St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-20
MILL CITY MATTERS.
Fresh and Interesting Dis
closures Coming Out in the
BaPrettS' Case.
Peter Barrett Said to Have
Hung Himself in Trying
to Save Tim.
An IntereS ting Time at the
Sunday Discussion of La
Dor Topics.
Some of the Sermons From
the City Pulpits--Amuse-
ment Gossip.
A BROTHERS. SACRIFICE.

Some Startling Disclosures in the
Hands Of Peter Barretts COun-
sci.
The conviction of Peter, the second of
the Barrett boys, charged with the muir
der of Thomas TollefSon, was fruitful
topic of discourse, yesterday. After the
stubborn and brilliant fight made by
Attorney Erwin and his colleagues. the
short retirement of the jury was mat
ter of general surprise. but it appeared
there was no time, after the evidence
was in, that member of the jury was
in doubt. 1t was expected, on almost
every hand, that considerable time
would elapSe before verdict.Would be
reached. There was quite feel
ing in favor of Peter throughout,
and doubts of his guilt were much more
freely expressed than in the case of
Tim. The fact that both boys SwOre
they were together throughout the
evening of the murder, coupled with
the fact that if one was guilty the other
must be. created diversity of opinion
after Tim was 80 readily convicted. Pc
ter'S appearance and manner were in his
favor thrOughOut.a and rs public desire to
bring the murderer to justice had been
in measure appeaSed by the first con-
viction. there would have been very
little clamOr if the younger brother had
been acquitted, or even had the jury
disagreed. As it was. the friends of
County Attorney Davis feel that he has
secured a signal victory over so re-
nowned an advocate as Erwin.
Attorney Donahue spent some time at
the Jail with the convicted BarrettS yes
terday. and after long talk with them,
made use of language which would in
dictate there may be some further de-
velOpmentS and perhaps some mySteri-
Gus ones. He said he would spend five
years of his life and all of his money, if
necessary. TO save Peter from the gal
lows. He also said a confession had
been made him, but declined to give any
particulars in that regard. 1t is known,
however. that a belief is entertained
that in spite of the verdict, Peter is in
nocent and sacrificed himself in the
effort to save Tim. 1t is also intimated
THAT TIM HAS CONFESSED
his share of the murder and has COM
pleteiy eXculpated his younger brother.
In the early part of Tins trial there
was a belief. freely expressed, that Tim
and Henry were present when TOlletSOn
was shot, but that Peter was not, and
perhaps the mysterious developments
made, either in the effort for
new trial or in an appeal
to Gov. McGill for clemency, may be
upon this basis. In view of the theory
and evidence of the prosecution, there
were but two avenues of escape for Tim
to break down Henry's story and to
prove an alibi. Peter was a principal
witness and swOre positively that he
and Tim were together on that evening.
trial, and the story now is
that he periured himself in the
effort to save Tins neck, and dared
not vary the story in his own case. The
singular part of this, if true, is the tes-
timony OF the witnesses. Petman and
Robinson, that they Saw Peter and Tim
in a saloon Oh Washington avenue, be-
low where the Bloomington line de-
bOucheS. The state eDdeavOred to i'm
peach the testimony of Robinson, but
never assailed that of Petman.
Another thing: there seems to be
no doubt that three men were at or
near Tollefson's car when the murder
was committed. Though only two men
were seen TO run away, there is Suf-
ticient evidence to warrant the belief
that three men were present. If Peter
was not there, and Tim and Reddy
were. who was the third man. The
two mysterious strangers" who figured
at Lally Bros, according to some
OF the witnesses. ana with Reddy
at Minnehaha, according to others, did
not appear much in the second trial and
appeared to have been abandoned by
the defense: accordingly there is no one
known to take the place of Peter, in the
theory that Tim Is guilty and he is not.
However, the attorneys for the de-
Tense appear to he thoroughly interested
III Peter, SOlemnly declare their belief
in his innocence and now
SAY THEY WILL SAVE HIM.
The mysterious developments will be
anXiously looked for and must make
their appearance before long. AttOr-
ney Erwin will be engaged this week in
the Bertha Hegener case at st. Paul,
and consequently can give the Barretts
no attention during that time.
The status of the case is this: Tim
has been sentenced to death and the
record certified to the governor, while
his counsel, meantime. are preparing
the record for a petition to the supreme
court for writ of error. Peter has
been convicted and an arrest of sentence
been granted for ten days. His counsel
will make plea for a life sentence in
stead of the death penalty. in case a
motion for new trial is denied.