, 1924-02-13

case ndQ DccIl llSpllCu ny d ucSlIs
dictive and INSCRIPTIONS woman
rather extraordinary but honest m
witnesses which led to the bringir
attorney, E. ]. Goppert.
However, n benefit which may be
derived from this expensive case to
the county is that it may serve to de-
ter those who, undoubtedly, have
from time to time been making way
with horses and cattle belonging to
w. R. Coe. The stories of the wit
nesses for the state and defense were
Numerically opposed to each other,
agreeing only on one point, namely,
that the animal in question was a sor-
rel gelding.
One of the amusing features of the
ease was the testimony regarding the
markings of the horses in question,
and which went to prove how easily
an honest witness may be mistaken.
Witnesses for the prosecution, e. ".
Robertson, "Irish," Frank Bailey the
brand expert from Casper, "saw
stars" as it were, declaring positively
that the gelding had q star in its fore
head. They were sincerely convinced
the horse had a star in its forehead
when as a matter of fact it had no
more star in its forehead than the
witnesses making the assertion.
The prosecuting attorney vas as
sisted by Paul Greevor, while the de-
PENDANT was ably represented by John
w. Skinner of Red Lodge and j. E.
HcElvain of Cody.
Bert Bates was the first witness
called by the state and he testified
$50 which Jimmy Turf owed him and
had received a bill of sale for same.
He had ridden the horse until the ac-
ton was started and it was taken
from him last fall by Mr.. Goppert
and put in the Lenniger barn. Under
cross examination he stated that it
had been branded when a colt in his
corral and with Tufts brand, a re-
verse T.. B.
Phil Kent, known as "Irish," testi-
fled that he had branded the colt
with the Coe brand, z ], while it IA
running with its mother. He saw it
often, almost daily, while he was look
ing after Coe horses on the Belknap
n other ranges. It disappeared, and
when he saw it again after his return
from the army, Bert Bates was riding
it. He thereupon told Mr.. Robertson
to take a look at it. "Irish" was sure
that he could not be mistaken in the
animal because il had a "flaxy" name
and tail, star in the forehead and
strip in the face.
f. V. Robertson, manager for the
ooe interests and the complaining
witness, swore that he knew the geld
ing and its dam very well. That their
markings were identical, both sorrels
with "flaxy" names and tails, stars
IN the forehead and n strip-"very dis
tlnctive,' as Mr.. Robertson, who was
a positive witness, phrased il. He had
seen Bert Bates ride the horse and
recognized it as one purchased from
l.. G. Phelps.
Frank Bailey, stock inspector for
the state of Wyoming and Natrona
county, qualified as a brand expert
Inc described the horse infinitely
sorrel gelding with "flaxy" name and
.aii' strip in the face and n star about
TWO inches in diameter in the fore
read. Mr.. Bailey was certain that the
reverse + B was n worked over Z J
aone with n running iron.
Mrs. May Price, divorced wife of
ene defendant, was called by the
prosecution. Mrs. Price in a sailor
NAT and a muskrat coat made q pleas
ing picture but m unconvincing wit
ness With her eyes upon the floor
and a readiness to give damaging tes-
amony against her former husband
winch was rather obvious. she related
now she had looked through the cor
,ai ut her ranch on Rattlesnnke and
NAG watched Jimmy burn the 7 J into
reverse Z B with the iron rod from
\.ne end-gate Of n wagon. The hired
H"b Jennie Spring, had also been in