BANK ROBBER GUILTY / Jury Finds Hudson, Alias Doe, Alias Murray Guilty. / PUNISHMENT LEFT TO THE COURT

# Transcription — The Butte Miner, 1895-09-17, p.6 **Source**: The Butte Miner (Butte, Montana), Tuesday 17 September 1895, p.6, cols. 1-2. **Status**: Complete for p.6 (the court-news column continues on the eighth page, which the archive does not hold). **Method**: Read against the page scan (`archive/pages/1895-09-17_butte-miner_p06/fullpage.jpg`) at 2.4x, the deck and both true-name passages at 6-8x, starting from the tile-by-tile page reading of 20 Oct 2026. --- ## Page layout The Hudson trial article and the "Other Court News" that follows it occupy columns 1-2 of the 6-column p.6 (headline over column 1). Column 3 holds "ROSES BY THE BUSHEL / BEAUTIFUL MILLINERY DISPLAY" (Parisian Millinery Co.), "LACK OF COURTESY", and the "VIGOR OF MEN" patent-medicine advertisement; columns 4-5 mining-application legal notices; column 6 the advertisement strip: "School Shoes — Easy and Stylish — John Caplice Company", **"It's Not the Easiest Thing ... P. J. Brophy & Co."**, "Kenyon-Connell Commercial Co." and "Salesmen Wanted". --- *THE BUTTE MINER, TUESDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 17, 1895.* # BANK ROBBER GUILTY ## *Jury Finds Hudson, Alias Doe, Alias Murray Guilty.* # PUNISHMENT LEFT TO THE COURT ## *The Man Who Tried to Hold Up the Silver Bow National Falls to Prove He Was Insane—Good for Anything Up to Ten Years in the Penitentiary—Other Court News.* Thomas Hudson, alias John Doe, whose true name is said to be Murphy, was put on trial in Judge Speer's department of the district court yesterday for attempting to hold up the Silver Bow National bank on June 11, last. Since his capture Hudson has devoted his time in the county jail to growing a full crop of whiskers, which changed his appearance somewhat, but not sufficiently to prevent identication [sic]. He was defended by John W. Cotter, while Assistant County Attorney Booth represented the state. Besides the witnesses a number of gambling friends of the accused man were in court. A jury was secured without much trouble. J. H. Carder and C. S. Passmore were excused for cause and E. J. Lowney was challenged by the state and John Eddy and R. Campana by the defense. The jury selected was as follows: John Chatham, John F. Pascoe, Richard Trembath, William Page, Martin Pishkur, Daniel Gross, Charles Bausmann, Oscar Kruse, C. P. Tobin, Richard Kent, O. H. Baum and Jerry J. Leahy. In the selection of the jury Attorney Cotter announced that the defense would be insanity and questioned each man as to whether he would give due consideration to that plea. When the jury had been sworn the state put Policeman Ingraham on the stand, but before he could get any way into his testimony the defense objected to the introduction of any evidence on the ground that the information failed to allege a public offense in that it did not allege the legal existence of the Silver Bow National bank as a corporation. The information had referred to it as "The Silver Bow National bank, (a corporation)" without specifying under what laws it was incorporated. The noon hour having arrived the arguments on the objection were put off until the afternoon. After recess Attorney Cotter and Attorney Booth argued the point at length and Judge Speer overruled the objection, saying it was evident the bank was a corporation, and whether organized under the laws of the state or those of the United States made no particular difference. An exception was taken by the defense. Policeman Ingraham was then allowed to tell the story of the chase and capture of Hudson. On West Granite street he said Hudson levelled his revolver and told him to "throw up his face," at the same time taking a shot at him. The officer fired back and then his pistol refusing to work he threw it at Hudson. The weapon struck the man, knocking him down. Under Sheriff Young and some other officers came up and captured Hudson in an area way leading from the alley where the defendant was seeking refuge. W. O. Thomas, bookeeper and clerk in the Silver Bow National, testified to Hudson coming into the bank on June 10 and getting a dollar bill for a silver dollar. The next day between 12:30 and 1 p. m. Hudson returned and wanted another dollar bill. Witness was busy and did not care to look through a pile of bills so he said he hadn't any. Hudson went out and witness kept on working at his books for awhile. On returning to his window he saw Hudson come down the street again and look into the bank. Then he went and leaned against a telephone pole for awhile, and next walked straight into the bank and up to the window where witness was standing. Drawing a revolver Hudson aimed it at witness, exclaiming: "Young man, I'm broke and must have money." The bookeeper