Territory of Montana v. Reuss

This is an indictment for an attempt to commit the crime of murder, and is based upon a statute of the territory which provides that every person who shall attempt to commit a public offense, and in such attempt shall do any act towards the commission of such offense, but shall fail in the perpetration thereof, or shall be prevented or intercepted in executing the same, upon conviction shall be punished, etc. .

The indictment charges that the defendant, on the 18th day of December, 1882, at the county of Missoula, did unlawfully, wilfully, feloniously, on purpose and with his deliberate,…