Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1893-03-24
~ < r. - q
ALEX GRAVEL SENTENCED.
After Being Ont Fourteen Hours the
Jury Find Him Guilty of
Manslaughter.
SEVEN YEARS IN prison
A Long and Interesting Charge is
Given TO the Jury by Judge &
!. D. B. Searle. a-.. .s..,
SEVEN YEARS IN prison

The first witness called for the
defense was Navisse Gravel, father
of the prisoner. He is quite an old
man and is SO crippled with
that he is obliged to
use crutches. His direct testimony
was substantially as follows:
Moved herefrom crow Wing county
in 1876 and am a farmer. Alex.
Gravel is my son and is % years Of
age. Went to Little Falls on Satur-
day afternoon. Saw both my son
and Casa in town about 'o'clCck.
We left for home about p. M. Casa
went ahead with Alexis team, and
Alex rode in the blackboard with me.
We all went to- the brewery where l
transacted some business with Mr.
Medved who was then county
commissioner. l drank about half
a glass Of beer aud Alex and Casa
both drank some, only a few glasses.
Alex got a keg OF beer and put it in
the wagon, we were there only Il
short time, and Casa left before we
did. We overlook Casa about two
miles east of brewery OH the Rich
Prairie road but before we reached
the big hill we saw a team ahead Of
Casa, it was Gust Artinan. It was
getting dark and we came up to
Artman at foot Of hill. Artman
called back asking who was coming
and told him I Narcisse He asked
who was with me and | told him
Alex. He then called to Alex, using
vile language and saying that he
could whip him, my son said to me,
Gust must be drunk" After we got
up the hill, Artman turned his horses
across the road. Casa could not
pass, his team stopped and my
mares nose struck the wood rack on
Casa's wagon. She is fiery animal
and began backing and plunging.
Alex said he would get out and s"e
if we could get by. He went up to
Artman's wagon on the right side,
and Casa got off his wagon and
followed him. Could just see
Artman on his wagon and Alex on
the ground. Artman raised his
pitchf0rk and soon after Artman
was off ON the ground too. l drove
my horse past Alex team; Artman's s
team had gone on east. AS drove
by all the men We're ON. the ground
fighting and l told Alex and Casa
to get in their wagon and come home.
Saw the AlcCarthy's pass on right
hand side while the three men were
on the ground. Did not stop long.
They came towards town. The
boys got on wagon and came along
We passed Artmun's team east OF
there.
When we got homeCasa put up tho
team and Alex went in the house
where his mother washed the blood
of his head. He bled from d cut. OF
the head and cheek. His nose was
also bleeding and his finger was hurt
| Washed him twice and put tobacco
ON the wounds. Casa took care O
the horsesand went to tub at wei
and washed before he came in. HI
washed his hands again before e;, tins
supper. Casa w9re soft hat, and h
washed what looked to be hloo'
stains off it. Witness deried that h
told Deputy Sheriff Tanner tha
Casa had nothing to do with tn
fight. Casa told him that Gus wa
too much for Alex. Alex wrappe
himself up in blanket and went t.
sleep.
( On cross examination he state
that he got home at about o'cloc
lived nine miles from town, and lei
ab0ut six O'Clock: was at brewer
| five or six minutes;, drank q littl
beer, boys drank considerable; onl
drank two glasses of beer. in towl
boys had two small kegs,-of beer.
wagon; might have been. at brewer
ten minutes. Casa left first an
went out ON Rich Prairie rOat
caught up to Casa east of MI. Raglan
place, First saw Artman west
big hill, He spoke first and aske
who was there; told him me an
Alex. He then negan to abuse Ale
. and said he could whip him. NJ
!, Gravel's testimony MS to the fig
was the same as on direct examin
tion. After | passed and called to Z
boys they got ON the wagon al
came after me- Casa said Gus w
coming behind. Might have been
O'Clock when we got home. The
was no conversation on way. hon
!, Saw Avtman's hands raised wi
something In them. Saw the TIN
I OF them on the ground when | dro
by. Knew G. "A. Lindbergh, but d
q not know Prof. Kleppcr, was Sats j
y yard the morning after the n,url
Did not remember saying there til
Casa had nothing to do With
fight. Knew +. =. Raymond a
saw him at ArtMan;s hanse nloflsli
afses murder, hut did not say to b
in speaking of the fight that
would not have had 1t happened
the world; tried to stop him, |
y, when he gets mad he Is the y,
devil. Got home about 9o'clock.
was pretty dark, and went into
Is house right after Alex and Casa /
lsp tie team. TAe barn e west
iag the house about 150 to 200 feet;;tl'
lss sts Is on.west side Of house; well IS alb
mel 10 feet from house toward stable
sat behind the stare; the room Is !,,s
en. l8, two windows one in east and
in west; room is on north east
Of house; the west window is hetN
penneE and door: staYe is in
s, middle at north end: sat in fl
Ef of stove hack stel the south
Gravel, two daughters and
a were In the room: Casa came In
Doo0 -, q, :, II, 1.3sr