St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-01
THAT BROKEN LEG.
The Owner Of It Said to be Victim of Jud

The Owner Of It Said to be Victim OF Judi
cial Persecution.
Sheriff Alexander Mckenzie of Bismarck
left ST. Paul yesterday morning for Sioux
Falls, OAK, having in charge P. r. Smith,
who was sentenced to sixteen months in the
penitentiary at that place for assault with a
deadly weapon. Particulars Of this mys-
ferrous case appeared in yesterdays issue of
the GLOBE, and as the surrounding circum-
stances are brought slowly to light the affair
commences to assume strangely romantic
aspect, while, If the indications of still more
startling developments are to be relied upon,
the case bids fair to fill a red-letter page in
the criminal annals of the Northwest. Smith,
it will be remem bered, was brought to ST.
Paul about three weeks ago in charge OF a
deputy sheriff. They were en- route
to the penitentiary, but owing
to the prominent character Of the prisoner he
was allowed to stop over in St.Paul and attend
to some business. While passing down Sixth
street he fell, and it was supposed broke his
leg, being then conveyed TO st. Joseph's
hospital, where ne remained until yesterday.
The subsequent suspicion that the reported
injury was only a ruse, the investigation and
examination after a delay of three weeks,
ana the result, are all familiar TO the reading
public.
TIE END NOT let.
As above intimated, it is probable that
Smiths friends Will now come to the front
as they intimate that as long as investigations
are in order they propose seeing the thing
through.
prominent lawyer, who is intimate with
the circumstances and history of the case,
spoke Of the affair yesterday as follows:
This affair has only just begun, and
wouldn't be in the boots of some people
when Smith gets out for a good deal of
money.
ITO begin with. the examination of last
Sunday was contrary to the ethics of the
medical profession, and no physician on
earth has a right to lay hands on a mans
body unless by his consent, except Of course
in case of accident or emergency where he
can DO him good. A peculiar circumstance
of this case is that a lapse of three weeks oc-
Cured, a sufficient time for the fracture to
heal, before an examination Is ordered. If
the sheriff entertained suspicious of some
thing wrong, why did he stay in St. Paul for
three weeks before he caused the examina-
ton TO be made! Now it is very evident that
If Smith had wanted to escape he would not
have had recourse TO such ruse as this.
Why, look at the circumstances. He
was brought here, given the free
dom of the city. and after being
placed in the hospital, the deputy went back
home and he was left 10 himself for three or
four days. Does this look as if the man
wanted to escape! As to the examination Of
Sunday, contend that the doctors were un-
able to tell whether his leg had been broken
or not.
''TnERE Is MORE BACK OF THIS CASE
than the public think for. Smith was quite
prominent politician Of Dakota, and as
such he incurred the enmity Of a lot of POI
litcal opponents. In order to get him
out of the way they sent man
10 assault him with an iron bar
In sef-defcuse he used club, and the
fellow was badly punished. Well, they in
dictod him, and when the case came on for
trial they assured him and his friends that
they needn't worry; that it was all Formally
and that there was no danger Of a con victiou.
Meanwhile they were eXerting every means
I'm their power to put him through, and they
succeeded by means far from creditable.
The record was taken 10 the supreme court
and by means Of the same corrupt influences
by which his conviction was secured
the lower sentence was sustained.
II is said by those who have seen the record
that the supreme court did wrong in sustain
ing the verdict of guilty. 1t was the univer-
sal sentiment of the legislature that the man
should have been pardoned and allowed to
20 free, the signatures OF most OF the mem
bcrs being obtained TO petition for his par
don But that was opposed 10y his enemies,
who didn't want the conviction per- Sc, their
principal object being to disagree aud stig-
Matte him by placing him behind the bars
of the pcnitentiary. This was the animus Of
the whole prosecution. Smith is man Of
property, wiiowcr, and he has a family Of
little children, SO you can see how it VIII
affect him. The case is not over vet, and
you may expect richer Developments"