these claims being
read by w. A. Logan of the state aud
itor's office. The purpose, according
to the attorney general, was to show
the value of the various classes of goods
involved in the fifth of action
the time of their alleged a%ppropria-
ton by Mr.. Conley. The defense OBJ
jected to their admission on the grounds
that the puprchase price of the articles
was not a competent price upon which
to base a market value at the time of
the alleged conversion. The court adj
the claims, however, subject to
of the defense. Colonel
Nolan thereupon cross-examined the
witness as to every item and brought
out that the witness had no knowledge
that goods were used other than with
in the prison.
Took Machinery As Offset
T. II. Macdonald, who made the
investigation and who is now of
for the state in the proceed
ings against Conley. was called to the
stand by the state to testify regarding
conversations with Conley at Deer
Lodge upon the subject of machinery
claimed by the state in its fifth cause
of action.
Macdonald said he had talked with
CouIev and called his attention to the
fact that he had found bills against
the state for mowers, binders and
diggers, and that Conley said
Eyes, l took all of these for replace
ments. You should have seen the con-
dition of outfit We brought in from the
big ranch"
Took Team For One Died
"You also found a bill for a team of
aorses?" asked Mr.. Rankin.
Il told Mr.. Conley We found four
replied Macdonald, land he
said: Il took one team in place of a
team which had died. He also said
he bought a & and two sets of
1arness and all this was taken for re
On September Z. 1921. l
wrote to Mr.. Conley. giving him a list
If machinery and implements bought
oy the state and asking for informa-
lion as to what disposition he had
made of it."
The witness then produced a copy
Of this letter and said he received re-
ply thereto. but that. later in the
he met Mr.. Conley on the
street and the latter told him he would
urn the machinery over to the wit
ness, but that it was not in very good
shape. He fixed a date for the turn
ng over Of the machinery, but the wit
ness later decided he had no authority
o receive it and then wrote TO Con
ey telling him to turn it Over to the
BOARD Of prison commissioners.
Diggers and Mixers Returned
The witness said he also made ar
.angements with Conley for the return
If a Hoover digger. which was re-
urned, and later was informed that
IT'LL another digger was returned. The
testified he had walked to the
Silo ranch with Conley and had come
a cement mixer which Conley said
to Con1ey e hcfague. Wit I
Tess informed him he had found bills
or two mixers and that Conley said
lie had forgotten these were prison
property, but, if so, Macdonald could
axe them.
The witness also told of finding a
blacksmith outfit on the Walton ranch
md that Conley said he had taken that
o replace an outfit furnished by Con-
ey & McTague.
Clash Over Blanket Notes
Questioned as to blankets, he said
le went to Conley's house and was '
;hown by COnley through his laundry
md in one corner some blankets were
,iled. I'm one pile were some Bay
Flew blankets" said the witness.
Here he took occasion to refer to
lis memorandum book, which aroused
he ire of Colonel Nolan, who made
strong objection. The witness said he
vas not sure about the name of the
blankets and for that purpose was re-
to his notes This led to a
leated discussion in which counsel for
he state brought out that witness
vas using the notes because his mem
Try was faulty. The witness admitted
le had ascertained from his notes that
he brand Of blankets was SLOW
and that there were 20 of
hem.