Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-12
CONFLICTING TESTIMONY
GIVEN At RUHNEY trial.
Plaintiffs in $4,000 Damage Suit Deny Many
Statements Made on Stand by
Defendant Skinner.

Confic~ 10 the testimony of Fl. J.
Skinner, defendant in a 100000 dam
age suit brought ny the heirs of the
late Benjamin Etumney of Cascade,
who aiiesc that the defendant de-
fraudtd ihom out Of the 1892 acre
ranch, and gaat of heirs who previously
had testified. developed as the out
standing feature of the trial in dis
trict court Monday. The evidence was
completed Monday afternoon and
counsel will meet with Judge H. II.
Ewing this morning to agree on in
structions to the jury. which was ex-
cused until 100 o'clock today.
Mr.. Skinner and John Rumney, rep
resenting the Rumney family. consist
ing of his mother, a sister and three
brothers. formed the Rumney Ranch
omna in November, 1916. Mr..
Skinner testified that at the end of
the first year OF the company's organi-
cation he believed he had gotten into
a bad mess. He said he made an item
lied statement of the company's eX-
penditures and receipts on September
Ia. 1917. and the following evening
held a consultation with Mrs, Rumney
and Stuart and John Rumney, who
were tending the place.
Offered Backing
He quoted himself as having said.
...Jobn. YOU have hoobed $1,000 out of
the ranch.'' He said he offered them
backing the following year if they
wouId nay him $500 the place owed
him and let him withdraw from the
ranch but that there was no
response. Both Stuart and John Rum
ney denied any knowledge of such a
meeting when placed on the stand IN
rebuttal.
c. W. Cleveland, Great Falls insur-
ance man. testified regarding the OPP
erations of the ranch from the time 1t
WAS sold to him in the spring of 1915
for S54.O until he turned 1T back to
the Rumney Ranch company IN the
fail of the same year. Before the ne
| rotiatiops were far advanced he said
he had a talk with Stuart Iumney, in
which the latter said any deal ne
(Cleveland) made with Mr., Skinner
would be all right with the unney
After a crop failure in 1919, Mr.,
Cleveland said he wanted to get out
from under the obligation of the ranch,
so Mr.. Skinner agreed to take 1t back;
He said that he did not have personal
sunervisiou of the place, having placed
! Wait SnIithers in charge. although MI
Skinner paid most of the bills.
Cleveland a Witness
Under cross examination. Mr.. Cleve-
land told George A. Judson of the
heirs counsel that he had been tod
when he took the place that there was
S54. 900 in debt against the farm. lie
! could not recall to whom the money
/ was due, when. or how secured. lie
said there was no written contract TO
buy the farm, merely an oral agree.
ment, He said he had paid severaI
bills. On being questioned the only
one he could remember was a black
smith bill, but he could not recall the
amount.
Last Saturday, Wait Smithers testi-
! fled to having been hired to work on
the Rumney ranch, starting VIII
| March. 1919, by Mr.. skinner. lie sane
he received his pay and orders from
Mr.. Skinner.
From November, 1916, when the
Rumney Ranch company WAS formed
until sold to Mr.. Cleveland, it ran be
hind $4,000. Mr.. Skinner testified
The witness said John Rumney held q
draft book and paid all bills, thu
drafts being later met by Skinner a
! treasurer.
Terms Equipment Junk"
Mr.. Skinner said when he entere'
the Rumney Ranch company Johl
Rumney put the livestock and farm
equipment on the place at $4,000