The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-04-09
HOLDEN'S RETRIEVE


Tie following vigorous editorial in
the Duluth News, is manifestly from
the pen of ex-senator Bowen, formerly
of Sleepy Eye, who is conversant with
the whole history of our criminal diff
ticulties. Mr.. Bowen is an unpreju-
diced witness, and the people of this
county will feel grateful for the ap-
pearance of such hard hitting cham
pion at this time. The indignation
meeting reported in the dailies did
not materialize here, save on the street
corners. The logic of the News arti-
Gle, however, is sound.
The next man who commits murder
in Redwood county is liable to be
lynched. The administration of law
in that county is effective enough to
convict criminals and the officials are
ready to execute the penalties pre-
scribed, but murderer with a smart
lawyer to defend him has too many
resources at his command to give up
the battle and allow himself to be
hanged, even though he may be SEN
fenced to hang.
1t has been the misfortune of Red
wood county to be the theater of sew
eral atrocious murders perpetrated by
persons who were not residents of the
county at all. The courts found two
of these murderers, Rose and Holden,
guilty. The best legal talent in the
state was employed to defend them.
They had a fair and impartial trial,
and were found guilty The cases of
both were carried to the supreme court
and every possible means of clearing
them by technicalities was exhausted,
They were sentenced to hang and the
day of their execution fixed. But again
the attorneys found means to DELAY
the infection of the penalty, and again
the cases were carried to the higher
courts. 1t should be borne in mind
that the several trials, delays, rehear-
ings, appeals, etc, of Rose we're entire
~ separate from those of Holden.
Each committed separate crime, en-
tirely unconnected with that of the
other. The victims of each were prac-
tically strangers in Redwood county.
SO that all the reproach of t. g crimes
and the enormous expense of the trials,
amounting to thousands of dollars.
were saddled upon the honest and
law abiding citizens of Redwood.
These facts are mentioned to show
how exasperating it is to community
that has done its part faithfully in OBJ
serving law, administering justice and
protecting society, to be thwarted by
the executive of the estate when every
other means of shielding guilty muir
derers has been exhausted. The re-
prleve of Holden is menace to So
ciety. 1t is an encouragement to those
who seek to defend criminals, not alone
for the purpose of securing a fair trial
for them, but to set them free without
punishment. The reprieve of Holden,
while he was standing in the shadow
OF the gallows, serves to add to the
reputation of his lawyer, displaying
his professional skill in snatching his
client from the jaws of death after two
and half years of stubborn fighting,
but society will suffer for it. When a
man charged with murder is tried, as
Holden has been tried, when he has
been convicted, when his case has
been passed before higher courts for
review, when the insanity dodge has
been tried and failed, when even the
supreme court of the United States has
been called upon to decide upon the
technicalities of law in connection with
the trial when all these things have
occurred and the deliberate Judgment
of law and evidence condemns the man
as a cold-blooded murderer and sends
him to the gallows, it is dangerous
thing to arbitrarily stay the hand Of
justice. The effect of it is briefly told
in the opening lines of this article
So great is the indignation at Red
wood Falls over the reprieve of Hold
en- that a mass meeting was held tc
censure the governor, and it was seri.
ously suggested that the governor be
requested to pardon both Rose and
Holden, thus saving the county further
expense. The citizens have patiently
awaited the process of law, they have
spared neither effort nor expense in
maintaining justice, and familiar as
they are with the evidence which con.
victed both Rose and Holden it is nc
wonder that they look upon the inter
vention of the governor with disgust
Regarding the administration of just
ice as farce, they conclude it nigh
be as we'll to turn both the murderers
loose and stop the further waste O.
public money in trying to enforce pro
tective laws. This is just exactly VIVA
leads to mob law. And if, upon on,
of these fine mornings, the body o
Mr.. Clifton Holden should be fount
dangling on tree, let no one lay tn
responsibility for the affair at the doc
of Redwood county people.