The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1891-04-30
had business.

bad Business.
One of the most dastardly and heinous
of crimes, that of train-wrecking, was
attempted between this city and West
Union, on Monday evening of last week,
and it was the mere fact that the attempt
was overdone that frustrated it. It
was observed that the telegraph line be-
tween here and West Union was out OF
order, and the section men of both places
were notified to find the break. 1t was
about seven O'Clock in the evening when
the trouble was noted, and a little later
the crews started over the line by hand
car. The trouble was located by the
West Union crew just where the two sec
lions meta wire had been thrown over
the telegraph line and the ends stuck into
the earth, effectually grounding the cir
cult. But that was the least important
disco very made. Within a few rods a
| plle of ties and stones was discovered on
the track, so arranged that a wreck
would have been inevitable, and at a
point on the road, on a fill, where the
results would have been horrible to con-
template.
The distractions were removed, and
the affair reported to headquarters. The
railroad company set detectives at work
at once, and on Saturday Charles Bedell,
formerly of this city, and Fred Davis,
both residents Of West Union, were ar
rested. The first elew was obtained by
the section men, who met Bedell and
Davis on the track between the point
where the distractions were found and
West Union station. Warrants were
procured for the arrest of Bedell and
Davis, and on Saturday morning Sheriff
Hammered came up from St. Cloud, and
taking officer Murphy and c. M. Coats,
drove to West Union, where both men
were found at Bedell's blacksmith shop.
They were arrested, ironed together. and
brought to this city and lodged in the
lookup until the morning east-bound
train came through, when they were
taken to St. Cloud for examination, the
report of which fIom the St. Cloud
Times, printed below, will give addi-
tional details.
The first train due over the road was
an east-bound freight, due here about 10 |
O'Clock in the evening, and it is said
that Davis had an ill.feeling against the |
crew on that train, which prompted his |
action. This is mere rumor, however. |
Both men were drunk-it is quite proba- |
BILE there were three engaged in the mat
ter, but thus far only two are under ar
rest-and the act may have been
prompted by no deeper motive than
sheer malicious mischief.
Of the antecedents of Davis little can
be learned. Bedell has always been con-
sidered tough case, an habitual drunk
ard, churlish and ill-natured, but not |
dangerous. 1t is alleged that he did,
some time ago, threaten to kill his wife,
and procured some poison which he de-
clared he intended to put into the we'll.
The package was taken from him and
destroyed by his friends. While being
brought to the city, and after their ar
rival here, Bedell admitted the obstruc-
ton of the track, but claimed that he did
none of the work, only directing how it
should be done. Officer Murphy told /
him he was not on trial yet, and hadbetter
reserve his story until he was arraigned.
On Saturday the examination began
in St. Cloud, and the Times has the fol-
lowing repors of it, D. 7. Calhoun con-
Quoting the defence,
Nathaniel Warriner, one of the linemen |
of the Great Northern, who lives here
was nhe first to testify on the part of
the state. He had no personal knowl-
edge of the obstruction on railroad track,
but had as to the telegraph wires. On
the night of the 22d inst, he discovered
about 21s to three miles west of Sank
Centre four telegraph wires grounded by
piece of barb wire being thrown over
the lines and stuck in the ground on
both ends. Witness looked on the track.
Found ties, SHIN wood and one large
stone Immediately next to the rail on the
outside,
George Wagner. station agent and op-
orator at West Union, was sworn, Wit
ness knew defendants since he had lived
at West Union. Had asked defendants
where they were on evening of 22nd and
they said, coming from Sank Centre to
West Union. Saw Bedell about noon,
when he asked witness how wires worked
last night. Defendant said he didn't do
it but told Davis how to do it. Met
Davis at dinner table on the 23rd, and
asked him whether he had got over his
drunk. Defendant said he would never
tonch wires again,
John Roddin, the section foreman, also
knew one of the defendants. Went over
the section about 8 p. NJ on the 22nd.,
having been sent out by the agent to
look up the wires. Had met two men
about one mile east of West Union, one
was Bedell, The examination has been
continued until Friday. 1t seems more
than probable that the accused will be
held to the grand jury.
The first train over the road aeter the
instructions were removed was the pas
senger train going west, and it would
have been wrecked bRt for the timely
discovery.
WIN. seherfius has received from the
80 =. experimental station of agricultur
- oo,,.oe fo,,r h,,,ahels Of Fife wheat,