The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-04-01

three children-Frapk, Hattie and John
aged respectively sixteen, thirteen and
eleven. All attended school. One morn
ing our superintendent was missing. AT
the same time the widow Rives charged
him with attempted assault and robbery
Her statement was to the effect that she
had been awakened about midnight and
found him in her room. She had that day
received $1,000 in cash, and he demanded
the money When she cried out he struck
her with club, and during the few min
utes she was unconscious he secured the
money and fled.
Did any one doubt her story? Was there
the slightest reason to suspect she could be
mistaken? She had seen him and heard
his voice. So also had Frank and Hattie
as he left the house. He had taken q
freight train which passed the station at
o'clock a. M, and the station agent had
even spoken with him. AS he was the only
passenger, the conductor and two brake
men could fully identify him. Was there
ever palmer case?
1t was three weeks before Mr.. Somerville
was overhauled and brought back for trial
He was caught in town over 500 miles
away, and was taken in charge while quiet
ly sarntering along street. He was not
even frustrated. He calmly denied that he
was William Henry Somerville. He de
MED that he had ever been in Grafton He
denied that he was a school teacher. In
deed, he was so cool and nervy that the
officers, who knew him as well as they
knew their own children, began to doubt il
he was really the man before they started
back with him. We all know what we
know until some one doubts. Then we
think" or guess" or declare Ito the
best of our knowledge"
The prisoner declared the officers mis-
taken, but made no objection to returning
with them. There were 500 people at the
depot to see him. Every one recognized
him as William Henry Somerville. Next
day he was arraigned before justice OF
the peace under that name. He denied it
and gave his name as James Bailey. His
plea was mot guilty." and he had the best
lawyer in the county. The doubt which
the officers brought back with them now
began to bear fruit. When Mrs. Rives
took the stand she positively identified the
prisoner as Somerville. On cross examina-
ton she began to waver. One of her chill
dren swore positively; another Thought
So" One of the female teachers in the
school was then put on the stand to iden-
tify the prisoner, and give you what fol-
lowed:
"How long have you known the person
referred to as William Henry Somerville?' pr
Almost three years"
'How often did you see him?"
"At least five days in week"
''Now, then, look straight at me and tell
me the color of his eyes,"
''They are-are blue"
you are positiye?"
'Y-yes, SIR"
You will say she ought to have been sure,
and yet the prisoner had black eyes! Every
other person in that courtroom would have
sworn his eyes were black.
A second teacher was called to the stand
and asked:
do you identify the prisoner as William
Henry SomervilleP"
81 do"
How do you identify him?"
BY his general appearance"
isn't there possibility that you are
mistaken"
mo, sir.'
you declare on oath that the prisoner is
Somerville, do your"
81 do"
well, / like positive witness. Now,