The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-09-30
District Court Criminal Calendar.

District Court Criminal Calendar.
The district court. pursuant to adj.
journment, convened promptly at P.
NJ. on Wednesday. ejudge was de-
termined to rush things as he knew
the county was to great expense ev-
cry day the court was sitting. The
case of the state VS.. LaPorte was the
first called; county attorney Barker
prosecuted and J. L. Brady defended.
The regular panel and special venire
of petit jurors were almost exhausted
before jury was obtained. The ey-
idence for the state was clear and
conclusive; even the defendants own
testimony was damaging to himself;
he admitted being within four rods of
the spot where the rape was commit.
ted and having heard the girl scream.
The judge delivered an elaborate
charge to the jury, taking great pains
to infinitely explain every point Of
law; he referred to the bastard. like
conduct Of the Observation-Disclosures own
admissions proved him to be lacking
in the first principles of manhood.
The jury retired at about 10 o'clock,
P. NJ, and in less than an hour return
ed with a verdict of guilty.
The next was the case of the state
vs.. George B. Lawrence, who was ac-
cused of administering poison to Annie
Vinson with the intent to kill or in
jure her. Mr.. Brady demurred to
the indictment. Demurrer .overruled.
The county attorney prosecuted. 1t
took some time to impanel a jury.
The main witness was the girl, her.
self, and she is half-idiotic; host of
other witnesses were examined and
subjected to rigid cross examinations;
the defendant himself was put on the
stand and on the ton
was compelled to acknowledge some
things against his will. Mr.. Brady
made an able plea to the jury in be-
half of his client. The Judge, in his
charge to the jury, informed them that
they might bring in verdict of gull
ty, as charged in the indictment, or
render special verdict. To US, it
seemed as though his charge was fav-
orable to the defendant. The jury
was out about three hours and brought
in a verdict of equity of administer
ing alcohol or some other poison, in
lemonade, with the felonious intent to
injure said Annie Vinson," or words
to that effect.
The last case on the docket was
that of the state VS.. Charles Mitchell,
who was accused of swearing falsely
before the grand jury. Defendants
counsel, Mr.. j. A.. Ross, demurred to
the indictment and argued ably in fav-
or Of setting it aside. The indictment
was sustained, however. Very little
time was consumed in getting jury.
The witnesses for the state were Mrs.
Byers and four members of the late
grand jury. There was little or nc
cross-questioning and the defence call.
ed no witnesses. The county attor.
ney made strong plea for conviction
Mr.. Ross followed for the defence; he
ridiculed the idea Of an Indian being
capable Of understanding the nature
of an oath and his argument seemed
to carry conviction to the minds o.
some of the jurors. The judge
charge was very short. The jury re-
tired about IL, P. M, remained out al
night and did not succeed in agreeing
until 10 A. NJ, Friday. Then they
brought in a verdict of "Not guilty
On Thursday night Col. c. D. Kerr
{eloql:9t!y argtad'1he motion to Sc
I aside. ;tie: Verdict lin the Lawrenc,
Tease: ::The. hgtio1, as,ieaed.
: oh: Friday .fusssoon:.the: prisoner
were brought into court to be sen
| fenced. After LaPorte had arisen K
have sentence passed upon him on,
|conld have heard a pin drop--and tn,
court room was densely crowded
The Judge, in very impressive man
ner. proceeded to inform the prisone
Of the Nervousness of the of1ense O
which he had been convicted, AM
went on to say that, had it been res
|ident of this community instead of /;
/ noor foroixrnar <ha< ba had o,,trorod