Entries from Journal #1: February and March 1930
Feb 1 – I and Theresa Larson gave a card party, near 56 folks were there, Mrs. J. Cannon, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. J. Julian, Mr. August Summers, Mr. Roy Dyvig, Mr. Earl Padbury won the prizes. 85 games played of whist.
Feb 2 – P.M. Oh it’s a fierce storm out, can’t see the gate, flowing fierce. A consantrator[1] was brot up from Silver, for the Neenan Mine up near Bald Butte, rite on the Continental Divide, hauled by 6 horses and the helpers were Maurie and Jerry Lauller, Lark Sandich, Clarence Beaver, Earl Padbury & Rob O’Connell. Mrs. Eric Hedblom coming from Helena via Silver on the same load the 3rd.
Feb 12 – Alb[ert] was very sick with an abysess.
March 5, – Mrs. Lizzie Korting and I went to Helena to see the trial of Jean Mills and Bobbie Kelly[2]. Nick Jancu was held as the murderer but was freed. 3 earth quakes were felt in Helena by me Mar. 16 near 6 a.m.
March 16 – I had a fatty tumor cut from out my arm by Dr. Hawkins.
March 29 – Went up to see Mrs. Kate Rumping who was operated on the 24 for cancer. Alb[ert] & I came home from Helena. Cid, Fran & children came up to & brot Christie’s radio home, I went in with Erik Headblom. I cried and was in fierce pain with a sore arm I torn while working about 1 1/2 yrs. ago.
Notes:
[1] I believe she is referring to a mine site concentrator, which is used to begin the refining process after ore is removed from a mine.
[2] I found this newspaper article in The Helena Independent, March 6, 1930, reporting on the previous day’s activities on the first day of trial – the day Mary and her friend Mrs. Korting attended (see March 5th entry above):
TRIAL OF JANCU ATTRACTS CROWD FROM FIRST DAY
A curious crowd, composed of people representing a great diversity of character and many walks of life, gathered in the district courtroom yesterday to hear the trial of Nick Jancu who is fighting for his life against charges of murdering [Margaret] Bobby Kelly, member of the Helena underworld.
If there were any lingering doubts that the case has aroused intense interest among the citizens of Helena, especially the feminine element, they were entirely dispelled yesterday. The courtroom filled nearly to capacity all day long and fully two-thirds of the spectators were women.
Despite the fact that the proceedings consisted of the more or less monotonous routine of selecting a jury, the crowd remained until the end when court was adjourned for the day, following attentively each question put to a juror and each answer that was made.
Sensation seekers, the idly curious, housewives, young girls in their teens, poolroom loafers, business men who slipped away from their affairs for a few minutes, young attorneys anxious to observe criminal procedure, elderly men and women, all these types were to be found in the crowd . . .
Jancu was ultimately acquitted of the murder.
