The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-03-04


long night, not word was spoken by
anybody. Don't know even now that
| the deceased had been kicked or
struck. When questioned again by
Mr.. Pau she said that after Thor
stadt had been put on the bench, An
| derSOn went up to the deceased and
leaning over him said, Il won't take
back anything l have said" Thor
! Stad did not move or say word in re-
turn. The reason the dance did not
| fiddler was not able to play any more
he was too drunk.
~ Carl Bahma, aged - years,
NN was next called to the wit:
$sGk> ness chair; He testified
| NZER about as follows. Know both
c. S1aM1' Anderson and Chris Thor
stad, was at the granary at the night
of the dance. Saw both Anderson and
the deceased there. Saw ThorStad
and Anderson come close together and
saw Anderson fall to the floor. An
dersOn got up and wanted to fight
ThOrstad, but was held back by Row
land. When Anderson fell he fell in
the middle Of the room and rolled to
the east end of the building. l did
not see Thorstad hit Anderson. Did
not see Thorstad fall, for was out of
the room but saw him on the floor.
Carl Wilson, Mr. J. p. Meyer, Mrs.
Ross, Ida Wilson and Willie Meyer
were near him when he fell. They
were within two feet of him. Saw
Mr.. Meyers, Willie Meyers and Gilbert
pick him up. Mrs. Ross and Ida Will
son were at his head. He was on his
back Mr. Meyers and Gilbert took
him by the arms and Willie Meyers
took hold of him by the back. Sound
ed first as though he was breathing
or groaning. 1t was loud enough 10
be heard at the door. When they
set him up on the bench, his head
pitched forward. They went away
and left him there. Saw them feel of
his pulse and say he was dead. am
positive the ones | mentioned were
standing about him right after de-
ceased fell.
On being croSS-eXamined by the de-
PENDANTS counsel, witness said that
he was near enough to have seen any
kicking. Sad to say this little young
lad of 13 years, admitted under oath
that he had taken two swallows of the
vile stuff from the jug. Lawyer Stack
pole delivered him severe lecture on
the use Of liquor and in solemn
manner said he hoped he the witness)
would from this time forth leave in
toXicants alone. The boy seemed to
be deeply affected The hour of six
o'clock having arrived and there being
several more witnesses to call. court
was adjourned until nine O'Clock this
morning.
FRIDAY MORNING.
A large crowd was present Friday
morning at the opening of court. The
same interest that was manifest on
the first day was shown again to-day.
The first witness called was a son
of J. p. Meyer. His story was about
the same as that of the witnesses who
preceded him.
The interest in the examination of
Theodore Anderson, at Lake Crystal.
charged with killing one, Chris Thors-
tad on the night of Feb. 18th, had not
abated when Judge Mead opened
court Friday afternoon. The eI-
animation was held in the hall over
Riley & temples store, the Justices
Office not being adequate for the large
crowd which has been in attendance
since Wednesday afternoon. Those
who have listened to the testimony
from thesta are compelled to admit
there is not an iota Of evidence been
brought out that would convict An
derson of the crime that is charged
against him.
As witness after witness left the
stand the authorities were no more
enlightened as TO who committed the
awful deed than when they nrst began
the examination.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
DR.. Herring was the first witness
called after the noon recess yesterday.
He said: 81 was called by the coroner
on the day of inquest to examine body
of deceased. Found nothing unusual
except discoloration. No mark on
head, neck or chest. Again examined
him on Sunday afternoon at the de-
ceased mans home. Examined the
scrotum and found it very much dis
colored; was called to the house by
Thorstad's brother; found left testicle
crushed: found liver in a healthy con-
dition. lungs intact, heart about nor
NAL size. My opinion is that he re-
ceived direct blow; quite severe:
effect world be almost instantaneous
collapse; think the blow sufficient to
cause death: possibly might have been
revived had Testoratives been applied
at once: no means of telling what
kind of an instrument was used but
it must have been of hard substance.
Tee of boot might have been hard
enough TO have caused it.
After DR.. Herring had left the stand,
Carl Bahma was recalled and said
that he was with both Eddie and
Willie Meyers during most of the even
ing: went outside because / was afraid:
heard noise as OF something falling,
went in and found Chris on the floor