The anti-monopolist., 1876-08-31
A DAKOTA COUNTY HORROR.
ATERRlBLE MURDER AT RoSEMoUNT,
The MRrderers are Caught and
Confess.

OF ROSemOunt, formerly resident or Munger
township On Saturday last, at ~. Mr..
thereshng crew ,-brotllers. named John and
Jacob Bird, belonging to Francis, in Anoka
county. The ''golng wages for threshers at
Rosemount were 81 rs per day; at which rate
Mr.. Callahan settled with them. They de-
manded s. 80 per day and some dispute took
place between them and MIR. G.. as to the
amount due. In paying them otfiAl G. dis
played a large roll ofmoney, amounting to two
or three hundred dollars The sight OF this
money intlamed the cupidity Of the Birds; and
proceeding to some timber they ut large club,
1iled their pockets with hazel n uts for their
dinner, and secreted themselves in piece of
corn about 80 rods distant from Mr.. Callahan S
house, where they patiently waited all day for
night and their victim. About five O'clock Mr.
Callahan paid Oft the rest of the crew and about
S.3Op. NJ. with SlO5 in his pocket, and driving
his team before him. he started home. The fran
OF the deceased joined that of his brother, John
Callahan Esq. one of the county commissioners
OF Dakota county; and nearly midway between
the two houses was depression in the road
where the murderers attacked him. They APP
preached him in the dark and probably the
nrst intimaton he had OF their presence was a
terrible blow on the head. He cried out, ooh
John' no doubt call upon his brother John
tor help, but John Bird thought he was recog-
med and proceeded to beat and mangle him
skull. They then dragged the body inside the
fence along side the road, and rifled the pock-
cts bnt got nothing The deceased probably
dropped his pocket book upon the highway
when first struck, and there it was found next
morning by his brother. The deceased was
deeovered at O'Clock the next morning and
carried into his brothers house, where he ex
pired, at about 3 O'Clock Sunday afternoon,
without having recovered consciousness.
The fact that the two men who We're paid off
i'll the morning had disappeared concentrated
suspicion upon them. Sheriff Newell offered a
reward Of 5000 for their apprehension and sent
out parties in search of them all through the
lit Frank Newell, accompanied by Mike Hoy,
found the murderers in, Minneapolis. The
younger brother, who is about Is years of age,
has confessed to their guilt and described the
incidents OF the murder. 1t is said that the
father of the murderers is Il respectable farmer
ut St. Francis. The older brother w no seems
to have been most guilty, was soon 10 be mar
ried, and took this way to raise the necessary
funds!
The event has created the widest excitement
througho Dakota county. The Diseased was
widely known and universally respected and
beloved. He was quiet, gentle, kindly hearted
man, who was incapable of evil and suspected
none in others His tragical death has shocked
the entire community Ii his murderers fall
into the hands OF his enraged neighbors they
will have short shritt and tight rope
The state is, at this season, full OF wandering
tramps from all parts OF the country. Many o,
than are good industrious men, but there are
others who are men of desperate lives, made
still more so by the hard times The sight Of
money lntlamss them as the smell OF blood in
flames wild beast. Farmers can not be too
careful at such at ime. They should 60 we'll
armed and prepared for any emergency
There is something horrible in the cool, de-
lib*rate way in which these human tigers
waited in their lair, all day long, for the time
to come that they might spring upon their
prey. Around them was one OF the most
beautiful and peaceful scenes in the world; in
front Of them was the home Of their victim;
his children playing around the door step, and
his young wife waiting his coming Alas,
he was never to cross thar threshold again in
life. In plain sight OF home and wife and
children he was brutaly beaten to death. d
And now, if these murderers. confess, the
only penalty that can be inflicted upon them,
under our law, is to be boarded at the expense
of the ax-payers i'll the state prison for life
They will bs wellied, comfortably clothed and
with pleasant books TO pead: they will simply
work ter the state prison contractors instead Of
for them-eelves. Is this any compensation for
that young life so eruely crushed out, for the
sorrows OF those fatherless children and that
heart broken wifel
We have had too much NAV kishness aud
squeamisaness. The bible is right when i
says: And whosoever sheddeth mans blood,
hy man shall his blood be she'd" This ancient,
primal law shohld not be averted by trick"
Our Legislature should amend the existing
law as to deliberate murder for money.