Show PHYSiCIAN IS ACCUSED Grave Charge Against Dr a Gardner Butte ARRESTED BY THE POLICE Dr Gardner Who Has Been in City but Two Days Is Charged With Taking Improper Liberties With Flora Hansen Aged Tea Years Accused Man Protests His Innocence Inno-cence but Officer Who Mado tho Arrest Says He Admitted Improper Conduct Toward the Girl Dr W L Gardner a wellknown physician of Butte who Is visiting friends In the city was aricsted last evening on a grave charge that of taking indecent liberties with tenyear old Flora Hansen The offense Is said to have tuken nlace at Liberty nark J where Dr Guidner and the little girl had gone together for pastime Ofllccr Brown who arrested the doctor says that the latter admitted his guilt upon being arrested explaining that he had lost control of himself at the time and was not altogether responsible for his actions The actions of the accused man toward to-ward the little girl were first noticed by two ladles who at once notified Olll ctir Brown that they feared for the welfare of the child The officer began watching 13r Gardner and Says he saw him take liberties with the little one while engaged In swinging her In a secluded se-cluded part of the park Later he fol lowed them to the duck pond where so the officer says the doctor took the child on his knee and again acted In an obnoxious manner Wilhjn a short time both left the park and Ofllcei Brown followed them to the residence of Rev A J Osbornc at C55 South Fourth East street whore the doctor Is slaying during his visit here and there placed Dr Gardner under arrest anti escorted him to the police station The accused man strongly asserted his Innocence saying that while his actions may have appeared obnoxious he had no evil in tentions and was only caressing the child because he has known her a long time and Is furthermore a friend of the girls father Laurence F Hansen a missionary Rev Mr Osborne upon learning of the arrest ofDr Gardner hastened to the police station where he asserted his belief in the innocence of the accused man When It was intimated that the I arrest was unjustifiable and that the doctor should be released Chief Hilton informed both men that the doctor could not bc released from custody without furnishing suitable bond The bond was fixed at S50 wnloli nmnnn wits furnished Upon being released Dr Gardner stated that a mistake had been made as he had no intention of harming the child In any way He also denied that he had confessed to Officer Brown and declared that he was simply the victim of circumstances Time doctor has only been in the city two days |