The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1924-06-25

LAAS -
with Judge Hugh j. Miller, of the
Sixth Judicial district, on the bench.
After the trial, the case was held
under advisement by the court who,
on last Thursday, ordered the defen-
dant into court and sentenced him to
! serve an indeterminate term of from
9 to Is years in the state peniten-
tiary at Deer Lodge. Father Hen
messy, through his attorneys immedi-
ately filed notice of an appeal to the
supreme court in Helena. He was re-
leased under $4,000 bail bonds fur
nished by prominent Columbus citi-
zens, to await the outcome of the
action of the supreme court on the
motion.
The trial of the four-day case, which
was bitterly fought on both sides, was
conducted by Wellington D. Rankin,
of Helena, attorney general of Mon
tana, assisted by G.. A. Westover,
county attorney of Saltwater county,
for the prosecution, while Father
Hennessy was ably and vigorously de-
Tended by Attorney James F. O'Con-
nor, of Livingston, former judge of
the district court in Park, Sweet
Grass and Saltwater counties, and
former law partner of Judge Miller,
the trial Judge; Attorney E. Pat
Kelly, of Livingston, formerly of Big
Timber; Attorney George Hurd, of
Great Falls, and Attorney Barney
Berg and Bernard Calhoun, Of Big
Timber.
The crime for which Father Hen
messy was convicted and sentenced
was committed January II last, when
he attempted to assault, with criminal
intent, Mrs. Martha O'COnnOr, a Pro
testant widow woman, aged 80 years,
on the third day after she had ac-
cepted employment as hOusekeeper at
the priests residence.
The gist of her testimony was that
she had been engaged, January 9, by
two Catholic ladies to take charge of
the homework at the priests home;
that nothing out of the ordinary Oc-
Cured on the first two days of her
new employment, as others were pre-
sent when she was in the same room
with Father Hennessy; that on the
third day the priest made improper
advances to her which she Indignantly
! repulsed; that the priest procured two
glasses Of liquor and im%portuned her
to drink with him, which invitation
she declined; that he drank his glass
Of liquor and went to his bed room
where he disrobed himself, reappear-
ing in the housekeeper's room, Selling
her and throwing her on the bed; that
she fought her assailant desperately
and finally succeeded in escaping
from the priests house and finding
safety in the home of a friendly
neighbOr.
Shortly thereafter she told her
story to other neighbors and then
made formal complaint to County At
torney G.. A. Westover, who either
failed or refused to take any official
action in the matter. A complaint
was then filed with Justice of the
Peace Warren NJ. Heath, who caused
a warrant to be issued for Hennessy's
arrest on a charge of attempted Grim
inal assault. The defendant was then
taken into custody, was arraigned
and later released under $1,000 bail
bonds to await preliminary hearing
which vas held in Columbus January
Is, the state having been represented
by Attorney L. V. Ketter, an associ.
ate in the office of Attorney General
Rankin, assisted by County ATTORNEY
Westover.
The public was excluded from thi.
hearing, during the course of which
Mrs. O'COnnor, the complaining wit
ness, was subjected to a severe two
hour gruelling direct and cross exam
nation. Her testimony remained un
shaken, the justice of the peace order
/, ing the priest to be bound over t.
the district court, under bonds, TO
, trial.