St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-12-23
from tie Mtnnesotion.
The Little: Falls Dimcuzties.---
4 Chapter On Moccasin
Democracy
To tie Editors Of the lE;mnesot;un

1 = "te GUuCTS a lHc lLt'lneSot'0n:
I.lTrLE FALLS, Morrison Co., Nov. 60, 1868
The original progress Of the recent
difficulties which have TRANSFERRED at Little
Falls during the past year, ought, in jus
tee to the respectable portion OF the peo-
pie Of this town, he fully stated to the
public.
Fox 9 full year past, our town has been
disgraced by gang of rufians and row
dies, who, setting all law at defiance, have
revelled in riot and crime. This banditti
force were scattered all along the country
between Platte River and Crow Wing,
this town being the central point Of opc-
rations, and the residence Of many of the
prominent leaders OF the Clan Being
the lenders Of the Democratic party in
this section, too, and occupying high
position among the Lending Democratic
politicians throughout the State, they were
enabled to bring almost the entire force
OF tie Democratic party to their aid, on
the shortest notice. One OF them once
repre- scented the Democracy in the Terri
torist Council, twice il. the Legislature,
and in the Constitutional Convention,
while others have held, and arc now hold
ing various offices from the Democracy
and the general government.
Tic Immediate occasion Of the late
outbreak, Was the commission OF lnur-
dero,is assault upon 4 l4r. Rarnun, Of
this place, Justice Of the Peace, who
had dared to question the propriety Of
re-cle citing the present Sheriff, who was
known ~ be one OF the most unscrupu-
lous ct the clan. Mr.. Barnl*M was en-
ticed gu: Of his house late at night, by
some OF the ruthans, when he was immc-
diately Knocked down with heavy blud-
geon, ,.,ad after beating him until life was
nearly extinct, they dragged him to the
hotel, threw him upon the Steps, and lett
him, one OF them rc,na1klnS, that - the
old cuss wont issue any more writs. Dir.
Barnunl's cries Of murder having
aroused his neishbors, they came to his
aid, and treated one of the sssassins to a
full charge OF buck shot as he was retreat
ing.
The next day two Of the Democratic
would-be murderers, one Of them the
Sheriff Of the County, were arrested
There being no acting Justice Of the
Peace in the County beside the injured
man, and tearing that justice would be
administered them by the Court Conm;s-
sioner OF Morrison County, they prevailed
upon the Deputy Sheriff, (aided by the
influence Of Hon. judy James Hall, late
Democratic Judge Of the Fourth .Judtciaz
District, acho has been, ant noe IS the
standing attorney Of this Democratic
bomdstti) to take them before Court Com
missioner Sweet, Of Benton County, Tor
examination, WAC was OPPORTUNITY, on a
visit to his friend, Hon. VIM. Stursess,
who is generally supposed to be the prime
mover, and wire-puller Of the whole clan
Democratic Commissioner Sweet, held
Democratic Sheriff Pugh, (not Fuke,)
and Democratic "high private" Rich
ardson, special " fugleman - to Democrat
ic " Blu" 'Stuygis, to bail, Democratic
thigh private" Richardson found Demo-
cratic rawdy straw-bail, which Democratic
Sheriff Pugh, could not, in Morrison Coun-
ty. Democratic Commissioner Sweet,
therefore made out commitment for
Democratic Sheriff Pugh, and he was
started for the Fort in charge Of Deputy
Sheriff Brown for safe keeping, with in
structions to take bail on the way, proyi-
ded Democratic Sheriff Pugh should be
so fortunate as to obtain that, to him,
useful article.
These proceedings were had. a, Swan