Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-03-23
a BRUTAL CRIME BXPIATED.
Execution of tbs Barrett eoys for the.Mur
der Of Driver lollefsen.

der Of Driver 5ollefsen.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINI March 22.-Tim
and Pete Barrett were hanged here to-day,
at 1114 a. NJ, for the murder of Car
Driver Tolleisen on the night of July 26,
1887.
oa TIE night of July 2G. 1887, there was
an exteneive fire in the business portion of
Minneapolis. The stre,t cars on several
lines were dclsyed in consequences. At
1890 a. m. the last car on the Cedar ave-
nue. line reached the turntable in the sub
urbs ard started on the return trip. The
car was 'bob-tail," " in charge of driver
Thomas TOlleisen. WHEN the car cot op-
poslte Layinan's cemstory three men
stepped cut from the darkness, halt,d the
car and demanded that the cash box be
handed over 10 them. Tollefsen, true to
his trust, refused to give up the box One
OF the men then fred at Tolleisen, the ball
striking him in the leg. Sill he clung TO
his cash box. Another shot, and the
brave driver fell dead. The murdeIere
seized the cash box, which contained a
psltry $40, aDd fled.
On the 18th of November Henry, alias
Freddy" Barrett, who hai been serving
out q sentence in the &C lty jail FOR illegal
liquor selling, was released. About ten
days before that he said 20 the jailer that
he believed he knew who committed the
Tollefsen murder, and ! the jailer would
speak to Assistant Comfy Attorney jamie
son about the matter be would tell what
he knew The next Day "Reddy" made
a confession. He said that he with his
brothers. Tim aud Pete, agreed TO rob the
street car. Pete fred the first shot and
then ran, followed by Henry. In a mo-
ment they beard a second shot. They
we're soon Tejoined by Tim, who had the
cash box under his arm. Tim told his
brothers that ne had killed Tollefsen.
Through "Reddy's" confession On un-
breakable chain of evidence was secured.
PETE was arrested in Omaha. Tim was
already under arrest on charge # high
ay robbery The two boys were indIct-
ed by the grand jury, and on Monday, De
cember 6, the trial of Tim began. The
principal witness for the prosecution IVES
"Reldy" Barrett who swoIe that Tim
fired the shot which killed TOlleisen. The
trial of Tim lasted fifteen days, and was
one of tie hardest contested Csse5 ever
tried ia Minnesota Tim was convicted,
and tina County Attorney offered TO accept
the plea OF guilty of manslaugbter in the
second degree from Pete Barrett but the
offer wac refused. Pete Barrett was 10 he
sacrificed to save his hioiher Tim. If Pete
1 r 4 frfa 4 could he
cured for Tim. That was the plan OF the
dsfense.
The trial of Pete Barrett began January
30 and lasted until February l6 The case
VAS fought with desperate eiCqueuce ana
daring strategy, but in vain. He was
found guilty. Tim add Pete Barrett were
then aeniencsd 10 be hsnged. The Cover
nor fixed July 18th as the date Of the exc
cution, bat the Supreme Court granted
stay OF proceedings nntil last fall. This
battle that had been fought and lost on the
question OF fact was Dog renewed on ones
lions of law. The most elaborate bieis
were prepared hut the Supreme Court
ended by sffirmiog the decision Of the lower
court, and tie Governor fixed March %
for the date of the execution.
Every foot Of gCound -om the beginning
was contested with ihe most desperate en-
ergy. bat slowly and surely the fetters OF
the law began toiighien NOuad the doomed
men. There was dea2erate attempt to
break iail, but that, to0 failed. Then pc
titions were circulsted but again to no
purpose. Various ladts interested them
selves in behalf Of 2'te. the youngasti
brother. rae Governors life was threat
ened 10 case he refused TO commute the
sentence of Pete. who is only eighteen years
Of age. -.
The mother Of the boys ia possessed OF
considerable property. Her etitrts were,
however, put forth entirely in behalf OF
Pete. "Reddy," who swore his brothers
lives away, is living in obscurisy in Chica-
20. or this once prosperous family, son,
Frank Rarett, a daughter, Mary Coleman,
AID the neither, Of whom Henry Barrett
Paid, "She is the cause OF all the trouble
that has come to the boys" are all that
remain.