St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-25
POTATO TOMMY FELL.
Murder Mystery Of Mitchell,
by Which South Dakota
Dates Are Fixed.
a Verdict of Death at the
Hands Of Persons Yelled
in Mystery,
And the Sheriff Starts Across
the Plains in Pursuit Of
the Robbers.
A Ride for Life in Which Po-
tato Tommy Fell Amid
the Flames.

L ut IGCcliI DlSll tClll OlulO III OOutil
Dakota recalls time in the history of
that state when the settlers apprehen-
sion grew apace with the ripening Of
the prairie grass, and the wreck from
wind and flood was less dreaded than
the prairie fire. About the year 1875
the plains of the Dakotas were regarded
by many as the Eldorado of the great
Northwest; the story of their fertility
was sung in every town and hamlet
east of the Mississippi river; the fame
of their golden harvest was carried to
the shores of the old world, and from
the icy barriers of Norway to the furth-
est boundaries of the German empire
the simple peasants spelled from fam
ing posters the wonders of Dakota. III
the same year several of the larger rail
road companies began Operati onS in the
territory. Emigration came pouring in
ike ceaseless tide; the prairieS began
10 brstle with squatters' cabins. Cy-
clones and hurricanes were of frequent
occurrence, and the towns were almost as
sSTransient as the CIouds.''
When the town site of Mitchell was
laid out and a few two-stOried red
bricked dwellings frOwned haughtily on
the tenting populace on the streets,
several OF the more enthusiastic citizens
would offer to tie listening tenderfoot
promises of great metropolis that
was sure to spring from the town.
When the land Office was established
their satisfaction was intense, and when
an unknown man appeared in their
midst bearing the SOuDriquet of Potato
Tommy and established himself behind
The counter OF a sample room known as
the Prairie Schooner, with real var
nished counter and a plate-glass mirror,
feeling Of ure tone took possession of
the community.
The popu atIon of Mitchell soon num-
bered 5000 inhabitants, composed most
ly Of nOndescript characters. TheflaShy
attire of the gambler greeted your eye
at every street conner: the loW-voiced,
oilY-mannered confidence man excused
himself for stepping in your way; the
lOud-mOuthed land-shark discussed the
latest advance in real estate, while here
and there mountebank entertained a
gaping crowd OF spectators by assuring
them that his next act would be that of
swallowing sword.
Early One Sultry Morning,
at the close of September. the town
was thrown into great excitement by
the discovery of the body of man ly-
ing murdered near the entrance of the
Prairie Schooner. The sheriff was duly
notified of the tragedy ond shortly APP
peared upon the scene. He had about
him an air of professional mystery, in
tensified by his apparent reluctance
10 speak. Some jealous people
averred that his reticence was
born of facing perils, maintaining law
and order and representing the majesty
OF the government. BY his order the
body was removed to room in the rear
of the Prairie Schooner, while Potato
Tommy dispensed his liquid refresh
ment with untlagging zeal. and after
the throng had imbibed again and again
the formalitieS of the inquest were duly
commenced.
Several unimportant personages testi-
fed that the deceased had been seen in
the neighborhood the previous night, in
q Northumberland condition, displaying
large amount of money, and had last
been seen at the bar of the Prairie
Schooner. Potato Tommy SWore that
the dead man had left his house about 4
o'clock that morning in company with
three other men; that in his opinion the
murdered man did not have any money
in his possession, as he had asked him
potato Tommy to stand him off for two
drinks. After this testimony the crowd
adjourned to the bar and again re-
freshed itself.
During the EnteFmissIOn
Potato Tommy called the sheriff aside
and said: Now, pard, there's good
thing in sight for me and you if it is
properly worked. That duck that got
slugged this morning had over s., 600 in
his kit when he left this joint; he was
with three cattle men who got his stuff
from him and then skipped: | know
them of old. Our lay is to run 'em down
before dark and recover the Doodle;
they have only got three hours start of
us, and their horses were jaded and
foOtsore when they left"
The sheriff Signiied his appreciation
of Potato Tommy's sagacitY by looking
toward the horizon. He immediately
joined the group in the back room and
announced that the inquest was at an
end; that the evidence in the case
showed that the deceased was unknown
III the community: that he was without
means, and had come to his death from
blow delivered by some person I'M
known, A hum of applause greeted
the remarks OF the sheriff, a subscrip-
ton was Immediately taken up to de-
fray the funeral expenses, and the
stranger was laid to rest on a neighbor-
ing hillside.
A few minutes after the conclusion of
the inquest the sheriff, in the company
of Potato Tommy and one other man,
was seen to ride
Rapidly West From the Town
The day was intensely hot; the tall
prairie grass stretched on all sides like
an endless sea as far as the eye could
reach; the ground was parched and the
grass was dry and dusty.
The sherltf's posse had proceeded on
its journey for about ten miles without
making any discovery or meeting with
mishap. A strong wind mad sprung up
directly from the west; short distance
ahead stretched long line OF scrub
trees and bushes, which indicated the
course OF small stream of water; they
decided that on reaching this stream
they would diSmount and give the horses
short rest. They pressed forward
and as they emerged from the tall prairie
grass into an open glade by the rivers
brink the sheriff, who was slightly in
adv ance of the party, uttered shout of
SURPRISE; his companions hastily rode
up, and there, in the open glade, lay a
dead horse. A bullet hole through the
liOl 81 llcdO oHOMeu IllG uldltl6I OI lIS
taking off. One of its forelegS was
broken, and hole in the ground where
the animal had stepped left no doubt as
to the cause.
Instantly they looked about for the
trail Of the three cattle men. Yes, there
it was. In the soft mud at the edge of
the stream were the tracks of two horses
and one man. 1t was decided to lose no
time, and they followed the trail at a
rapid gait. 1t was confidently expected
by the party that they would find the
three men encamped in basin of the
prairie about five miles distant.
The sheriff's contemplation of the re-
suit of the meeting actually made him
laxative. The entire party was in ex-
uberant spirits at the thought of the ex-
element awaiting.them.
What Was Thata
simultaneously the three pursuers
brought their horses TO their launches
and strained their eyes toward the hori
Zon: then one of them slowly smoke