dropped at once behind the counter and grabbing a revolver fired six shots into the air to give the alarm. When he got up Hudson had left. Witness recognized the defendant as the man who had been in the bank and drawn the gun on him. When Mr. Thomas had gotten out of the court room it was discovered that he had given his testimony without being sworn. He was recalled and sworn and went over his testimony again. In doing so he was asked if the prisoner had put him in any bodily fear. Mr. Thomas replied: "Yes, he nearly scared me to death." Policeman Barnaman testified to the capture and recognized Hudson. Deputy Sheriff Young told how Hudson surrendered to him in the alley. Witness asked him how he came to make such a fool of himself as to try to rob a bank in broad daylight. Hudson said something to the effect that he was broke and out of work. Hudson had a revolver with two cartridges left in it. He surrendered to witness without making any effort to use the weapon. C. C. Rhodes was called and testified to having seen the prisoner in the county jail. James H. Lynch testified to seeing Hudson in the jail after the capture and asking him how he came to make such a break as to try to hold up a bank in broad daylight. Hudson said he hadn't considered that. He had to have money. Fayette Harrington, cashier of the bank, was called to prove that the concern was a national bank and organized under the laws of the United States. This ended the case for the state. Attorney Cotter made the opening statement for the defense. He said that he would not attempt to deny that Hudson had been in the bank and done all that had been testified to. He would endeavor to show that the man had previously borne a good reputation and that there were men in town who would loan him thousands of dollars. He would also show that Hudson had been suffering from a loathesome disease and that while in Colorado he was out of his head in consequence. Stephen Eugene Deidrich, a colored porter, testified that he had known Hudson since 1882, when he met him in Denver. Hudson was working in a gambling house, and frequently had spells in which he fell over the faro layout and had to be carried away and put to bed and nursed. Witness had nursed him. He remembered two of these spells in Denver and four in Leadville. Hudson attributed the trouble with his head to the strong medicine he had been taking On cross-examination Deidrich was asked what name Hudson went by in Colorado. Mr. Cotter objected to the question. He said the man had preferred to keep his name secret, and had answered that it was John Doe. The prisoner, Mr. Cotter understood, had relatives whom he wished to protect by not giving his name. Judge Speer thought the court was entitled to know the man's true name, and the question was proper cross-examination. Diedrich was told to a[n]swer the question, and he said the pri[s]oner's name in Colorado was Thomas Hudson. Mr. Booth wanted to [k]now what other peculiarities witness had noticed about Hudson which led him to believe the man was not right in his head. Witness said he had seen Hudson pick up bets from the table while dealing under the impression the house had won them. "Then when you see a dealer do that you think he is out of his head," exclaimed Mr. Booth. Witness thought they were. George Hopkins testified to knowing Hudson for seven years. Hudson worked for witness in his gambling house at times and frequently had charge of from $1,000 to $5,000. Witness told of Hudson taking him and another man seven times to see a pair of shoes and explaining their merits. Witness was asked what occasion there was for Hudson to adopt the methods he did in order to get money. The state objected and the court would not allow Hopkins to answer. Dr. F. W. McCrimmon testified as to Hudson's physical condition and its effect on his mind. He would not pronounce him insane from what talks he had had with him. The defense introduced several other witnesses to prove the queer actions of Hudson at times, and his reputation for honesty among the gamblers. Mr. Booth then started the argument for the state and Mr. Cotter followed for the defense, claiming insanity from the effects of disease made Hudson unaccountable for his actions. When he closed court took a recess until 7:30 at night. At the night session of court Mr. Booth made the closing argument for the state, claiming that every act of the defendant showed a knowledge of what he intended to do and there were no signs of insanity in any one of them. Judge Speer, in his instructions, told the jury every man was presumed to be sane until proved otherwise, and must introduce sufficient evidence to raise a reasonable doubt to the contrary. If the jury believed Hudson insane he should be acquitted. The jury retired at 8:45 and returned at 9:15 