Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-04
THE CHAsKA SHOOTING.
Sheriff DM Tot Explains the Natter ana
JaGstifies hts Deputy.


J1stittes hts Deputy.
To the Editor of the Globe.
CHAsKA, Sept. 3.-Your issue of this date
contains what pnrports to be a statement of 9
suspicious shooting scrape which occurred in
this place, the parties Immediately interested
uty Sheriff Matthias Logelin, of Chaska.
Allow us the privilege of clearing up some
of the mystery and suspicious circumstance
under which Mitchell was wounded at the
hands of the marshal.
Some days since MIR. Mitchell had some diff.
Guilty with some railroad employees in the vii.
lage, while under the influence of liquor. he
had fight with them and injured slightly q
cripple who was in his way while pou nding the
two railroad boys. His other proceed ngs
during the day, from one saloon to another,
caused his arrest on Wednesday morning. Mr..
P. Ills went on his bond and he was allowed
the freedom of the town again, pending the
time for his hearing, ON Wednesday afternoon
at o'clock.
During the day he continued to drink, and
at or about IL o'clock he visited the
hotel Of A. Redeile. near the depot,
where he had pawned his watch for two dol
lars. He demanded his watch from the land
lady, who, in return, demanded the money
loaned on it. Her refusal was a signal for the
establishment of the establishment, com.
mencing with breaking two glasses on the
counter, then seizing the water pitcher he
hurledat the head of Mrs. Redei. Missing
her it struck the door and was smashed to
pieces. Had it gone where intended she would
doubtless not be here to tell the tale. He next
overturned the bar counter and placed his feet
upon the base of it, wrenched off the entire TOP
of it and threw the fragments around the room.
During these proceedings the marshal was
sent for and coming up to him (MitchelD at
tempted to re-arrest him. Mitchell resented
and upon the marshal calling for help Mitchell
assaulted and struck the Hmarahal, knocking
him down. The marshal upon rising up drew
his revolver and fired the ball taking effect in
the lower part of the chin, passing through
under the tongue. Mitchell was then over
powered and taken into custody.
Now as to the marshaps authority or the
| propriety of shooting Mitchell, the witnesses
of the affair all agree that Mitchell was acting
as a most dangerous character and everyone
| had to flee to place of safety. When the mar
shall told him to go with him peaceably, be
used the most profane and insulting language
| and dared any man to touch him, and did reach
behind him for his own pistol before the mar
shall shot him..
The marshal had been busily employed from
1
to his duties in connection with the several ar
rests of Mitchell, and was perfectly sober and
not in the least degree excited when he was
| sent for to make third arrest of Mitchell, at
| the time he was shot. Nobody in this village
regrets as sincerely as does the marshal that
necessity for shooting existed, and before
shooting, the witnesses of the affair are unani-
nous in saying, he tried in every possible way
| to avoid this last resort.
The charges against Mitchell on Tuesday
morning were being made in Justices court so
numerously, and were of such grave charac-
ter (including assaults with a dangerous wea-
pom and attempted rape) that the lnarshel felt
it to be his duty to arrest Mitchell in spite of
any resistance he might make, but had no idea
that it would be necessary to shoot him. Hsv-
ing done 80 he naturally regrets that the neces-
slty did exist, but has the moral support of all
law-abiding and peaceable citizens to justify
his course. The statements made in this letter
can be verified by any of the prominent citi-
zens of Ohaska. Yours truly,
f. e. DUTorT, Sheriff.