Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-01
THE AUSTIN WAR.
A saLOBR" CORRESPONDENT TALKS
gITH THE PEOPLE OF THAT CITY.
what the County Attorney and Sheriff Have
TO say-.They Claim to Desire to Punish
Pages Assassin If They Can Find Him..
Judge Page as Determined as Ever.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.


AUSTIN, Nov. 80, 1sS0.-The Riley exam.
ination is of course the general topic of con.
versation on the streets here, and specula-
tons as to his innocence o. guilt sse general,
though varied. For instance. the Page men,
$50 called) are unanimous in their denunci.
atoms of the prisoner Riley and express q
general belief of his guilt, although they re.
fYain from giving their case away as they
term il by saying what their evidence is. On
the other hand the opponents of Page are of
course unable to form any idea of the guilt
or innocence of the prisoner, having heard
nothing of the evidences which will be brought
against him. In conversation, however,
with large number who are known to be
opposed to Page, not one has been found
who does not denounce the attempt upon
his life and express desire to see the guilty
party brought to justice. None of the friends
of Judge Page have any statement to make
except that they consider the Mower county
Jail under Its present management as an un-
safe place to keep the prisoner, some of them
even offering to make oath to the fact. The
other side unite in the statement that the
Mower county jail is as safe as any other Jail
in surrounding counties,
Having briefly reported the charges made
By Judge Page In his argument at the Dexter
hearing that the sheriff of Mower county
was in league with thoss who procured ths
shooting of himself, that he made no at
tempt 10 protect him when about to be at
tackled in open court, that he bad expressed
the wish that Frank Riley had killed him
page, ana that neither the sheriff or
county attorney had made the lease effort to
ny IS he
author of the cowardly deed. the GLOBE re-
porter called upon District Attorney Kins-
man and was furnished with the following
statement:
Rep.-Mr. Kinsman, the statement has
been made public through the columns
of the GLOBE that you have made no effort
TO discover or procure the arrest of the as
sassin who attempted the life of ex-judge
Page in August last. How is this?
Mr.. Kinsmap-I have no desire to answer
the continuous and oft repeated charges of
Judge Page or to provoke any controversy,
but / might say that have made q quiet
investigation of the case and have arrived at
theory in the matter which have refrained
from making public as it was not very IA
yorable to him, Psge.) will further state
that at the last term Of court held in this
county the presiding judge
in his charge to the grand
Jury instructed them to consider no COM
plants made to them unless coming through
the proper channel, viz: the district attor-
ney. presented the shooting of Judge
Page to them as a proper subject for their
consideration. They inquired if any COM
plant had been made to me or any evidence
produced duplicating any one. ] replied
"No," whereupon the subject was dropped.
1 further wish to state that I always have
been and always will be ready to hear and in
vestigate any criminal charge or complaint
whenever presented to me, to the best of my
ability, while county attorney.
Upon the conclusion of the interview the
reporter proceeded to the Mower county Jail,
where Sheriff Corey was found, and the fol.
lowing colloquy ensued.
Rsporter-Sheriff Corey, the GLoBE
wishes to visit the fail and ascertain person
ally as to its security.
Sheriff. shall be pleased to have the
GLOBE or any one else visit and inspect this
jail at this or any other time.
Rep.-Who besides yourself has access to
the jaiIand prisoners?
Sherif-The Tailor, Ole Finhart. and. in
my absenoe,D. II. Stimson, my deputy.
Rep Has Thos Riley, chief Of police,
now or at any other time during your term
as sheriff had any key or keys by which he
could gain such entrance?
Sherif-No sir: at no time during my
term has Thos. Riley Or sny other person
or persons except these mentioned by me
had any key or keys that they could gain
access to this jail or any prisoners confined
therein, to my knowledge.
Rep.-Have any prisoner or prisoners es-
capped, during your term as sheriff, from this
jail?
Sherif-Yes, sir, one. A man sent here
for thirty days for petty larceny escaped
from new jailer while doing chores about
the Jail.
Rep.-Are you personally acquainted with
John Riley, the person charged with the
shooting of Judge Page?
Sherif-No sir. never knew until after
his arrest that tie Riley Bros. of Austin had
brother by the name of John.
Rep.-Have you any sympathy whatever
with the party or parties who attempted or
procured the shooting of OK Judge Page in
August last.
Sherif-None whatever. desire and will
do my whole duty as an officer and citizen
to procure the arrest or conviction of the
assassin. wish further to state that went
to the residence of Judge Page on the
OfCAAAS va AuSuce Zf idSG,
Immediately upon hearing of the
shooting, and rendered by services 70 the
friends of Judge Page. That I inspected
the premises at daylight and went to Mr..
r. Z. Wheeler and, at his request, remained
at home during the day neglecting my other
business, and that have again and again
expressed my willingness to act officially in
the discovery of the assassin, Judge Page to
the contrary, Notwithstanding.
Rep-How many prisoners have you here
at present?
Sheriff-Three.
Rep.-Have you any desire to make
statement concerning the scene in court,
alluded to by Judge Page yesterday?
Sherif-At the time alluded to l sat in
side of the bar with my back to the presid.
ing judge, and sprung towards Riley as soon
as 1 discovered his intention, meeting him
as he entered the enclosure. placed both
hands on his shoulders ond ordered him to
desist. In springing towards him / passed
Juge Page SO closely us to touch him and
attract his attention.
Rep.-Did you ever in the place alluded
to by Judge Page, or at any other time or
place say that you wished he Riley had
killed him?
Sheriff No sir, never have
Rep--Do YOU wish to explain your nrsc