The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-02-07
NOW FOR THE MOOSE.
Tho Supreme Court of MinnesOta Has Not
Bit Of Consolation for the Rarrett Boys.

NOW FOk THE MOOSE.
Tho Supreme Court of Minnesota Has Not
Bit Of Consolation for the Rarrett Boys.
st. Paul, Mimi, January 20, 1889.
Judge Collins of the supreme court, yes
terday handed down a decision which so far
as that tribunal is concerned settles the fate
of Tim and Pete Barrett, the murderers of
Thomas Toliefsen. The decision is averse to
new trial in both cases. The de-
cree. of course, is concurred in by the
full bench. The information that a new
trial had been refusei the condemned
brothers created no special SUI prise in Min
neapolis, where the cowGrdly and unpro-
voked murder of July 26, 1887, and all its
attendant sensational circumstances created
a more intense feeling than was ever before
created in the Northwest. The decision
comes almost exactly on the day which
marks the eighteenth month of the aJrocious
deed. The story of the crime, twice re-
lated in so clear and connected
a manner by Henry Barrett the brother and
aocomplice who saw fit to take a most un-
natural role to save his own neck, Is yet
fresh in the public mind. Old Mrs. Barrett,
the mother of the murderers, seems TO fee
most keenly the uncertainty of life with her
sons. She has been awaiting the decision
from the higher court with an interest SO in
tense that she sometimes appears
10 be mental wreck. While
Mr.. Erwin and the other attorneys in the
case have encouraged her, she was sagacious
enough TO know that that was part of their
business. During the past few days the old
woman has teen in q state of fCyeriSh ex-
element. The only one who did anything
which was calculated to prepare the old
womans mind for the inevitable was
the female astrologist who a few days
ago read The PIONEER PRESS and then told
Mrs. Barrett that she had it straight from
spirit land that her beloved sons would find
no consolation in ihe supreme court How
ever, the Barrett family appears to be one
whose characteristic is hopefulness. This
trait is as apparent in young Pete as in any
of them, and perhaps more so, and he waa
more surprised than Tim.
THE NEWS AT THE JAIL.
The news was received at the sheriff's
Office about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
1t was not received in official form, but the
sheriff at once took cognizaace of it, and
made arrangements accordingly. Deputy
Sheriff Eye is still confined to his home on
Seventh avenue south, and is con-
ness Deputy Sheriff Shepley informed
the sheriff, and the latter gave orders to have
the murderers given new clothing through
out, and placed in separate cells in the third
or upper tier. Tim had been confined in the
lower tier, and Pete in the tier above There
| were several prisoners in the upper tier. but
| these were distributed in the other two
| tiers Jailer Riley was the first to
inform the murderers of the action of the
supreme court Peter appeared greatly sur
prised, and the youthful face which has
hardly borne solemn expression during all
| this terrible ordeal now looked the picture
of encouragement
| Il expected that we would be given a new
| trial." said Pete. Il will see MIR. Erwin soon l
| feel that am innocent, and do think ought to
| have new Gr1l,
The young prisoner was not disposed to
| say much. After the above sentence he gave
q heavy sigh, assumed brighter aspect and
| told the officers about him that while the
news was bad he was not giving up. The
| boy has unlimited confidence in his attor-
] ney. He has not been alone since his sen
| tence, but has been mixed up with a
gang Of spirited. devi!-may-care young
| fellows and naturally enough he
did not seem to realize the situation. His
present changed position will no doubt bring
him to his senses. Jim was told the news !.
| few minutes dfterward. He was surprised,
| but hardly uttered a word. He was more
| nervous after that than BEFORE and this was
| about the only change The prisoners asked
| that a telegram be sent TO Mr.. Erwin aud
| the request was complied with Jim was in
dignant when the officers started to search
| and undress him. He rebelled and said: q
dou't think you have got any right to do this
| until hear from my attorney"
1t is the intention to keep the Barretts in
| separate cells in the upper tier, instead OF
| placing them in the cage constructed for
| their special use Immediately after they re-
ceived their sentence last spring. Sheriff
| Eye says the apartment is a mis-
erably constructed one, and that he
would not rest with the men in
there. The cell is in the city department. 1t
| is about six feet long and four or five feet
wide. with the light coming in from the top.
| This cage work above, the sheriff says, would
make it an easy thing for the prisoners to
| use their suspenders or something else and
hang themselves if they felt so disposed.
| Where they are now there is no chance for
| that, as the top is solid sheet iron. The lattice
| work at the rear is to be covered up.
| 1t is the intention to allow the men to walk
in the corridor, leaving one man out one
hou< and his brother out the next Marston
" Shaw and Mr. TIngley are detailed to
watch the prisoners. Mr.. Shaw will watch
nights Mrs Barrett learned the news last
night, but did not visit the jail as was ex-
| pected. She said:
| 1t is shame. I expected something better.
| especially for my poor boy Pete. He is as in
| nocent of this murder as am, and it is a crime.
I have felt lately that there was cloud over the
| boys which would never be raised
Sheriff Eye does not think Mrs. Barrett is
in her right mind, and does not care to have
her around the Jail much. Of course she
will be allowed to see her boys occasionally,
but she will not be allowed to give them
food, as she has been doing. The sheriff in
tends to provide the prisoners with whatever
they want himself. The sheriff expects to
receive official notification of the supreme
court decision this morning. The governor
will probably fix the date OF execution very
| soon.