Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-09-09
Brutal Outrage Upon = Norwc.
e: gian Citizen.

son, a resident of West Lansing, and
one of the oldest settlers of the County,
came to this city to purchase some lun'-
Der. He drove his team to the Scan
dinavian Hotel and hitched them to
tree near the stable. Mr.. Thompson
had with him small, young dog that
was in the habit of annoying his horses
by barking at them, to prevent which,
he commenced whipping him. Just at
this instant man by the name of 0.
NJ. Kerr, an entire stranger to Thomp-
son, came along in the street and made
some remark to Mr.. Thompson about
the whipping at which he replied that
he owned the dog and should whip him
if he needed it. Some few words pass
ed between the men and Mr.. Tho1np-
son took his team and drove towards
the undergrad of Croker Bros. l.
Lamoreaux which was only few rods
distant. As he turned his team
to 60 into an alley leading
through the yard, Kerr seized
piece scantling about four feet long
and attacked Thompson in a furious
manner. he first threw it at him
then picking it up again he struck him
over the head and shoulders several
blows with all his strength. The blows
were somewhat diminished from the
fact that Mr.. Thompson was in the
wag ION, and all the time endcavoring to
escape, otherwise he might have been
killed. The team soon ran towards
pile Of lumber and stopped, which gave
X err better chance at his VICTIM
This he improved to the. best advan-
tage, d. zn~ 'n' from the wagon with
the scantling, and LITER he was upon
the ground kicking and beating him
with his fists in a brutal manner
About this time nuElber Of men had
collected from the vicinity and interior.
ing, and prevented further inquiry.
Kerr was arrested by the marshal
and taken before A J. Phelps and up
on CHI nge Of venue, the case was trans
ferred to Justice Mills. The examina-
ton took place Tuesday afternoon at
the Court House in Austin. Messrs.
Page 4 Clark conducting the case on
the part Of the State and D. B. John
son for the prisoner. After hearing
the evidence on both sides the Court
decided that crime had been commit
ted Of which he had not jurisdiction
and ordered that the prisoner be held
to appear at the next term Of the Dis
trict Court, and fixed his bail at $500.
This he was unable to procure and
was committed to Jail. It is proper to
state that the Justice, PIG. Mills Esq is
entitled to great credit for the prompt
and impair tial manner in which he dis
posed Of the case.
This was one ofthe most unmitigated
transactions on the part of Kerr that We
have ever known. He Ass no excuse
or apology to offer except that he hates
Norwegians and he openly avows that
if he had had = pistol he would have
shot him. Mr.. Thompson is aquiet, sober
peaceable citizen-never was known to
have quarrel with any, one and is the
last man that would insult another.
We are happy to state that the sym.
pathies Of our citizens were with Mr.
Thompson and they will do all in thei,
power to see that ample justice is meeted
out to the offender. If peaceable
men from the country cannot come int
Austin to transact business without
having their lives endangered, by rufians
Of this character our business mer
may as we'll close their stores anc
Offices and convert our streets into ;
grand slaug liter house.