St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-22
A Month From To-Day the
Barrett Boys will Die on
the Gallows,
Gov. Merriam Having Set the
Day for Their Execution
Yesterday Afternoon.
The Terrible Deed for Which
They Are to Pay With
Their Lives.
Efforts to Secure Commute
ton or Pardon for Peter
Entirely Unavailing.

One month from today that notorious
pair of murderers. the Barrett boys,
who shot Street Car Driver Thomas
Tollefson in cold blood, in Minneapolis,
for less than $40 on the morning of July
26, 1857, will eXpiate their crime on the
gallows in the Hennepin county jail be-
tween the hours of 10 a. m. and p.
ID. The whole case from the hour
the fatal shot was fired to the
time that the supreme bench of Mime
sofa confirmed the holdings of the lower
court and all hope. save that of execu-
tive clemency, died out for these
doomed brothers, is one Of the most re-
markable in the history of crime, and is
certainly the one great criminal story
in the annals of Minnesota.
THE MY STERY
that for months surrounded the case,
the final arrest of the three
brothers. the long and ably con-
two of them on the testimony
Of third, the persistant but
unavailing efforts OF the mother and
counsel of the two men to save the neckS
of the murderers, all combine with the
former criminal records OF the brothers
and their apparent indifference and
apathy during and after the trial to
make tale that would well adorn the
pages of novel and form an additional
proof that truth is stronger than fiction.
The edict has gone forth. Yesterday
Gov Merriam signed the death warrant,
fixing the date at March G33, betWeea the
hours of 10 a. m. and p. m., as above
stated The papers were dispatched
NV n
Eye at the jail in Minneapolis, and ar
rived there late yesterday afternoon.
Deputy Lew Shepley, who was in
charge in the sheritf's office during the
absence of that official in St. Paul, re-
ceived and receiptrd for the scaled en-
velope containing the papers which
convey such an
AWFUL MEANING
to the men who hold human life so
cheap. Sheriff Eye had not returned at
a late hour last night, and the package
was still unopened. The seal will
probably not be broken until to-day.
The men who are to suffer the extreme
penalty of the law for their awful crime
were, however. informed of the signing
and arrival of the warrant, but seemed
to take it coolly. and betrayed little or
no emotion, jim pretending TO discredit
the story.
HOW THEY RECEIVED TUE NEWS.
Tim and Pete were just preparing for
their evening meal when GLOBE re-
porter called upon them. Both young
fellows were in their shirt sleeves and
were talking freely with each other.
They stopped on the approach of their
visitor, and appeared anxious to escape
being questioned. Not wishing to be
too abrupt, the visitor remarked:
"Weli, boys, there is a rumor that the
date for the carrying out of the sentence
has been fixed"
"Oh, that's nothing" replied Tim, a
sneer coming over his face. I'VE hear
rumors like that all the time"
Pete said nothing, and seemed to be
studying something over in his mind.
at last the boys were told that it was a
fact that March % had been decided
upon as the day on which they were to
eXpiate their crime. Tim was the first
to speak. 80 it's been fixed, has it?"
he exclaimed. "March 22-why, that's
just one month from tomorrow. Well,
there's long time before March o."
Pete was not SO ready to talk as his
older brother, and while his hands did
not tremble the way Tins did. it was
plain to be seen that the words of his
visitor had made an impression OH him.
Erwin and Sheriff Eye were up here
to see us this morning." he said, land
neither one of them said anything about
it. Perhaps they did not know about it
then, however They would have said
something if they had. ] see that pc
tit:On to change my sentence to state
prison is being circulated, and | will
say that my hope has not all gone"
"Haye you any hope of escaping the
sentence, Tim?" was asked the older
brother.
well, can't say. My attorneys are
doing all they can, and perhaps they
can get the sentence changed Toto
imprisonment-for- you know what
1mean."
The wound in Pete's face has nearly
healed, leaving big red scar, and both
boys seem about as happy as usual. AS
their guard expressed it, they have got
SO hardened to Jail life now that little
thing like hanging don't bother them
any.''
EFFORTS FOR PETE's PARDON.
The maternal love and devotion
which Mrs. Barrett has shown in her
untiring efforts to save her boys, leav-
ing no stone unturned that could tend
to gain them favor in the eyes of the
law, or clemency from the chief eXecu-
tive of the state, cannot have failed to
ton, in spite of the unam-
liable qualities and unenviable
reputation of the sorrow-Stricken
woman. The signing of the warrant
which shuts off all hope is heavy blow
to her, as she had made herself believe
that the law would not be allowed to
take its course in the case of Pete, her
youngest. She has been confidant that
the hand of mercy would be extended
to him. and that his life need not be
forfeited for the life he took.
"REpDY" BARRETT.
the third brother, who by turning
states evidence, saved his own neck
and placed those Of both his brothers in
the hangman'S moose, has left the city
broken, haunted man, seeking only Sc
cluSion and Obscuriiy, fearing publicity
and possibly vengeance of his enraged
mother and the fourth brother, who at
one time swore that the traitor should
not live to enjoy the freedom
which his treachery had gained
him, and Reddy left Minneapolis
soon after the decision of the supreme
court, making his presence no longer
necessary, was handed down, and when
last heard from was in st. Louis having
a hard battle with the world for the
support of his wife and child, but deter
mined to live an honest, industrious life
in the future and make such atonement
as may be tor the sins Of the past.
WHAT THE ATTORNEYS SAY.
W. Ii. Donahue, who assisted Erwin
in the defense of the murderers, said
when he learned of the signing of the
death warrant for both the boys that it
was no more than he had expected, and