Glacier County chief., 1939-07-14
Strange Murder of Samuel Studzinsli,
Lewistown Pawn Broker, Fur Buyer

While those Sherman accused were
busy proving alibis, officers continued
the Investigation. They found that
Sherman, receiving SIG a week, bad
been gambling heavily. he had paid paid
Studzinski was killed A mask made
shoes and rubbers fitting the tracks
near the Golden Rule were found ON
Shermans desk at the Argus. And.
Creel from the dead mans neck, was
identified as being of type tied only
around newsprtnt made in Wisconsin,
used in the Argus office and handed
by Sherman as stock man.
With Sherman changing his story
each day, it seemed impossible to get
at the real truth. Jeff Sherman, faith
er of the lad, brought about the long
desired event. Again without show d
emotion other than slight interest
in the Juror he was causing, young
II guess it's no use. I was alone In
all this. performed the robberies.
killed Studzinski."
An Amazing Confession
The confession of lone action was
amazing. Sherman stated he had gone
to Studzinski's cabin the night of the
murder muir r. armed pns only with the Piece q
Jew for gun, hold up the old man,
and merely rob him. When Studzinsd,
suspicious, had refused to show him
gun, he had asked for a knife, he
stated sd beh AS SSer " @pened the d
at me to kill him." Sherman said.
Sherman related that, overcome by this
impulse. he picked up a hammer and
crushed the skull of the old man. When
he did not die at once he wrapped
the rnri around his rnrk YniIa<1
the skins over him. He then transacted
the cabin taking numerous articles Of
value and can containing some gold
coins. He left the cabin and returned
cached the goods under the floor Of
the Argus. During the time he was
looting the cabin he made the blood
printed cards to throw authorities off
the trail, he said.
Sherman stated that gambling had
caused his act as he needed money.
from gaming tables. He also cleared up
the mystery of the bearded man, say
ing he had obtained a mail order dis
guise and worn it while scouting his
jobs. He also said he had worn the
make it seem that a woman was in
volved in the town robberies.
Many friends of Sherman's were
stunned by the news but authorities.
SCtlIS ali tllU W Tile lOllS uySLGIY,
were, jubilant. Prosecutor Roy Ayers
urged the lad to throw himself on the
mercy of the court, the late JudgetE
K. Cheadle. When it appeared that
Sherman would plead guilty and clear
pleaded not guilty BY reason Of in
sanity and elected to stand trial. The
late Judge j. c. (JacR Huntoon, then
a young attorney, was appointed to
defend him.
Much Conflicting Testimony
Trial records show much conflicting
testimony. Sherman may have paid
bills in gold but he always asked for
gold for his paycheck and in all other
deals. He said he had killed Studzinski
with a hammer but the hammer in the
cabin showed no marks of having been
used used He had more money on deposit
week boy but he had won a $500 prize
guessing contest and bought and sold
real estate. The loot under the Argus
floor undoubtedly was from the old
evidence Sherman had placed it there.
There was some evidence showing that
sherman had been home in bed when
Studzinski was killed
Prosecutor Ayers and his associate,
the late Oliver w. Belden, piled M
evidence against the youth, however
and the verdict of the jury was guilty
This merely meant the loss of the round
to Huntoon. He appealed to the su-
preme court.
1t was not until Feb. II, 1908, more
than three years after the killing. that
the fate of James Sherman was de-
cided. On that date he was Sentenced
to serve is years in the state peniten-
tiary but not for the murder Of Stud
Zinski.
Huntoons appeal was successful and
the case ordered retired. Sherman
stood trial for burglary in the first
degree and was found guilty. For this
crime he was sentenced to prison. The
murder charge never was retired.
James Sherman never was found guilty
It was a fittine end ~ = st,
case.