Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1893-12-21
OF STATE INTEREST.
Story of an Unfortunate Just
Discharged From the
Insane Hospital.
Interesting Criminal Cases Be.
ing Tried in Barnes
County.
Concerning School Funds--'
Heavy Loss of a Buffalo
Farmer by Fire.

dTInST ny ElT0.
G.. E. Peterson and Jacob Hara, of Sar-
gent county, we're discharged from the
asylum last week and returned to their
respective homes this morning. Mr..
Hara lives near Rutland, and has been
patient at the hospital for some time.
Mr.. Peterson was brought to the instltu-
ton only three weeks ago, and says he
was informed in day or two after
his arrival that there appeared to
be no cause for his detention there, but
that Superintendent Archibald kept him
until yesterday, when certificate of dis
charge was issued. Mr.. Peterson called
at The Alert office to speak good word
for DIR. Archibald and all the attendants,
and also to explain some of the reasons
for his misfortune in having been sent
there, even for short time. 1t appears,
from Mr. Peterson's story, that financial
and family troubles caused a temporary
arrangement of his mind, and that be
attempted suicide with laudsnum. Ad
vantage was taken Of this fact to commit
him to the hospital, when it was said his
mercenary creditors and other enemies
could have full swing at such prop
erty as had already escaped the
collectors hands. A son OF Mr.. Peterson
was also active in securing his removal
to the asylum, being urged to the act,
Mr.. Peterson says, by unprincipled men
over the boy The unfortunate man
says he is carpenter by trade, but since
coming to Dakota has endeavored to
make living by farming. Crop failures
and the continued low price for wheat
and other products gradually brought
about his embarrassment, anG when the
collectors swooped down on the home
stead this fall. his dependency increased
until he sought relief IN suicide. The
waywardness of his son and daughter
contributed to the same result. Mr..
Peterson seems to have gained new hope,
however, and left for his home at Nichol-
son to spend the winter, and intends in
the spring to abandon farming and re-
turn to work at his trade. if work can be
secured.
Judge Rose is having a run OF criminal
cases at the present term of the Barnes
county court. Last week the trial of the
desperado, Ed. White, occurred, and the
jury brought in verdict of guilty Of an
attempt to commit manslaughter. The
punishment ia one to five years imprison'
ment, and the prisoner will be sentenced
this week. White is the man who, with
two others, drew pistols on Brakeman
Edwards at Sanborn, last October. The
latter attempted to put hobo off a train,
and was shot at and hit by the ball but
not hurt. The two pards Of the tramp
met the brakeman. who had gone back to
the caboose after pistol, and compelled
him to throw up his hands. Afterwards
Deputy Sheriff Sam Burt and another
Valley City policeman found the three
mon in the 500 depot at Valley City.
Burt tackled White and ordered him to
hold up his hands, at the point of re-
volver. White did so but pulled gun"
at the same time. Burt grabbed his
hand and White seized Burt's wrist.
Burt noticing that Whites pistol was OF
make that could be enptied of cart
ridges by touching spring, managed to
do this, rendering the weapon harmless.
In the struggle. however, Moran, an em
ploye at the depot wac ordered by Burt
to shoot White, which he did with horse
pistol, after some hesitation, and at close
range, but the ball only passed through
the cheek carrying away part Of the
bone and two teeth. The two other men
were held up for while by the other
officer, but managed to escape in the
struggle with White. The whole affair
was desperate and dangerous affray.
The three men were professionals and of
the most desperate class. Burglar tools
and other implements OF their business
were found on Whites person.
Another case for trial is that OF 4
prisoner who was caught in the attempt
to rob the Rhodes store at Oriska, last
week. The clerk Of The store had been
spending the evening out, and returning
to the store found the front door partly
open. He walked back to the end Of
the building, and noticing a shot gun
leaning against the counter. picked it up
and the next instant saw the form OF g
man crouching behind the counter. The
gun was instantly brought to bear on
the thief, who surrendered, and was
marched up to the house OF the proprie-