Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-23

the session there was not even standing
room left for the accommodation of a
single individual more
The occasion drawing so much interest
was the trial of Peter Brown and John
Huron for the assault and robbery of Rev.
E. S. Thomas On the street one even
ing last July, and more than usual
feeling is centered in the case as to the
bearing on the future safety of peaceable
citizens against thugs, after the shades of
night fall upon this metropolis.
County Attorney Egan appeared for the
state, and Messrs. John D. and Thomas
O'Br1en for the defense. After numerous
challenges and reflections, the following
jury was impaneled:
Peter Fritz Thomas IL Dixon
John w Fallihee Henry Gathung
Jno W Burdick J s Austin
u L. Frost VIM Gross
CA Fuller J Gregg
Samuel Cummings W'B Alien
Mr.. Egan addressed the jury, stating the
particulars of the assault upon Rev. Elisha
s. Thomas on the evening of July 81 last,
while on his way home from parish call
on Dayton's bluff, within a
square of his own residence,
he being a gospel minister, and a respect
able citizen of integrity and honesty. He
described how he was thrown down, choked
and robbed of a watch, pocket book and
purse, his perfect spotting of his assail-
ants at the time, and his ready recognition
of both of them in room full of persons
ut the City hall the next day, the outrage
GUS circumstances of the case having in
delibly photographed by aid of starlight
and street lamps their faces and forms up
his brain. This was the case of the state,
while that of the defense would be an at
tempt to prove an alibi, and that these per-
persons were in another place when the
crime was committed. He then called to
the witness stand
REV. ELIsHAs THOMAS,
who testified that he came to
Minnesota from the East, eight
years ago and was a minister
of the gospel. That on the evening Of
July q he made parish call at TIE resi-
dence of Samuel Mayall, on Daytons bluff;
left there at about $50 for home, and on
approaching an alley near his house about
10 had his attention attracted to two men,
one of whom was crouohed up against
Webster Smiths iron fence, and the other
stood erect by tree on the outside of the
walk.
He thought nothing wrong at first, but
as he approached them the man by the
fence fixed villainous stare upon him,
which made made him catch his eye and
notice that he had a SLOUGH hat, dark hair,
eye brows and mustache, and had a pc
culiar shaped nose. At this time the man
by the tree was looking down the street bat
neither of them alarmed him at that hour
of the evening and he started to pass be-
tween them.
At this he was seized by the arms by a
man On each side and received
blow on the nose, which peeled the skin
from it, but which did not knock him
down as he was held up on either side, and
which was not of extraordinary force. He
cried out: what are you doingH" to which
the taller man made no reply, but the
shorter man said: "keep still" The next
thing he knew he was on his back with his
face turned towards Eight street and the
scarlet sky and gas light with his back to
Ninth street. The larger man then grasp
ed his throat with both hands while the
shorter one fell upon his body and rihed
his pockets, the IN amer in which the feat
was done being accurately described, and
though the thugs "heads were cool" he
could see that he was anxious with his
head which he kept turning in all direc-
tions as If scared. After while the latter
oae looseued his grip on his throat
when witness said don't hurt me-" and
then be was able to distinctly
take in the linaments of the
latter's profile. He was about thirty-fve
years old, with not u villianous face, but
had a very straight jointed nose,very peou-
liarly shaped at the point.
Ee then described infinitely how tho
short man took his $500 watch, given him
by st, Marks parish ut Minneapolis,
breaking the chain and losing a college
society pin i'll the operation. The tall man
after letting go of his throat crossed the
street on a run, while the short one stood
over him a minute and gave him slight
kick at parting. He then described going
TO DR.. Flagg's house and giving the alarm
and the aid rendered him and the immedi-
ate telephoning to the city hall. He then
pointed out the prisoners in the court room
as the men who robbed him, and described
how he recognized them without any diff
Guilty in crowd of persons at the city hail
the next day after the occurrence.
Cross examined. Left Mayal's at about
$3.50 and the attack was in about half an
hour asterward. There was no moon but
bright starlight and street lamps. Brown
had dark clothes, dask hair, mustache and
whiskers. Gould not say whether Koran
had mustache. Gould tell whether eye
brows were brown, black or light if atten-
ton was called to it by such light as he
had on this occasion. Had no remem-
brance of color of Horan's clothes. Saw
Koran and recognized him the first thing
on entering the city hall. and to-day
picked out Brown from dozen men there,
OF whom he remembered seeing Chief Clark
as being there. Didn't remember Capt.
Bresset, but thought ne had seen him. Had
talked the matter over good deal with
interested friends. When be saw Koran
at city hall and recognized him Koran
said What hours" Brown said, when he
picked him out of the crowd of men, 81
never saw him." and afterwards in
hurried and logged way that II was mis-
taken shout him"
CAPTAIN BREssET
testified that Mr.. Thomas gave the same
description ne had in court to him on the
night in question, and on which he acted
in finding the prisoners next morning. be