Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-04-20
AUSTIN MINI March 15th 1891

CHICAGO, ILL.,, March loud.
Wood leaves for Austin tonight, with
out guard: =. f. WARNER.
Mr.. Page also informed me that there
were important witnesses in Wisconsin,
whom he didn't think necessary to have
before the grand jury, but would be nee
essary to obtain at the trial, but did not
at that time give ME their names. af- |
forwards obtained their names, and with
out regard to expense, secured the atten-
dance of all Of them at the trial. Every |
witness known or suggested to me, who
knew anything favorable to the prosecu-
ton, were present and gave evidence at
the trial, and every statement to the con-
trary is absolutely false. Reports were
made to me by the prosecuting witness
and his partisans, that other witnesses
could give important evidence for the
prosecution each and every of these IT,
ports were traced to their source and
proved utterly unfounded in truth, and of
course. such witnesses, many of whom
had been subpenaed, were not put upon
the stand. The train boy referred to by
Mr.. Page, was sworn before the grand
jury and could not say that he had seen
Riley on the cars in August, or at any
time, although solicited by Mr.. Page and
others to do 50. The same can be said of
tue railroad conductor, Mr.. Burke, of
Albert Lea, and many others.
Before the opening of the last term of
court, wrote Hon. c. NJ. Start, then At.
torney General, to obtain his assistance
at the trial About that time, and before
receiving reply, the change was made
in the Attorney Generals office, and I
wrote Hon. W.. Hahn, the present in.
cumbent, to obtain his assistance. Be-
fore receiving definite reply from him,
the Indictment was filed, and I then tele-
graphed Mr.. Hahn, and received the
following reply:
ST. PAUL, March 81, 1881.
G. F. GOODWIN. County Attorney
Can't say positive, but don't think it is
possible. W. J. HAHN.
then telegraphed J. W. Losey, Esq,
Of La Crosse, and received the following
reply:
LA CROSSE, WIS, March 90, 1881.
GEO. F. GOODWIN: -Think l will as
sist you. Win be in Austin Friday, and
determine. j. W. LosEY.
Desiring to have the matter of counsel
definitely settled at once, I employed an
attorney to attend to my business in court
and went personally TO La Crosse on
Wednesday, the 23d instant. and positipe-
ly engaged Mr.. Losey, who agreed to be
in Austin Monday, the 29th instant, and
assist in the trial, which was then set for
the Both instant, providing Sherman Page
was not allowed to assist as counsel in
the case. I returned to Austin, relying
implicitly upon Mr.. Losey's agreement.
On Monday night, the 2Sth instant, l re-.
ceived letter from Mr.. Losey stating,
that on account OF sickness in his family
he could not assist in the trial. an
satisfied in my own mind, that this was
only pretcxt on Mr.. Losey's part, and
that he refused 20 come as agreed, at the
suggestio of Sherman Page. Immedl
ately on receipt Of the letter, telegraphed
again to Hon. w. j. Hahn, and also tc
Mr.. Burlingame, of Owatonna, to ass is
in the trial, and the next morning also
..:-~s, A. T. ~",s,. of A lhnrt T 10, e. =
effect. In response to these kilograms
received the following:
? OwAToNNA, March %, 1881.
Yes. Will be down tomorrow.
j. NJ. BURLINGAME.
ST.. PAUL, March 90, 1881.
1t will be impossible; the bond case
2 prevents. Am sorry. w. HAHN.
: ALBERT LEA, March 20, 1881.
Would be glad to help you, but inpo
tant engagements make it impossible tc
do so. JOHN A. LOVELY.
Mr.. Bur)lngame came the Goth instant
} and from that time until the trial com
menced, April 4, Sherman Page endeav.
ored, by every means in his power, tc
persuade Mr.. B. to withdraw from the
case and leave me alone. Failing in this,
he then withdrew from all participation
in the case refused to assist in the selection
of jury, refused to furnish the prosecu-
ton with any facts in his possession, or
to confer with counsel at all, advised his
friends to withhold al! assistance, caused
a petition to be circulated asking for my
removal, endeavored TO impede the course
of justice by refusing to allow persons
selected by the court to enter upon his
premises TO make measurements and dia
grams, and, in short, used his utmost en-
, deavors to render the trial Intellectual an6
prevent a conviction. l have no desire
to try the Riley case 10 the newspapers
or engage in war of words with Sher
man Page in reference to it. In simple
justice to the public l have stated til,
facts in connection with the case, and
. now leave the matter IN their hands.
GEO. F. GOODWIN, County Attorney
GOODw1N's LETTER TO THEP.P
To the Editor Of the Pioneer Press.
To-day, for the first time, have seen Sher
man Pages letter in the Tribune, referring tt
the late Riley trial at Austin. Personally,
care no more for the statements therein con
tanned upon the management of that case
than for the idle wind that fans my cheek.
regard them simply as the morbid mounting!
j. of a monomaniac, and entitled to as little con
sideration by reasonable and unbiased men
Individually l would not stop to notice o.
- answer them. But believe owe it to the
: people of this county, whose trusted repre-
: sentative am, and to the public at large, t,
state the facts in connection with that case
With the exception OF unimportant partiou
lars every statement contained in that lette
: In reference to the management of the RILEY
!, trial, is unqualifiedly false and eminentl!
characteristic of it's author. 1t is fact, a
!. he states. that l advised and shall Away
e advise the county to refuse to pay illegal bill
4 in connection with this, the same as all othe
! cases. 1t is fact that in the strict line of m.
duty as county attorney in defending thu
, action brought by the officer who arreste.
J. Riley to recover for his services for over 10
?. miles travel, swore in that answer, on in
y formation and belief, that Riley had bee,
}: kidnapped in Wisconsin by the collusion o
# such officer, which then believed and nov