The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-02-20

Tyson & Dickinson, of this place, by a
two-year old son, Honest Granger"
A full pedigree of the animal will be
sent to any one interested.
CLIFTON HoLDEN's SENTENCE.
The Death Penalty Pronounced by Judge
Wsbber. after Labsred Exhortstion
BY the Condemned Man.
A court room crowded with an ex-
pectant throng of citizens faced Judge
Weber last Tuesday, at the hour
fixed for opening::court. The prisoner,
in charge of Sheriff Mead and Deputy
McClintock, bore himself with more
composure than on the occasion of his
last appearance, and only once or
twice during the trying ordeal showed
any tremor of excitement. After the
usual motion of the County Attorney
to pass sentence, Judge Baldwin, of
Holden's counsel, addressed the court
in low voice, calling attention to the
conflicting statements made by the
condemned man, and the manner in
which Holden's second confession
was obtained-by alleged intimida-
ton and the help of liquor. That
Holden had since solemnly asserted
that his first statement-that he drove
to town with Frank Dodge and parted
with him here on the streets-was
true, while the other was made under
the influence of liquor and promises
that the second statement would So
cure his release. Judge Baldwin
asked the court to exercise his pre-
rogative of mercy, and intlict the al
tentative sentence allowed under the
statutes-imprisonment for life-since
the evidence against the prisoner was
wholly circumstantial. Judge Web
Der briefly answered counsel for pris-
oner, that he could not see that the
statute gave him such discretion as
he claimed, in the present case-add-
ing, with feeling, II wish I could"
The court then addressed the prison.
er, asking him to stand up. Holden
hurriedly arose, and before the court
finished the usual interrogatory,
whether he had anything to say why
sentence should not be passed on him,
the prisoner interrupted the court to
say Il have'-snd was corrected by
the court for his interruption. Holden
then answered in proper order, and
asked to have one of his handouts
taken off, but was told this was not
necessary-he could talk with it on
just as we'll.
The prisoners harrangue was an
extended one, and at least demon
strsted that he was neither fool mol
lunatic. He attempted with some
skill to show that his confession was
obtained by Fred Warner under the
assumption that the latter was an
attorney, and wanted to help him out
of tight place; that the county at
torney and Sheriff were also parties
to the conspiracy, and that his "attor-
ney" piled him with three bottles Of
whisky during the day. That during
the Rose trial the prosecuting attorney
and Sheriff had tried to get him to
'purge" himself by swearing that
Rose set fire to the New Ulm jail
ETC., etc. Continuing, he made
claims going to show that witnesses
against him had sworn falsely, and
referred to his previous good char.
acter, and to his poor mothsr-"now
within q few rods of her grave"-on
account of her disgraced son.
As matter of course, the court wa
not swerved by these revelations. He
simply said that all the criminals he
had sentenced had protested their in.
nocence, and that society would have
no protection if such assertions were
believed. He also reminded the pris.
oner that his case had been reviewed
by the supreme court. The Judge was
visibly affected as he pronounced the
death sentence.
The comment of those who heard
Holden was that if all this crooked.
ness existed, he should have proven
it upon his trial. Holden made his
boast, before leaving Jail at New
Ulm, that he had "evidence" that
would astonish the court, but his un-
supported accusation had very little
weight. That q convicted criminal
should try to "get even" with the
officers and others who secured his
] conviction. II not Ia bo ,xnxdorod a