Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-26
SAY No RECORD
Of GAS C0NLEY
GOT FROM STATE
Convicts Testify No
Account Kept of APP
propriated Gasoline.


Helena, May 25.-Testimony to the
effect that not only were Frank Con
ley's automobiles, which were used
more or less in connection with prison
work, supplied with gasoline from the
prison garage tank but that hundreds
of highway commission trucks and cat
erpillars were supplied with gasoline
from the same tank without any ac-
| count being kept of the disposal of the
gasoline, was given Thursday by con
vict witnesses in the case of the state
against Conley for the recovery of large
sums of money in lieu of supplies and
property which the state claims Conley
converted to his own use while warden
of the state prison.
Two convicts were on the stand dur
ing the day testifying as to the meth
DDS pursued in the maintenance and
operation of trucks and autom obiles
which were used in connection with the
prison work, but most of which were
owned by Conley.
Hay on Disposition
Accountants employed by the state
testified as to the amounts shown by |
the prison books to have been expend- |
ed for gasoline and oils in the opera
ton of automobiles, harvesting machin- |
cry. the power house. brick plant and /
other institutions in which machinery
was employed, but were unable to show
outside of general prison expense ac-
count. just where and how the sup
plies were disposed Of.
Robert J. Johnson. colored, who is
serving term in the prison for high
way robbery, and who said he was en-
ployed in the prison garage from the
second week in June. 1920, until Aug
ust .. 1920, was called to testify as
TO the use of gasoline used in cars
owned by Conley.
How long have you been in prison?"I
asked Mr. Rankin.
I've been back about six months ,
now"
Witness Had Escaped
When asked as to what he meant |
,y being back, be replied that he had {
made his escape and had been brought
,ack to the prison. johnson, accord /
ng to his testimony, had been sent up t
rom Silver Bow county to serve a b
erm of one to two years and after S
icing engaged in the prison garage for r
time was sent out to the brckyard. t
vhen he made his escape and remained Ii
ut five ant one-half months before i,
eing recaptm ed. t
He testified that while he worked in
be garage two Cadillacs, three Pack
rds and two Ford cars were kept 81
here. besides four motor trucks used ~
I prison work, and that all were sup 9,
lied with gasoline from the garage
ank. He said that these cars included .,
he Chicken Charlie Ford, the Null ~ %
IN Ford, and the Packard used by the -,
risoners in carrying ''the red man." \
lr. MacCalman, around. He said there q,
ere two stacks of tires in the garage a, a,
nd that the Cadillacs belonging to Mr.. =
onley were fitted with tires from the 50
private stock He added that the 90
ghway commission cars never used !,
ny gasoline from the garage tank -,
lille he was employed there. y, y,
Says State Used Cars 3!
On cross examination conducted by dr
olonel Nolan. the witness testified IN
at he had known one of the Cadillacs by
longing to Conley, to be sent out a al
lmber of times Oh prison calls; that tie
ullan's car. Ford, went out fire. m
gagged on prison work: that Chicken ce
larlie's' car, also a. Ford, was used all
connection with the chickens on the
icken ranch, that the Packard Six, a
1914 model, was not ready for the
rap heap and that it was not used
tensively, although he had seen it
iven by Harry Good and Bill Eaton,
prisoner. He testified that the
lckard -Four was used by acCalman.
e prison architect, and that another NJ,
ckard -Four, Mr.. Conely's runabout. pp,'
is used generally and only by Con- tra a
:. He made no statement as to the 10 J
e of the other Cadillac eight which th, tb.
IS kept in the prison garage. He mn, M,
d there was only one more car at the nj
son. Cadillac limousine, which was mo
pit in Conley's private garage, but co1
nau neseI seen tnis car used. Ut
~ues'lVheo as 10 MS connection with hel
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