The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-11-25
SOUTH DAKOTA MURDERCASE
Trial of Phelps and Schroeder Set
for Monday.

Trial Of Phelps and Schroeder Set
for Monday.
Alexandria, Hanson County, the Place..
Story OF the Killing Of Mot Matson
lawful Night for a Fave Gil
...sensaton Promised.
CHAMBERLAIN, S. d., Nov. 23.-The
triul of Henry Schroeder and Frank
Phelps for the murder of q settler
named Mot Mutsoh in Lyman county
May 90 last, commences ut Alexandria,
Hanson county, next Monday. The
former is charged with committing the
crime--in fact, has admitted his guilt
and the latter us an accessory. This
case has reached an interesting point
and may result in something extremely
sensational before it is finally disposed
of. The story Of the murder is as fol-
| lows:
The Matsons lived on the west bank
OF the Missouri river in Lyman county,
| about thirty miles south of here. In
the family was Mot Matson, IL bachelor,
his sister Christine and an adopted boy
~ years of nge. Opposite the Matson
place in the main channel of the river
| Is an island, known for many years as
Phelps island. On it lived Frank
Phelps and hired man named Henry
Schroeder. Rumor has IL that Phelps
had for years been engaged in unlawful
practices, the success of which depended
r,N hnx,; 1>.,4, L.. Il
| island clear of settlers. He evil
tiers SO near, and from the time
that Matson located upon the land
some years ago Phelps had hard
feelings toward him. Matson was of
an inotfensive disposition and did not
care to be i'll trouble, but his sister has
considerable spirit and was not afraid to
maintain her rights or the rights of her
brother. Last December Miss Mntson
saw Phelps and n Young man named
VIII Spalding swimming one of her
brothers cows to the east side of the
river. 1t was natural that she should
protest, and she made complaint to the
authorities here. At that
time Lyman county was un-
organized and was attnched
to this county for judicial purposes
For some unaccountable reason States
Attorney Porter of this county struck
the name of young Spalding from the
warrant. Porter promised months ago
to explain this unlawful action, but he
removed to New York state ii short
time ago without having done SO.
Phelps was arrested for stealing tho
COW, and was under Indictment for the
crime last May when Matson was
assassinated.
After the COW stealing episode
Phelps was very bitter i'll dcnouncing
the Nlatsons, more particularly the
girl, making threats against them to
numerous persons. He made no secret
| of his enmity, it seemingly being n
hobby of his to denounco them to any
one with whom he entered in conversa-
ton. To some he said he would take
his gun some day and "clean off the
the hottom," while to others he made
similar threats about going to "clean
! out the Norwegian nest," etc.
good terms with the Matsons, oc-
ca>ionally visiting at their home,
On the evening of May 20 Matson re-
turned home as usual from his work in
the field. Supper was prepared for HIM,
bit feeling very tired and warm he sad
lie would first bathe his feet. Getting
II basin of water he seated himself in
the open doorway. His sister had
lighted the lamp and had started to
read to .iiin when the report of II rifle
rnng through the room. instantly the
lamp was eXtinguished and the room
became filled with smoke. The bullet
had been fred through window in
one end of tile building, diagonally
across the room to the open doorway
i'll which Matson was seated. striking
him in the head and killing him in
stantly. At this time it was still quito
light outside. The sister heard the
blood pouring out of her brothers head
aud going TO him raised the head and
shoulders into her lap and pressed her
fingers over the frightful wound in
vain endcavor to stop the flow of blood
While in this position she CHANGED to
glance through the open doorway.
| There, outside Il low fence and directly
in front of the house stood Henry
Schroeder. She got q good view of
him and has since been positive that
she madc no mistake. believing with
good reason that it was also his inten-
| ton to kill her, She became frightened
and crawled under the table, calling to
tIle auOptcQ DOV 10 Dr1nr Her the gun.
This he did, and she arose and looking
out found that Schroeder had disap-
pcared. At intervals for several hours
the excited girl fired shots toward the
spot where she had seen the murderer.
About midnight she made an attempt
to crawl out of the back window for
the purpose of escaping and going to a
neighbor to give the alarm. She
had partially crawled to the
outside when she heard the snap of a
gun, rs though the hammer had struck
u cartridge without exploding it. She
hus,i re,,ted into the house again,
and ! the boy took refuge in the
gairc. Ill morning. when the boy
Went 10 the nearest neighbor. mile
distant, and gave the alarm News
was brought here and officers in few
| hours captured Schroeder. who made no
resistance. Phelps was afterwards ar
| rested as an accessory. Court met in
lyman county the 96th of September
and Schroeder. who ali along stoutly
proclaimed his innocence. surprised
everyone by changing his plea to
guilty. Phelps attorneys asked fo:' ii
| change of venue on the ground TINT
prejsdiee existed against their client in
Lyman county. and the change to Han
son county was granted.
o ficial Vote Of South Dakota.