The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1892-12-23
DISMISSED.
Preliminary Examination in the
Case of the state VS. Richard
Laughiin--Thc Case Dis.
missed Bn mot ION Of both
Prosecuting and De
Tending 1.itOrneys

missed Bn motion Of both
Prosecuting and he
tending attorneys
The case Of homicide referred to in
last weeks issue was made pubic last
Saturday by the arrest Of Richard Laugh
I'm in Watertown, who was charged with
the murder OF Thomas Clifford on the
21st Of December Of last year at Albee.
The circumstances OF the case as report
ed al the time indicated very plainly that
Clifford had committed suicide, and no
thought OF foul play was entertained by
those who found the llfeless body. Cliff
ord had been station agent at Albee tor
something over year. He had been
suffering for a short time with the gripI e,
and was living alone in the depot, his
wife having lett him but few days be-
fore for visit to Highmore Mr.. Laugh
lin, who was section foreman was the first
person TO enter the depot in he morning,
and discovered the body OF Clifford head
foremost in barrel Of water, winch was
standing in the waiting room. He i'm
mediately gave the alarm and a party
from the hotel ran over 70 the depot and
found the body as stated. Two punches
of keys and note was found upon the
office desk. The note ran as follows:
Good bye Dick, old boy; hold keys till
81 comes. You will find everything in
the desk. Pull me out of the barrel =
The note was afterwards Identified 10y
the son of the deceased as being his
fathers handwriting. Everything was
found as usual in the Office, and 20 cents
in silver and small book was found
upon the person of the deceased The
coroner and the railroad officials as well
as the wife OF deceased we're notified.
The circumstances indicated so plainly
that the man had committed suicide that
the coroner did not even deem It neces-
sary to hold an Inquest, and none was
had. The complaining witness in the
case is the widow of the deceased man,
who came here last week, accompanied
by LAWYER Whiltemore, Of Mime apolis,
and instituted proceedings for the arrest
ot Mr.. Laughlin who was brought over
from Watertown on Saturday, Wheh a
preliminary hearing before Justice Pas
CO was commenced on "Wednesday morn
ing, and the matter is still before the
court. The HERALD ADVANCE likes to
say as little as possible about any case
while it remains in the hands OF the
court, and it reserves the criticism which
it believes the bringing Of this action
| Justly deserves until after its determine
| tion by the proper authorities. How
ever in Justice to Mr.. Mclaughlin, whose
good name and character has been as
sailed by the heinous charge brought
against him it will say that his old neigh
| bors and friends in Albee and vicinity
many OF whom have known him for years
are unanimous in pronounclng him lnno
cent of the crime with which he is
charged and indignant at this attempt to
fasten it upon him. HIS reputation is
that Of an Industrious, upright citizen
| incapable of any such crime as thai
charged, and of the great number OF his
acquaintances in Albee and vicinity moi
one entertains the slightest suspicion OF
his guilt, and are at lpss to fathom the
motive which prompted his arrest. The
evidence so far as adduced has not been
such as would afford the least ground
tor the charge.
Since writing the above the case has
been dismissed on motion OF the prose
cutting attorney, who stated that in bring
ing the case he was simply performing
what he believed to be his duty, but that
not a particle of evidence had been Sc
cured against the defendant, and he
therefore moved that the case be dis
| missed, which was done. The motion
| was supplemented by Lawyer White
| more, who had been engaged by the
prosecuting witness as assistant in the
case, and also by J. w. Bell, the defend
ants attorney, all stating that no evi
dence whatever had been brought out
which in the slightest degree tended to
criminate Laughlin. Mr.. Laughlin
made plain, straightforward statement
Of the circumstances Of the tragedy SO
far as he was connected with it, and his
staten ent was corroborated by all OF the
witnesses for the prosecution as well as
the defense, the facts going to prove
that he had been one OF the best friends
the deceased man had, helping and at
tending him in his sickness. and befrlend
ing him ia many ways.
TO say nothing Of the trouble and dis
agreeable position in which this case
placed the defendant, Mr.. Laughlin, !
has largely added to the expenses OF tht
county, and the responsibility ls certain
Ily chargable to some one. The mos
charitable explanation OF the motive To-
making this grave charge against an N
nocent man is that the complaining VII
ness is not mentally sound.
MARRIED.
uraDv TnHNSDN-On December 81, 1882, a