Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-11-23
The Minnesota Robbers.

A dispatch from Faribault, MIMI,
says the District Court convened
there on Tuesday, and has the follow
ing in regard to the trial of the North
field robbers:
Universal interest is attached there
70, in that during the term wilt occur
the trial of the Younger brothers, the
Mortified bank robbers. 1t promises
to consume almost the entire term of
the court, which cannot be extended
beyond three weeks, and it is generally
understood that the Youngers will
not plead guilty to tho indictment
which will be formed against them,
as was at first supposed, the law max
ing impossible the imposition of the
death penalty where plea of guilty
is entered The prisoners have re-
tanned as counsel G. w. Batcheldor
and T. S. Buckham, of this city, and
Thomas Rutledge, of Medaha. The
prosecution is to be conducted by
Attorney General Wilson and Geo. N.
Baxter, County Attorney for Rice
county, and who was one of the most
intrepid aud persistent leaders of the
three weeks hunt for the robbers
The Grand Jury was polled this
morning, Judge Lord instructing them
that if the prisoners went to North
field for definite purpose, and during
that time if their members committed
another crime, all were under the law
equally guilty. The counsel for the
defense before the jury challenged
five of the twenty-five, who were ex-
cused, and the body reduced to the
lowest possible maximum for the
prosecution of business -Four bills
of indictment have been prepared,
and will probably be returned, in
which the Youngers are jointly in-
dicted. One is for the murder Ct
Haywood (; another for the murder of
the Swede, Nicholas Gustavsou the
third for an assault on the bank clerk,
G. A. Bunker, with intent to do great
botily harm, and the fourth tor rob-
berry. The bill of Indictment for the
murder of Gustavson charges that
Cole Younger fired the shot that
killed him, and one witness will SO
testify. Cole denies having commit
ted murder, however, and expresses
willingness to plead guilty to rob-
berry, but not to tho other charges.
The bills will probably be brought in
to morrow, but the pleas will not be
made until Saturday and the trial
proceeded with on Monday The boys
are well and in good spirits. Jim,
who was shot through the jaw, has
recovered so he presents a good APP
pearance, but eats with difficulty. Cole
suffered the painful operation, last
week, eff having his arm, which was
stiffened from the wound received at
Mortified, broken and reset, and
from which he still suffers. None of
their friends have arrived here as yet,
and the only money they have had at
their command was received from the
sale of their horses. There is no ex-
citement over the trial, and the prev
alent belief is entertained that they
will escape with life or even lighter
sentences to the state penltentiary
! OF the three who entered the bank
Bob alone was of the number, and he
did not fire a shot. 1t will be ex-
tremely difficult to find them guilty of
murder in the first degree, and the
jury cannot be found that will recon-
mend the death penalty. The wit
ness who will testify to Cole shooting
Gustavson bases his Identification on
the fact that the man had red whis.
kers, while another will testify that
two others of the gang had whiskers
If tho aaua color