The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-11-20
CATTLE THIEVES
Continued from Front Page)

NOOuEluuGU GQnk GEGl
of the State of Montana, 1921, and
it has not been amended that we
know of, reads:
1922. WHO ARE PRINCI-
PALS All persons concerned
in the commission of a crime,
whether it be a felony or a mis-
demeanor, and whether they di-
rectly commit the act CONSTITUTE
ing the Offense, or aid and abet
IN its commission, or, not being
present, have advised and en-
couraged its commission, and all
persons cOunseling. advising, or
encouraging children under the
age of fourteen years, unatics,
or idiots, to commit any crime
or who, by fraud, cOntriVanee or
force, occasion the drunkenness
of another for the purpose of
causing. him. to-. commit any
crime, or who, by threats, men,
aces. command. or coercion,
compel another to-. commit any
crime, ARE PRINCIPALS IN
ANY CRIME so COMMITTED"
There you have it-that is the
law.
The two strange men, whose
names are not divulged by the
sheriff's office, are principals IN
the crime of stealing cactle. In
fact they engineered the crime
they furnished the truck, they
transported the stolen cattle. They
are "cattle thieves" And, fur
thermore, by the very terms o.
the law Sheriff Hans Madsen anC
Undersheriff Robert Smith, b!
deputizing one of the stranger
and advising them to participat
in this crime, are also principals il
the crime of Seattle stealing"
they are felons, and more con
temptable and dangerous criminal
than the men they sent to prise
by the means they resorted to.
The writer is holding no brie
for Herschal Lee, nor Frank Barg
nor George Satter. He barrel
knows Barge, he does not lnO
Satter at all, and never admire
or even felt friendly towards Il
-and politically, Lee has alwa!
affiliated with and supported Il
Republicans and the Anti-farm
parties. In fact Hsrschal Lee h
always been a bosom friend al
confidant of one L. s. Olson, {
editor of the local Republican p
per. Lee was Olson's person
barber and they indeed, were a
have been such cronies, that o
is surprised that Olson was I
along on the above ill-starred We
ture with his pal.
The writer will even conce
that very likely the imprisor
men have probably been involv
in questionable activities in I
most reprehensible of crimes
that of steling neighbOrs' cat
chickens, gas, tires. etc., tho
course he does not of his o
knowledge know a thing agail
any of these men except that
was an intimate friend of Olsol
who has been involved in ms
crooked and shady deals, so
writer cannot be charged with 1
personal bias in the matter.
fact this is a case where the w
er can stand on the principle
volved without fear of having
motives questioned.
The procedure used to CON
the men sent to the penitenti
Is more criminal than the cril
committed by those men.
The crime was committed by
ficers Of the law-nen who
sumed to stand for the law,
who took their oath to uphold
law.
The Sheriff is under as n
obligation to protect the life
liberty of the meanest crimina
he is the property of the most
spectacle citizen in his jurii
ton. There can be no more
rehensible and contemplate
crime, than the actual partiC
ton in crime in order to C
some one else. 1t leads to fir;