with a verdict of guilty, leaving the punishment to the court. Hudson never changed a muscle of his face when the verdict was announced. Saturday was set for pronouncing sentence. Mr. Booth gave notice that he would to-day move to dismiss the charge against Hudson, that of attempted murder. Hudson's true name is given by a man who knows him as Tim Murray, and his parents live in Brown county, Wis. ### RECEIVERS MUST PAY. ## OTHERWISE THE BONDSMEN WOULD HAVE TO. Judge Knowles, in the United States court yesterday, heard arguments on the order asked for by Samuel T. Hauser and E. W. Beattie to compel the receivers of the Northern Pacific to pay the judgment in the case of Alfred Urlin against the company, out of funds now in bank to the credit of the road. Urlin got a judgment for $7,750 against the road some years ago for personal injuries received. The company appealed to the supreme court of the United States, Gov. Hauser and Mr. Beattie going on the appeal bond. While the case was pending in the supreme court the road went into the hands of receivers. The supreme court then affirmed the judgment and an effort was made to collect it. The receivers refused to pay, claiming all the money in their hands was first subject to the claims of the bondholders. In a similar case Judge Jenkins held that if any bondholders objected to such payment the court had no right to order the receivers to pay such a judgment out of moneys on hand. Judge Caldwell, however, in another case just like it, decided that the court could make such an order. The bondsmen on appeal were the only parties to look to for payment in this case should Judge Jenkins' decision be accepted as the proper course. Messrs. Hauser and Beattie objected to paying the judgment and therefore asked Judge Knowles to direct the receivers to do so. William Wallace of Helena appeared for the petitioners, W. E. Cullen for the receivers and Senator T. H. Carter for the Farmers' Loan and Trust company, trustee of the mortgage bondholders. Judge Knowles made an order directing the receivers to pay the judgment. It was originally for $7,750, but costs and interest have brought the amount up to between $11,000 and $12,000. ### CHARGE DISMISSED. ## ARCHIE KRAMER GOES TO HIS FATHER. Mrs. Maggie Kramer, who was charged with beating little Archie Kramer, was to have appeared in the district court yesterday to plead to the information. Assistant County Attorney Booth stated that an aunt of the boy had asked to have the charge dismissed and that she be allowed to take the boy to her home in Jackson, Mich. The witnesses for the state were the boy himself and two other little fellows and the aunt thought the matter may have been exaggerated. As the boy was to be taken to his father Mr Booth was willing to have the case dismissed. Judge Speer consented to this if the defendant would pay the costs. The costs, amounting to $68, were paid and the boy left on the afternoon train for his former home in Michigan. Thomas O'Brien, James McKinley and James Howard, the three men accused of holding up James Brady, were brought into court to plead. McKinley and Howard pleaded not guilty. In O'Brien's case a motion was made to set aside the information on the ground that it had not been signed by the county attorney. The motion was overruled and a demurrer was then filed and set for hearing on Sept. 21. William Reed, charged with attempted burglary at the Curtis block, and George Wilkins, charged with grand larceny for snatching the money of the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific railroad, were arraigned and pleaded not guilty. ### CHARGED WITH MURDER. ## TWO INDICTMENTS BY THE FEDERAL GRAND JURY. Deputy Marshal Waite returned to Butte yesterday from the Crow reservation with Charles H. Pritchett, who had been indicted for murder. Pritchett shot a squaw named Shakes-the-Ground on July 8 last. She was the wife of (Continued on Eighth Page.) [continued on p. 8; not in the archive] --- ## Identification note The deck prints the alias "Mur-ray" (hyphenated across the line: "Alias Mur- / ray Guilty"); the first paragraph says the defendant's true name "is said to be Murphy"; the last Hudson paragraph says a man who knows him gives his true name as "Tim Murray". The Anaconda Standard of the same morning prints "HIS NAME IS TIM MURPHY" and "Hudson's right name, it appears, is Tim Murphy" (see `1895-09-17_anaconda-standard_hudson-was-guilty`). The two papers therefore disagree, and this paper disagrees with itself. The Butte juror **John Chatham** is the recurring Chatham surname of the user's Kelly-Chatham in-law line. "Falls to Prove" in the deck is as printed (for "Fails"). *[Text checked against the page scan at 2.4x (names at 6-8x), 21 Oct 2026, starting from the tile-by-tile page reading of 20-21 Oct 2026.]*