Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-04-30
PRISON PROBfR'S MOTIVES
CONTINUED From Page One,

CONTINUED II
"Do you examine all the witnesses
before they appear?" he was asked,
"Not all of them"
"Well what do you do? You have
not been gracing this trial with your
presence this week."
Il have been working on the case,
examining some witnesses and prepar-
ing statements for the guidance Of the
attorney general"
"Why was it necessary for you to
examine these witnesses? You had
their a~ffidavits. They were practically
all convicts, were they not?"
well, not altogether convicts."
You threatened some Of these wit
nesses if they id not give tasti-
mony?"
mo, I did not" replied Macdonald,
other than in the case of m WIZ
ness who refused to talk to us. !
told him if he would not talk, he might
have to look out himself for his fees
Denies Remarks About Witness
"Have you not threatened other
wltnesses-in fact didn't one man say
Conley's orders were that the milk
for the prison should be $3.50 pure
milk and separated milk and you said
j c. we don't want this wit
ness?'"
mo, I did not say that. I don't
recall such being said by anyone. But
| do know we didn't use that witness.
He stated to us he was in charge of
the dairy herd, in a general way in
charge of separation of the milk and
on Mr.. Conley's orders he furnished
the prison with part whole milk. He
said he did not mix the milk but that
Conley's orders were for part whole
milk and part separated miE."
Witness Macdonald was then ques-
toned by Colonel Nolan rs to CONVEX
sations with Conley to which refer
ence was made in the notes in the
memorandum book.
ConIey Pumped Nicely
isn't it a fact that in these con-
versations Mr.. Conley was always
ready and willing to give you any in
formation he possessed" he was
asked.
well. he always talked freely" re-
piled witness.
Referring to a conversation had by
witness with J. T. Carroll, clerk of
the supreme court. counsel asked if
witness had not said 'Conley talked
frankly and honestly"
Il may have said frankly but I
don't think I said honestly. replied
Macdonald.
well, didn't you say to Carroll in
speaking of Potter that the vindictive-
ness of Potter toward Conley is dis
gusting and disgraceful?" asked Colonel
Nolan.
II may have talked along that line
but | would not be sure" replied wit
ness.
Inference of Bias
During this line of questioning and
at a moment when Attorney General
Rankin was out of the room the wit
ness objected to certain of the ques-
tons. w~hereupon Colonel Nolan de-
manded to know if he was on the stand
as a witness or as an attorney in the
case. The court directed the witness
to answer the question, as counsel was
within his rights in asking it to show
if prejudice or bias exists in the mind
Of the witness.
Testifying as to the machinery
brought from the big ranch by Con
ley. witness said that he had heard
that Conley sold some of this outfit,
but he did not consider the informa-
ton very reliable.
You didn't consider any evidence
reliable that made Mr.. Conley an hon
est man. did you?" queried Colonel
Nolan. THAT was not your purpose in |
making the investigation?
Took Car For Evidence
Colonel Nolan then caused the wit
ness to read his memorandum notes
upon the conversation which quoted
ac ar,r ttr1v A - /
the outfit we brought down from the
big ranch" and then asked:
Did you speak to Meaney?"
II don't recall that 1 did" replied
witness.
Asked if he did not take forcible
possession of the Ford car referred to
by him in his testimony Friday. wit
ness replied that he did not take for
chile possession, that he wanted the
car for evidence and took it with the
of Mr.. -Conley.
did you try to induce the county
attorney TO arrest MeaneyT"
No, but | placed the matter before
Did you ever try to have Conley
arrested"
Il never did" replied Macdonald.
Note on Prison Cars Entered
Witness then read his notes relating
to conversation with Conley as to the
prison automobiles as follows:
prison used five cars. If man got
all five went. Three of these
were Packards. One I brought from
Los Angeles and MacCalman used it.
| said if MacCalman is going to use
this / will get the state to replace it
with a Ford truck. l never could get
board together"
The slip containing these notes
were then enterd by the defense as
one of its exhibits.
Macdonald then produced Another
of notes bearing on the subject
he stated to be that Stewart
(member of the prison board) told me
wanted the state to purchase a
truck in place of a worn out
and the state authorized the
purchase of the Ford car. He didn't
remember to whom the car was to be-
.ong. The Packard was worn out"
Drew Line on ConIey's Friends
did you see Mr.. Is. c. Ford?"
mo. | did not. / wrote to him about
-ba Na1ifop rorcb b,,$ Il. -. .-.-