Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-31

uo"u VI Luo lau DuL IL years ola by 1QS
tlce Of the peace for an alleged crime with
out chance to vindicate himself.
The cross examination of the witnesses
who testified on Saturday did not in the least
shake their testimony. The gun which
caused The bloody tragedy is an old
double-barrel, as light almost as revolver
and can easily be raised and fred with one
hand; this was shown by demonstration on
Saturday. The court room was crowded
throughout the day.
SERMON FOR THE PROSECUTION.
Yesterday Sunday the Rev. Mr.. Foster
of the Methodist church, alluded to the trial
in his sermon. He said that he had intended
to preach on Christmas but he had been
in the court house when they were trying to
get jury, and it appeared to him that hay-
ing an ordinary degree of intelligence was
made disqualification for a juryman. If a
man could read the papers he was not count
ed a fit man to give an intelligent verdict.
lie chose for the subject of his discourse tho
two thieves, who for their crimes were
crucItled with Christ, and he said the divine
teaching was that whatsoever sheddeth mans
blood by man shall his blood be shed. He
stated that implements of murder were men
toned IN the old testament such as sharp
instruments and clubs. Shot guns were not
then in use, or they would have been added
to the list. Judge Dickinson, the county
auditor, and others who were in church, at
this got up and left.
THE DEAD YOUTH.
Samuel Ash, the lad who was shot, was
born at Beaver Dam, Dodge county, Wiscon-
son, on July 2Sth, 1859, and was 10 at the
time of his death. He attended school in
his native village till he was 10 years old.
lie came to Minnesota the I'd of July last
and worked on a farm owned by his uncle
and worked by his cousin. He also worked
for George Bradford. He left George Brad
ford's farm to go to his uncle's house in
Madella on the 18th of August, the day he
was shot. The father of the deceased lad is
here, and also his uncle.
THE ACCUSED.
William w. Murphy, the accused, was
born in Pennsylvania in 1887. He
served in the war in companies
&c" and I'D" of the Pennsylvania
cavalry, winning his commission of captain
ny LIS bravery. h0 came TO CQ1S state IN
May, 1866. He has wife and four children,
the oldest Of whom is 10 years, the youngest
4 years. His counsel rightly refused to let
him answer any questions respecting the
shooting, and he very properly declined to
speak about it or his past history for the
present.
OF course the trial and the probable out
come are themes of general discussion and
speculation here. There is one thing certain,
the prisoner IS in good hands, and his case
will be handled with all the ability posi-
BILE
That no injustice should be done prisoner
the facts of the case as stated here are main.
ly from his own testimony, and that of the
defense as given at the preliminary exami-
nation.
DEPOSITION OF THE DECEASED.
This morning upon the opening of the
court the first evidence offered was the fol-
lowing deposition made by the lad when dy-
ing. The reason he did not write bis name
was that the right arm was shot through
when he endeavored to knock away the muz-
zle of the gun:
State of Minnesota County of Watonwan
Samuel Ash being duly sworn says that on
the 18th day of August, 1878, at about IL
o o'clock, A. NJ, I was on the railroad track
about five rods north of the railroad bridge
the first bridge west of Madelia; first saw the
girls coming down the track; before they got
to me they turned into the pasture; there were
three girls and one all boy; asked the
largest one If she ever done any thing; she an
swered no; l then jumped over the fence and
i. L
on the track; told them to come back,
would not touch them and not be afraid, and
they came back the track and
walked about halfway with me
to Madelia5 used no. improper
language after they came back on the railroad
track; never touched them with my hands,
and it was the last I saw of them until 1 saw
told the girls not to say anything about it;
did not know the girls; I offered the largest
one 50 cents when first approached her in
aforesaid matter; this is all of any Importance
that transpired between me and the girls, and
did not show my person to them, and also
advised them not to let any one lead them
astray in such way; was up in town three
quarters of an hour before was arrested; 1
gave myself up to the sheriff and made no re-
sistance, and was with the sheriff and made no
attempt to escape; was approached by three
men on the sidewalk in front of J. N. Cheney's
a double-barrel shot gun, about o'clock P. NJ.
the man with the gun asked me
if I ever looked in the muzzle of a gun. and I
told him no; the man says, would you like to?
and said l didn't know as I would; he had
his gun under his arm, with his hand on the
trigger, and he raised his gun little and shot
me; he placed the muzzle of the gun within
up to knock it off, but did not do 80, and I am
satisfied that ha hot 81 Ill
have to say. his
SAMUEL x ASH.
Witnessed by @. O. Cooley.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th
day of August, 1878. G. M. PoMERoY,
Justice of the Peace.
The foregoing deposition and dying declara-
ton were made by me under a sense of i'm
pending death August 18th, 1878. his
SAMUEL x ASH.
mark
Witnessed by g. o. Cooley.
MIR. ASH RECALLED.
Mr.. Ash, uncle of deceased, recalled and
examined by Mr.. Buck, said: Was present
when the deposition was taken, deceased APP
peared to be clear minded; understood what
he was talking about; was in his right mind
up to the day of his death: deposition was
made on the 18th of August, deposition
shown.) Saw deceased sign the declaration
right arm was wounded and the left so sore
from the wound in the side that he could
not use it; he touched the pen with the right
hand when the justice made the mark.
By Mr.. Severance Pomeroy, DR.
Cooley, self and brother were present; think
there were some others present, but CAM
say who the others were; Mr.. Pomeroy