Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-02-16
Defendants
Win VerdiCtSIn
District Court
Two Are Freed From
Charges for Which They
Were Tried.
MINING CASE TO
COME UP MARCH II

AS the Western News went to press
last week the case of the State VS.. H.
N. Douough, charged with burglarizing
the Rev Simpson house in Eureka
had just been given to the jury. The
jury returned verdict of not guilty
In the case of the State VS.. Siebert
Hail. charged with having resisted an
officer. Chief Of Police Green testi-
fled that on the night In question
car passed him as he was crossing the
street at Hotel Libby corner, that in the
car he saw John Boothman and that
he obtained the license number of the
car; that the car drove past the county
jail and there smashed into another
auto standing in front of the jail, not
stopping but going on south block or
two, then turning eastward. Green
walked over To the Variety Grocery
corner looking for the car; there he
met Ed Holmgren, who frequently had
been employed ON the police force;
while standing there they noticed three
men coming from the east past the
First State Bank, walking arm in arm.
These three men turned north down
Mineral avenue.
Green said they were evidently in
toxicated and he and Holmgren stepped
across the street, when they found the
trio were John Boothman, Siebert Hall
and Leo Bockman, Boothman and Hall
intoxicated. He arrested Boothman and
Hall and started for the jail, Green
with Hall and Holmgren with Booth
man Green testified that as they APP
preached the Bolyard corner. Hall be-
gan to resist, that he struck him slight
ly over the head with his billy and
that Hall called for Bockman. When
Bockman arrived Green asked him to
help him with Hall but Bockman re-
fused and started to help Hall, Selling
Green around the body and then strik-
ing him III the face, knocking him out
When he came to he was propped up
against the BolyArd building, where
he had been placed by Holmgren- Hall,
Boothman and Bockman had disap-
peared. In the fracas Bockman had
also struck Holmgren. Green was bad
ly cut and beaten up about the face,
and in the fighting the men had taken
his gun away from him. Boothman
took no part in the fighting.
Boothman testified for the defense
and said he had walked into town that
night leaving the car at home, that he
and the other two men had been
drinking some about town and late
that night had started home The testi-
mony brought out was to the effect
that the three men were going home
when accosted by Green, that Hall
and Boothman were going to Booth
- ;yxta ~
turn west to the Lamey home. They
maintained that the officer did not
place them under arrest
Bockman had previously admitted
his guilt and had been fined $4,000. On
the stand he testified that when the
officer struck Hall he refused to help,
struck Green in the face and testified
he might have hit him four or five
times. The testimony for the defense
also was to the effect that Hall had
been somewhat stunned by the Off
Ger and was in no condition to put up
much of fight. Bob Holiday was put
on the stand and testified that he was
driving the car that struck the auto
standing in front Of the jail that night
The jury returned verdict OF not
guilty. County Attorney Blackboard had
charge of the prosecution and B. T.
Maiden appeared as attorney for the
defense.
Elsie Wood Of Eureka was granted a
divorce from Clarence L. Wood, the
case being uncontested.A The plaintiff
was given the care and custody of the
four minor children, and the defend
ant is to pay $500 a month for their
support
Judge lockwood will be in Libby
on March to preside at another term
of court At that time the case Of j.
MI. Fitzpatrick VS.. the Glacier Silver
Lead Mining Co. will be tried.