St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-11
TEIPNER,S TRIAL.
The Assailant ct Christine Peterson
Attempts to Prove an Aiibi.


yOung Swede Girl. is now on trial i'll the
district court. The case is one which has
attracted great public interest, and, as
might be expected the court room yester-
day was crowded almost to sutfocatl0n, a
large number of the spectators being Sean
dinayiaps who manifested a deep concern
in the proceedings. Nearly two hours were
consumed in getting jury. twenty-five OF
the panel being examined before twelve
men were secured who declared that they
had read or heard nothing concerning the
case likely TO prejudice their judgment.
At11 o'clock County Attorney Davis
OPENED FOR THE STATE,
drawing an eloquent picture of the wrong
done an unSophisticated girl who had been
obliged by poverty to work for living.
Chastity is woman'S priceless jewel. Let
her go out into the world without it and
she is Stunned as viper. With it, and
she is looked upon with respect. In this
case, the defendant has stolen that price
less gem from young girl, who, up to this
time, has lived with ali the purity she en-
tailed from her birth. Her mother, poor
woman, left the shores of her home land
some years ago and came to America with
her little family and settled down in the
little hamlet of Cokato. Christine Peter
son, this young girl and her daughter, was
then II years of age. A few years later
the latter. true to her mother, goes out into
the world to aid i'll supporting her little
brothers, and she comes to this city and
eventually is employed by Teipner, but
hardly had she thrown the cloak from her
shoulders and commenced her toll when he
conceived the helish scheme to ruin her,
and within less than twelve hours had, by
force, accomplished his vile purpose. This
is the crime that cries to heaven for justice.
Christine Peterson, the
COMPLAINING WITNESS
was first called to the stand. She proved
to be in appearance just what her counsel
claimed-''an innocent young girl of 16
years" with a sweet, intelligent face, and
one of those clear. bright compilations
characteristic of Swedish women. She was
modest in her demeanor and told her pitiful
story in very quiet way. In fact she
made, as an attorney expressed it, an ''ele-
CANT witness for the state" She told the
story of her coming to Minneapolis and
working as domestic in several places,
and finally going to Teipner's from an en-
ployment agency, to which she went in
quest of work. She had gone there on the
afternoon of Nov. Z and in the evening as
sisted in getting supper. After the meal
she went out with Teipner to get some
things at furniture store near by. They
returned within a short time, and then
Teipner wanted her to go with him to an
other place. This proved to be farther
away. He sent her around to a back door,
and after admitting her gave her some beer
to drink. He then assaulted her, throwing
her down on the floor and accomplishing
his purpose, despite her struggles and at
tempts to scream. The beer he had given
her made her dizzy and she did not attempt
to get away from him.
On cross examination the defense at
tempted to show that the witness had been
intimate with other men subsequent to
Nov. Z, and the state insisted upon show
ing that this was at Teipners house and at
his instigation and demand. The court
ruled this out, although the state managed
TO get in something to the effect that the
men had been taken to her room by Teip-
ner to whom they had paid money. AS a
reason for not leaving Teipner's and not
informing neighbors, the witness stated
that Teipner had told her not to do so, and
she said she was afraid of him. The cross
examination lasted nearly until o'clock in
the afternoon, the pickering of the oppos-
ing counsel concerning the mat9riality of
Andrew LELAND and Charles Lundgren
were called to testify to the girls condition
as resulting from Teipner's assault, but the
evidence was not admitted.
DIR. Christina j. Faunce. the examining
physician at Bethany home. testified to the
girls condition upon her arrival at that in
stitution. her evidence confirming the claim
of an assault.
Ed A. Stevens. the police clerk, testified
to the complaint of Charles Lundgren at
police headquarters and the subsequent IN
yestigations which led to Teipners arrest,
and the sending of the girl to Bethany
home. DR.. Van Cleve also gave evidence
as to the girls appearance at this time.
Here
THE STATE RESTED.
W. II. DOnahue. opened for the defeuse
briefly. He said he had the highest regard
Tor female chastity, and would not defend
the aSsaiant of woman, but in this case
he thought the accused was innocent. He
asked the jury to look at the case impair
TALLY and not allow immaterial testimony
to warp their Judgment. He expected to
prove a complete alibi for his client, and
would show conclusively that Teipner was
not with Christine Peterson at the time of
the alleged assault, and further, that he
had never taken her to the store at 226
Washington avenue south; Also that proof
of his whereabouts on the night in question
would be given.
Annie BltZner, young girl about the age
of Christine, who was employed at Teip-
ner'S. and who had gone there the same
day, Nov. Z, was the next witness. She
said that after supper Teipner asked Chris
tine to go with him to store. They re-
turned shortly carrying two arm-chairs.
Soon after that Christine and she went to a
place on Bloomington avenue, where she
had previously worked, to get her clothes.
They returned about o'clock and found
Teipner and his wife at home. Soon after
wards the witness and Christine went to
bed upstairs. Mr.. and Mrs. Teipner slept
down stairs. She had heard no complaints
from christine about i'll treatment.
MIS-. Annie Unsgaard, a neighbor of the
1eipherS, testified that Christine had come
TO her house every day for water and had
never made any complaint
DR.. J. I. Moore was called as an exnert
to offset the testimony of DR.. Faunce but
refused to testify, and the court excused
him.
MRS. ADA TEIPNER
wife of the defendant. was next called
She said that they had needed girl and sent
TO the employment agency. In her absence
Christine had been hired by her husband.
and she. not knowing it. hired Annie Bitz-
ner. Both girls came about the same time.
After supper Christine went out with Teip-
ner, but returned soon. The two girls then
went out somewhere to get Annie BitZner's
clothing. They returned about o'clock
and went to bed
On cross-examination Attorney Davis
asked;
what kind of house did you run
what business did you do there?"
Il can't say"