Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-08-06

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1880.
1871, by his brother Robert, at the house
Of James Martin, in the town of Culdrum.
He was arrested and brought to trial at
the next term of court held in Morrison
county On conviction of ofmanslaughter
in the second degree, he was sentenced to
the State prison for the term of six years.
On account of good behavior he was re.
leased. from prison at the end Of five
years, when. he returned home, and has
since resided in this county = Mr.. Martin
Kinney, his father, had recently moved
into that section of country with his fam
ly. The boys frequently reserted to the
house Of said Martin, which was not far
distant, in order to play cards. On some
occasions liquor was provided and par
taken of quite freely, which was the case
on the evening ofthe sad occurrence. AS
is generally the case under like circum-
stances, the quarrel arose from frivo-
lous thing, resulting in a fight, and that
fight in brothers. death. The tragedy
was fearful blow on the aged father and
mother who still reside at that place.
They are noted as quiet, inofensive, and
industrious people.
On the 10th day of Nov, 1873, Thomas
HeEerin, a private soldier at Fort Ripley,
in this county, shot and killed his wife
with a gun, two balls passing through her
chest. The first shot fell her TO the floor
and while she lay in that PROSTATE con-
dition, he fired at her a second shot.
The shooting was done in their quarters.
They had two children in the room at the
time, and by some means ball passed
through the right arm of the little girl
near the elbow. The soldiers near at
hand hearing the firing fastened to the
place and put him under arrest. He was
retained at the Fort until the next session
of the District Court held in the follow
ing Oct. He was found guilty of murder
in the first degree; and in accordance
with the finding of the jury, he was SEN
fenced to the State Prison for life. He
claimed that jealousy was the direct cause
of his committing the horrible crime.
Some vain attempts, however, were made
by his counsel to make intrusions upon
the intelligence of the jury by putting in
a plea of insanity. The imposition was
too transparent to deceive any one,
especially an intelligent jury of Morrison
county.
On the 18th day of July, 1876, Mike
Butala, at Two Rivers, shot and killed
Peter Tennice, Sr. 1t appears, as the
parties had been drinking quite freely,
that dispute arose about keg of beer
that Tennice had bought of Butala. Ten
nice claimed that the keg was only half
full instead of being filled according to
contract. A fight ensued in which beer
tumblers were used with telling effect
upon the Uranium of each. The fight
being over, after while Tennice started
for his home, but was called back to
shake hands over the bloody chasm
When he had reached within ten steps of
the door of the store where Butala was
standing, he (Butala) at once drew up
gun that had been concealed from the
view of Tennice, and shot him, killing
him almost instantly, as the gun was
heavily loaded with buckshot. Tennice
fell exclaiming II am shot" The case
seems to be one in which there were lit
tie or no mitigating circumstances. The
Coroner's Jury brought in the unprece-
dented verdict that the deceased came to
his death by the hands of M. Butala, and
that NJ. Butala was guilty Of murder in
the first degree After the shooting of
Tennice, he made good his escape
About two weeks afterward, he was ar
rested by sheriff Geissel in Stearns coun-
ty, as he was returning to his hiding
place in the woods after dining with
friend. He was delivered over to sheriff
Hayes, of Morrison county, and brought
to Little Falls for preliminary examina-
ton. He waived an examination and
was therefore confined in Jail where he
remained until he had his trial at Little
Falls, in the latter part of December of
that year, when he was found guilty of
manslaughter in the second degree, and
on the 30th day of December was SEN
fenced to the State prison for five years,
which was generally regarded as light
punishment. Mr.. Butala was pack
peddler, and when this tragedy occurred
he was stopping temporarily with his
brother, who was then keeping store at
Two Rivers. Mike expressed considera-
BILE Indignation at the idea of being COB
| bled up by the authorities of this country
| (he being Germany for so frivolous a
thing, which, while it put him to quite
bill of expense, also interfered with his
business arrangements Had he known
F! that the shooting of Tinnice was going to
bother him so much, he would not have
F.! done it.
Florian Meyer, a German farmer in the
town of Pierz, attended party in his
neighborhood on the evening of February
18th, 1878, at which several of the guests
indulged quite freely in drinking beer,
which was furnished in abundance. Mr..
Meyer, as usual for him on such occa-
sions, became boisterous and abusive to
those against whom he entertained any
hard feelings. There being several such
persons present, general quarrel ensued,
and fight commenced in the house.
Those engaged in it were pushed out
doors, and during the affray Mr.. Meyer
was stabbed in the left breast, apparently
with small knife. The cut proved ia
! tai, and he died. At the two terms OF
court that have been held in this county
since the affair occurred, strenuous eff
forts were made to discover the man who
| committed the crime, which have only re-
suited in throwing suspicion upon two
different parties, whom I do not feel al
liberty to name. .. .s...
. .[To be continued.1
A New York Special says: Twelve
Texan bulls which are to take part in
the fights announced at the circus rink
are duly on hand and sosis. Senors Fern.
dance, who is to give the exhibition.