Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-09
CRIMINAL CALENDAR.
TIE CHAMPION RAPE CASE OF THE
sNLNETEENTH CENTURY.

It is Decided to be an Assault Only-A
Prisoner With AN Unknown Toneue-His
Attorney Can't interview Him-Minor
Cases.
In the district court Judge Wilkin presiding
the of John Olson. charged with an assault
with intent to commit rape on the person of
Johanna Nelson, was resumed yesterday at 10
o'clock A. NJ.
oLsoN's TESTIMONY.
The prosecution having rested its case, testi-
mony for the defense was begun. The accused,
John Olson, was called to the stand and testi-
fed that he was 48 years old, single; he lived
with Nelson last June; had been there four or
five days when the affair happened; he came to
Nelson's from another farm near Nelson's.
Witness had lived in Little C,nada few days
before coming to Nelson; had lived in Red
Wing and other parts of the State for six years;
lived last at Hastings; came up from
there to this vicinity two weeks before June
18th or 18th; had known the Nelson family for
about week; witness had worked all day Sat-
urday, the day the affair is alleged to have hap
pened; quit work about or o'clock, wasn't
well and ASKED Nelson to give him some whis-
ky; Nelson went to town and brought back
some alcohol; witness drank considerable
quantity of it; witness went to bed after dark
and had taken three or four drinks before going
to he'd and didn't wake up again until Mr.
Jansen came home: walked up then by the
planning of the cellar door: witness got .p
then, partook twice of the alcohol mixture;
witness then got confused and strayed off, as
it were and seeing bed, thought it was his
and got in; didn't know he up stairs; had
no recollection of going up there; witness had
no recollection of what happened after he got
into bed; knew nothing until he was walked up
by Mr.. Jansen; didn't know there was any
body in the bed; witness said Jansen
found him in the bed called him by name, and
he (witness) didn't know what was meant:
witness thought he was in his own room; there
no light in the room when Jansen called
him: Jansen then attacked him (the wltness):
made his mouth bleed; witness didn't know
what was meant; thew held him in he'd and at
tackled him; witness finally got out of bed him.
self and got away both Nelson and Jansen
asked him what he was doing there, and beat
him; witness got away. went out of the house
to neighbours, and there washed the blood off
himself; while there Nelson and Jansen came
after him, and witness begged to be let alone;
Nelson didn't strike him at any time; Jansen
did; didn't remember seeing Nelson in the
room at all; witness had been arrested once be-
fore for being drunk.
before going to bed and twice when Mrs, Jan
sen came home; didn't know he was up stairs:
didn't know he was in bed with girl,
No further testimony was adduced.
The Court-Mr. Rogers, do yon intend ask
ing the jury to convict on the full charge? |
tnlnk 1t mad better go to the jury as an assault.
THE ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Rogers then addressed the jury, holding
that the accused should be convicted of an
assault upon the person of johanna Nelson,
and that he would not insist upon conviction
on the Intent to commit a rape. Nothing was
done to the girl, and no great force used az
cording to her testimony. Mr.. Rogers cbarac-
terized the assault outrageous, and that
defendants account of the affair was nre-
posterous. On the point of the defendant be-
ing muddled with alcohol, counsel commended
that was no excuse.
Mr.. Mccarthy followed and claimed an ar
quittal for his client. The prosecution had
tailed to prove an intent to commit rape and
Inc assault was as wholly groundless.
THE VERDICT.
The court charged the jury, who retiring.
remained absent about fifteen minutes and re
turned verdict of not guilty OF the charge as
laid, but guilty of the assault. The prisoner
was remanded for sentence.
A scALY CASE.
The case of John Abrahamson, charged with an
assault upon officer Gibbons, was next called
On the announcement of the call, Mr.. W. W.
Erwin, counsel for defendant, arose and made
both peculiar and decidedly mixed. He said
that his client was a Finlander. and
that there was not interpreter in the civ
Counsel had been unable to interview his client.
he had obtained the services of a Swede who
could speak the Finnish language, but could
hnJ oh hIo into
would have to talk it off in Swedish, and then
another party would have to translate it into
the Anglo->axon. Lamentably, the fact. before
this conveyance of ideas through the middle
man could occur, the Swede was called awav to
the death-bed of brother, and would be alb
sent all the week.
The Court-Can't he, your CLIENT sna,l .nu
English at ALL
:, Mr. Erwin-Next to nothing. There are set
Elements of Fins at Okato and Calumet. He
can and has said So much: Calumet. po.'
"Okato, co. But, may it please your honor.
can't go.
The problem was too much for Mr.. ROGERS r,
solve, and he suggested tina, the case be put at
the bottom of the cal ndar until an internret.
er could be found. Mr.. Erwin asked for and
ontalned process to secure an interpreter from
Minneapolis. Later Mr.. Rogers presumed he
could get a talkist wit the necessary tonpne-
tricks to accommodate himself 20 the case and
asked that the case should be called again in
the afternoon. go -
CONTINUED.
In the case of John Scan an, charged with an
assault, the case was on motion continued.
GUILTY.
The case of VIM. Harris, CHARGED with lar
ceny, was called Defendant by his attorney,
Mr.. ). ID. OBrien, withdrew his former nlea Of
not guilty, and entered plea of guilty.. Re-
manded to await sentence.
Carl Anderson withdrew his former plea of
not guilty to larceny, and entered a plea Of
guilty. Remanded to await sentence.
At IL o'clock the court took a recess until 9
o'clock P. M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The court resumed business at 2 o'clock.
The statement was made that no other criminal
cases were ready to be tried, owing to the nom
attendance of witnesses. The court took mn
John Abrahamson's case. After some little
talk, subpoena was ordered by the court for
some party who could talk Finnish. and nave
the sought for individual the hynotbet;caI
name of John Doe.
Adjourned until lr A. NJ TODAY.
COURT ITEMS.
The case of The State VS.. Lawrence F.hr;,,
XII, charged with assaulting John Lanee. will he
called up to-day.
The sheriff made report on the genire facins
Tor a ;clal panel of petit jurors, and that SER
Lewis, A. H. Lindeke. H. M. Ramsey 7 w
Crippen and Thomas O'Dell The latter being
postmaster, was excused. Six others conld
not be found. The venire was issued in the
forenoon and made returnable at 2 p. M. with
the above result.