Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-06
LOTS OF FUN.
AUSTIN ENJOYING ITS USUAL BLAZE
OF EXCITEMENT.

The Attempted Assassination of Judg
Page Undergoing tho Throes OF Legal Ex
animation The Judge on the Witnes
Stand-Gentlemen Welcomed to HI
House, but "Heathens Never'- Sharl
Passages Between the Witness and Coun
sel-Wound Up to Fever Heat and Read!
to Explode.
The elephant goes round and round,
The band begins to play,
The boys around the monkey dance,
You'd better keep away.
Especial Telegram to the Globe
AUSTIN, April 5-Thls community is
enjoying its regular ferment. 1t is ap.
parently in its natural state and while
the trial of Riley for the attempted as
sination of Judge Page is in progress
every body will be happy because ii
brings all the old quarrels to the front.
A visit to the residence of Judge Page
last evening found that gentleman en-
gagged in exercising his fine young blood
ed colts in his spacious barnyard, ACCOM-
panied BY his young son and his favorlte
Newfoundland dog. In answer to en-
quiries concerning the case, he said he
had entirely abandoned the case, except
in so far as he was obliged to attend as a
witness. He reiterates the assertion that
the case has been given away, and de-
clares his intention to allow his enemies
to conclude it to suit themselves.
The court opened at 8 o'clock this
morning, with slightly decreased attend
ance over yesterday. Still the crowd was
great and every one manifests the live
hest interest. The prisoner was brought
into court accompanied by the sheriff and
with the shackles omitted.
Upon the opening of court W. w. En-
win, of the defense, informed the court
that the three persons selected by the
prosecution and defense to proceed to the
residence of Judge Page and take meas
urements Of the apartment where the as
sault was committed and surroundings
and submit profile of the same for the
use OF the court, upon proceeding, this
morning, to the residence of Judge Page,
were denied access and ordered to quit
the premises, and while desirous to pre-
vent it becoming part of the court
records, the counsel on both sides deemed
such viewing measurements and profile
essential in the consideration of the case
and asked the issuance of a process by the
court to enable the required work to be
done.
Pending the issuance of u court order
the court sent note to Judge Page re-
questing the admission of the gentleman
to take the measurements without such
issuance, whereupon the opening state
ment was made by the district attorney.
a D6i nfn hxyf
was first read, after which the nature of
the crime was reviewed, Mr.. Goodwin
called attention to the fact that this was
the first crime of the kind ever COM
mitted in Mower county. He stigmatized
it as cowardly and one which shocks
every sense. The constitution Of our
country guarantees to every citizen life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
That the station of the object Of the at
tempted assassination in society mattered
not; the hand that pointed that gun at
Sherman Page pointed it at the great
heart of the public.
He instructed the jury that the case was
not case between Page and Riley, as it
had been termed by the newspapers, but
between the State of Minnesota and the
defendant. The jury must consider the
case without favor or prejudice for or
against the prosecuting witness. The
sacredness of home had been invaded and
an attempt at midnight assassination had
been made. If the guilty party was
allowed to escape who would be the next
victim? Perhaps one of the jury. Perhaps
the prosecuting attorney. The case should
be shorn of prejudice and treated as a
crime against the State The facts of the
shooting, already familiar, were then
rehearsed and the nature of the evidence
about to be introduced delineated.
The prosecution would show that John
A. Riley was man capable of commit
ting just such crime. They would show
that Frank Riley left the city of Austin
just before the discharge of John Riley,
and was seen at Waupun, Wis, the night
before his discharge; that this was the
first time in ten years that any member
of the Riley family had manifested any
interest in his whereabouts; that when
discharged he was penniless; that upon
his discharge he was traced through his
old haunts In Wisconsin to about the
time of the commission Of the crime,
when he disappears, and after short
absence returns with an abundance of
money. The chain of circumstantial evil
dence was perfect and would point con-
clusively to the guilt of the prisoner.
PAGE ON THE WITNESS STAND.
Sherman Page was called at 1O;SOA. NJ,
and at his own request was sworn with
out raising his hand, and proceeded to re-
lterate his evidence as given at the exam
ination at Dexter.
Considerable time was consumed in
discussing the admissibility OF evidence
tending to show that Frank and Thomas
Riley were engaged in the conspiracy of
assassination. The evidence was at last
admitted and the examination of Judge
Page resumed. The gun wads and shot
were presented and admitted as evidence.
The direct examination was the same as
at Dexter. The cross-examination by
Mr.. Erwin was very searching, but moth
ing contradictory was elected.
The dramatic part of the procedure to-
day was reached upon the conclusion
of the reading of two affidavits,
one by W. W. Erwin and one
by the parties who were refused
admission to Pages premises for the pur-
pose OF making draft and taking meas
urements. Page, meeting them, when
told of their errand. told them gentle
men could have access to his premises at
any time, but heathens never When
the reading was concluded, Judge Page
asked to be heard, and informed the
court that he had never refused the coun-
sci for the defense access to his premises,
and was willing at any time to accom-
pany them to open his house to inspec-
tion, but that he should OBJ
ject to the introduction of his
enemies upon his grounds under
any pretext. His manner was dramatic
in the extreme and indicated excessive
and intense excitement The matter was
finally adjusted by the suggestion of
Judge Dickinson Of the name of Prof.
Keysor, and c. J. Phillips was finally