Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-12-05
Charged With Manslanehtar

During the week now almost gone the
people Of this city and vicinity have
been wrought up to high pitch of ex
citement by the gradually developed
particulars Of a terrible affair that has
occurred almost in our midst. II there
is anything in it at all, the life of an in
nocent babe has been sacrificed, and
two citizens of Custer county, charged
with manslaughter are under bond,
awaiting their examination, which will
be had Monday, Dec l4th. 1t is one o
those affairs by which the entire com
munity is shocked, and sometimes ter
ribly disgraced, one which in its undev
eloped state. makes it difficult for &
newspaper TO lay before the people
properly, and with justice TO all partie,
concerned. A few days ago u. A. Miles
brother Of Mrs. q. IT, Thompson, o.
Pleasant Valley, complained to DR.
Oliver Fisher, county coroner, and
member Of the State Board Of Health
that his sister, who was known to have
been in delicate condition, had been
dragged from her he'd and abused by
her husband, while he was intoxicated
to such an extent that her child had
been prematurely born, and though
fully developed, had been born dead
The brother asked that the matter be
investigated and the guilty one or ones
be brought to justice. With this object
in view DR.. Fisher, accompanied by Dr.
Taylor and Sheriff Wood visited the
Thompson ranch last Wednesday, de-
manded the body of the child, and pro
ceeded to hold an inquest upon it, The
brother and sister of Mrs. Thompson
were examined, and the testimony given
by them was in substance the same
statement made above. Mr.. Thompson
offered no denial of the charges made
againt him. After due deliberation the
jury returned the following verdict;
STATE OF so. DAKOTA
County Of Custer,
An inquest holden at Thompson's
ranch in the County Of Custer and State
aforesaid, on the 2nd dav of December,
A. II. 1891, before Oliver Fisher, NJ. ID
coroner of the said county, upon the
body of an infant, there lying dead. by
the jurors whose names are hereunto
subscribed. The said jurors upon their
oath do say: We find that the body Of
said infant now lying dead at Thomp-
sons ranch was quick child, and came
to its death by the inhuman treatment
at the hands of Geo. III. Thompson, in
flicted upon the body of Mrs. Flora
Thompson, while carrying said quick
child in Utera.
That the body of said quick child was
unnecessarily mutilated and mangled in
its delivery by one c. Kleemann, who
attended said Mrs. Flora Thompson.
In testimony whereof, the said jurors
have hereunto set their hands the day
and year afore aid.
Frank r. Smith
Frank l.. Kirk.
Thomas L. Taylor.
Attest: Jurors.
Oliver Fisher, Coroner.
Notwithstanding the above verdict of
the coioner's jury, DIR. Taylor, who con-
Quoted the post mortem examination,
testifies that the child was not killed by
the treatment to which the mother was
subjected by her husband, but was alive
when labor commenced.
In the absence Of w. G. Porter, III. d.
Reynolds represented the state, and
Thursday morning warrants were issued
for the arrest of Geo. ii. Thompson
and DR.. G. Kleemann, who attended
Mrs. I. during her confinement Thurs
day afternoon they were brought before
Justice c. +. Smith for examination
Mr.. Reynolds asked that the defendants
be placed under bonds, and the case
continued until Mr.. forter's return.
This was done and the examination
continued until Dec. 18th. In each case
the bond was fixed at $500, which was
promptly furnished. OF course divers
ity of opinions are expressed in regard