The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-11-19
BART A. SCOLLARD MURDER TRIAL begun;
JURY SELECTED; EVIDENCE Being TAKEN
STATE WILL DEMAND DEATH PENALTY IN CASE OF
CONVICTION - SELF DEFENSE AND RIGHT TO
PROTECT HOME MAY BE SCOLLARD'S PLEA

noon of the selection of a jury, the
trial of Bart A. ScOllard, charged
with first degree murder for the
shooting and fatal wOunding, last
April 1 at the ScOllard ranch near
Belgrade, of Timothy E. Randall, got
well under way in district court.
Taking of evidence was begun late
Thursday afternoon.
The jury, the completion of which
required the drawing of an additional
venire of 20 men, is composed of the
following named::
]. w. Clark, B. F. Winningham,
Chris BuitenhOff, Amos Marble, C.
E. Thompson, w. H. Hapner, o. o.
Ramsey, Mark w. White, Richard
Gale, A. Springer, Albert TOpel and
w. w. Spain.
Thursday afternoon was taken up
mostly with the courts cautioning re-
marks to the jury, and the opening
statements of attorneys for prosecu-
ton and defense At a late hour only
one witness, S. D. Waldorf, county
surveyor, had been put on the stand.
Mr.. Waldorf testified regarding tech
nical details of location, distances,
and directions in connection with
evidence relating to the place where
the shooting occurred.
The Scollard case was called at
1:30 p. m. Wednesday, and when
court recessed at $3.50 o'clock 16 men
were in the jury box. At the begin
ming County Attorney E. A. Peter
son informed the court that E. E,
Callins Of Helena, assistant to the at
torney general, would be associated
with him in the prosecution of the
case. Scollard, with his counsel, At
torney George D. Pease, was present
as was Mrs. Randall, widow of the
slain man.
Examination Of prospective juror:
indicated that the state will demand
the death penalty if Scollard is con
victed of first degree murder. ''Th'
charge in the information is murder
In the first degree" declared Assist
ant Attoreny General Collins, "anC
we must prepare the jury for tha
position" Attorney Pease, for tho
defense, questioned the jurors care
fully on their opinions as to the Law
Of self defense and the right of
man to protect his home and pro
perty.
The fatal shooting for which ScOl
lard is now on trial occurred Apr
last at the Scollard ranch south o
Belgrade when Randall l, a forme
tenant, went there with the expresse
purpose of removing some old board
and other personal property whic
he claimed belonged to him. Owe
this matter he and ScOllard got int
an argument, and while Randall wa
driving his team up to the granary
where the boards were located, Scol
lard went to the house and obtaine
a shotgun, stationing himself in th
granary.
Frank Austin, farm hand for RaT
dali and the only man besides th
principals on the Scollard place Z
the time Of the shooting, did not sc
his employer fire the fatal shot, bl
at the inquest testified to events b.
fore and after the shooting. ImmeC
lately after Randall had been wount
ed, Scollard arranged to take him
Belgrade for medical attention, ar
then notified Sheriff James Smith I
what he had done and expressed
desire to surrender to the officer.
Sheriff Smith drove to Belgra,
and took Scollard into custody, brini
ing him to the county Jail. Rands
was removed Ito the Deaconess hospit
here, where he died at 8 o'clock Il
following morning. An inquest al
the filing of an information chargil
Scollard with first degree murd
followed, but when the case was d
CONTINUED on page eight)