Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-07-12
THE JURY DISAGREED.
Am Interesting Dakota Murder Case
which Creates differences OF

which Creates HffTerences ol
Opinion.
Washington Springs, July 10-rhe
Solomon murder trial has been for more
than month occupying the attention
OF the court. 1t has been long, tire
some trial, but has been conducted by
able counsel ON both sides and Judge
Iripp has acquitted himself in his first
| murder case with great credit, 1t will
be remembered that on the 18th oi
| November last in little claim house
owned by Harris Il Combs. of your city
one Benz. IL. Solomon, an empioye OF
Harris & Sombs, rode into Waterbury
besmeared with blood and with the top
part of his ear cut entirely off, as though
cut with sharp instrument, and de,
| one Peter j. Rhobe Swede, and
farm. On investigation it was
found Rhobe had been shot three times,
once IN the arm, through the head and
through the heart. A little dog lay
bleeding and nearly dead in one corner
of the room. There were no witnesses
to the terrible affair except yaung
T,
as he claimed, in self defense. The in.
carceration of young Solomon, and the
return OF an Indictment by the grand
jury of murder i'll the first degree. An
attempt was made by attorneys for the
defense, conslsting of the father of the
prisoner, an able lawer OF
Iowa, Wessrs. Goodekooniz, of Cham
berlain, Null, of Waterbury, Woodruff,
of Alpena, and Judge Edgerton to get q
postponement, and failing in this q
change of venue was attempted. To
this also Judge Tripp issued his veto,
and Benjamin l.. Solomon was
arraigned for murder and plead not
guilty. Peter j. Rhobe has no relatives
here and the commissioners employ,
Dillon u Preston to assist District AT.
torney Gunderson in the prosecution
The jury was composed of young men,
but one being over thirty years old
The evidence as given by Solomon did
not in all particulars agree with that
given by him at the preliminary exam
ination. He claims the trouble arew
out of the i'll treatment by Rhobe of a
pet dog, and that demonstrating with
him Rhobe attacked him (Soiomon)
with butcher knife, cutting off his left
ear; that Rhobe, when mad, was mani
&C. The door being closed it was i'm
possible for Solomon TO reach it; that
he attempted to defend himself with q
shotgun, but Rhobe being too close the
gun was thrown down, the bed reached
and the revolver which was under
| the pillow secured, and was five times
discharged, three times the shots taking
effect. On the part of the prosecution
| 1t was shown that Solomon had shot one
| man IN Iowa in self-defense, and that he
was invited to leave home. 1t war
claimed that he could not live at home
and his father being welthy and able
| attorney it was thought strange that
| young Solomon should be at work IL
Dakota On farm by the month. 1t was
claimed that of the five shots fred the
one which went through the Rhobe't
head must have gone out of the opel
door, which Rhobe was attempting tc
gain when shot; that the shot must have
killed him almost instantly, and tha
after he fell, standing over his prostrat.
body while he was yet it She agon.
of death, Solomon must have sho
him through the heart, and the dog wa
maltreated by Solomon and the ear Gu
off by himself SO as to form defense
| The mother and sisters of the prlsone
we're present, but the sinister sneer wher
| reference was made to the death o
Rhobe did not create any sympathy fol
the prisoner. Able addresses were'madt
on the part of the prosecution by boil
Dillon and Preston, and for the defens,
| by Edgefton,. Null and Goodykoontz
but the most Eloquent plea in behalf o
the prisoner was made by young Null,
Jsrauld county attorney. The jury, afte
hours of deliberation, failed to agree ant
were discharged. 1t stool seven for con
viction and FIVE for acquittal. Judg,
Trips charge was plain and able in
struction.