St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-17

had now placed Its hands on the very
heart of the conspiracy, and then he
took occasion to Indignantly deny that
he had been actuated by spirit of re-
venge in bringing TO the light OF the
sun and to justice one of the most nefa-
riouS systems TO rob the people. He had
been charged of such motives, however,
because Rhodes had been witness
against DOnnelly in the famous Pioneer
Press libel suit. Had this been true he
would long since have OccaSiOned the
arrest of Rhodes for perjuryor impris-
Oned in the county Jail for contempt.
Still, Mr.. Donnelly added, that he
thanked God that one of the men who
had attempted to swear away his char
acter had been shown UP in his true
character, and he doubted little that he
should live to see the day when all the
others will be held up to the world in
their true colorS. The Sage then sug-
gested that possibly the language of the
resolution was too strong and said he
was willing that it should be modified
that no dangerous precedent be eStab-
iished. lie then exclaimed that the
constitution is plain aud explicit upon
the point, and he explained the method
that had been pursued in the capture of
the books. The resolution passed as it
was, however.
A Flank Movement.
Although the committee esteem 1t an
absurd thing for the courts to under
take, c. ID. and L. ID. O'Brien, the at
tOrneyS for the coal men. succeeded in
securing a writ of replevin for the
books. The papers were served on the
parties. buG the books were not sur
rendered. nor will they be unless per
physical force. 1t is even limited that
the committee will demand military
protection from the governor, If neceS-
sary, to maintain them in the position
taken.
The replevin action was filed in the
Ramsey county district court yesterday
by John j. Rhodes, and it is against j.
W. Wells, j. Schetfer and Basil Smout,
the sergeant-at-armS and his assistants,
to recover one tonnage book, one blot
ter, one journal, one ledger, one i'm
preston letter book, one blOtter
file and contents, valued at Sl0,-
600. The compliant IN replevin
proceeds in legal Yerbage to declare
That SAID defendants wrongfully COM
bine and cOnSpire to seize, take and
carry away all of said property from the
private Office of the plaintiff. and did
wicked4y, unlawfully and fOrclbly take
and carry away the same, and all of the
same, and that said taking of the same
was wrOngfully and malicious and with
the intent Oh the part Of said defend
ants to harraSS, OppreSs and injure this
plaintiff; and that by said taking of said
property and its detention plaintiff has
been injured and damaged in the sum
of $1,000. Wherefore the plaintiff de-
mandS Judgment for the return of the
property or the sum of $4,000 as the
value thereof, and $1,000 damage for the
detention thereof, besides costs and dis
burSementS.
Cited in Court
The sheriff served the notice of the
suit III Teplevln on Smout, Scheffer and
Wells last evening and demanded the
books, but those men refused to deliver
the books 10 the officer, or to tell where
they may be found. Late last evening
Judge Egan made an order directing
Sm0ut, Scheffer and Wells to appear at
special term Of the district court tomOr-
row and SHOW cause why they shall not
be punished for contempt in refusing TO
obey the mandate of the court. Mr..
Rhodes filed replevin bond yesterday
in the penalty of $4,000.
Has the Desired Evidence.
The Investigating committee certainly
has the courage of its convictions, and
will fight until 1t either gets the evil
dence that it seeks or is beaten. But 1t
looks now that it had obtained all that
it cared for, and that it is satisfied that
it has eliminating evidence, and does
not care very much whether or
not the sheriff succeeds with
the writ of replevin. 1t is
intimated that the evidence is
now completed. The committee had q
session last evening at which the books
were scTutiniZed for the first time with
a view to collaJe evidence. The most
conservative members of the committee,
it is asserted now, agree that Senator
DOnnelly has made no mistake, and
that the effect of his efforts must
be to rid the state of a mighty in
cubus and to punish all those that
haV ebeen connected with it. While
the meeting was being held the sheritf's
posse was on the hunt. 1t was armed
with the writ of replevin, and the aim
was to obtain possession of the books
before comprehensive inspection could
be had. But the subtle legiSIa-
tors thwarted the willy sheriff,
and the books were actually in
spected and notatiOns made. Now,
il is said the committee cares very little
whether il keeps the books or not. 1t
will trust to developments. The meet
ing was not held where 1t was expected
to have been held, and there was where
the sheriff was puzzled. The committee
is now meditating upon the modus
Operandus. 1t anticipates damage suits,
but it processes to be prepared 10 meet
them with criminal proceedings that
may mean much.