The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-11
FIVE JURORS
OBTAINED.
ORDERED TO SECURE THE RE-
MAINDER.
TRIAL OF sHERBURNE MURDERER.
Lit Will Be Taken Up at the Term of
Court Which Is on at Fair
mont.
Special to the Globe.

Johnson, the youngest of the two Wyo
ring nlurdererS, was put on trial for
his life before Judge Crosby in the dis
trict court today. 1t having been de-
cided 10 try the men separately. j. G.
Nethaway, of Saltwater, was appointed
y tn defend the case and the state was
represented by County Attorney E. c.
Gottry, who was assisted by Attorney
General Childs. AS the men had al
ready been arraigned under the indict-
nent, no time was wasted in prelimi-
naries. The whole day was devoted
to securing a jury and when the court
adjourned five of the twelve had been
secured. The regular panel was ex-
haustej in obtaining this number, sat
isfactory to both sides, and a special
Venire for thirty-five additional ju-
rors was issued by the court. They Will
be summoned in time for examination
when the case is resumed in the morn
ing.
The court room today was crowded
by an eager throng and some black
looks were cast on the prisoners, but
there was no excitement and no dis
position is apparent to interfere with
the proceedings. Public sentiment is
overwhelming, to all appearances, in
favor of a fair trial for the alleged
1nurderers and of permitting the law
TO take its course, whatever the out
come.
The two prisoners show little effect
Of their confinement. Bill Kelley, the
older, is as cool and unconcerned as
ever. Johnson seems more clearly to
appreciate the desperate nature Of the
position in which he finds himself, but
though nervous, is calm and prepared
for whatever may happen. The trial,
after jury has been secured, does not
promise to be long one.
The Wyoming tragedy, as it is most
commonly called here, was one of the
most cold-blooded in the annals OF
crime IN Minnesota and leaves a bloc
stain in the history of Chisago county
that can never be effaced. The his
tory Of the crime is yet fresh In the
memory of all and the trial has revived
the interest in no small measure.
Shortly after midnight on June 20,
Er. Burnside Foster, of st. Paul, left
the ST. Paul & Duluth train at Wyom-
ing intending to secure a team to take
Kim to Osceola Mills, where he hal
been called on account of his wife's Ill
ness. Directly across from the depot
at Wyoming stands a small building
then occupied by William Paul and
used as a restaurant. This building
consisted of a room about 20 by IA, the
restaurant proper and small lean-to
at the rear. which was used as a
sleeping apartment by William Paul
and his wife. The former was away
at the time and the only occupants o.
the building besides Mrs Paul were
q
named Tyson. The three last name,4
slept in the restaurant, Paul on bed
on the floor and the other two in bel
behind curtain partition.
1t was to this place that DR.. Foster
made his way on alighting from the
train, and. after arousing the men,
agreed with Paul and Hayes to drive
him to Osceola Mills. The doctor en-
tered the room and sat down, while
the other two prepared for the trip.
At this time Tyson was asleep in the
bed behind the partition. Hardly had
the doctor sat down before the door
opened and two men entered the lower
part of their faces covered with hand
kerchiefs and each holding a revolver.
Ordering the occupants of the room to
hold up their hands, one of them
kept guard at the door while the other
proceeded to search DR.. Foster. The
latter, seeing that there were only two
of them, called out to Paul and Hayes
to help, and commenced a vigorous
resistance. The robbers began shoot
ing at once. Hayes, who had stopped
down to pick up a poker, was shot in
the right side of the chest below the
arm, the bullet passing directly
through the mans body, then
through the tapestry curtain and the
siding of the wall at the end of the
room. Hayes was not killed at once,
hnfOrn q 81. IL
door in the rear CT the room.
In the meantime, Paul, who was be-
hind the counter had thrown a bottle
at the robber and was STOPPING down
10 get another when he, too, was shot.
Dying instantly. The robbers then
turned their attention to DR.. Foster.
and, after brutally beating him over
the head and face fled, leaving him
unconscious on the floor. DR.. Foster
gave the alarm as soon as he recov-
ered, out, owing to the darkness. no
attempt was made to pursue the rob
pers.. Dr. Gemmel, of Rush CITY. conn
" coroner. was summoned at once
remains VI lie
The country was speedily aroused
and by noon on that Saturday everT
town on the line had armed POSSES o,,}
looking for the culprits The trail laid
north, but 1t was not till Sunday morn
ihS ina any ulrect trace Of them cOr1I6
be had. Then it was found that dl,r-
ing the night they had entered q bonsa
In North Branch and stolen provisions
money and other valuabIes. this in
spite OF the fact that the town was
closely patrolled all night. The sur
rounding country was thoroueh.v
searched that Sunday morning ana
finally the desperadoes were ran tn
earth in swamp a few miles from
North Branch. The searching marry
were frs notified Of their proximity to
the murderers by volley from behind
a pile of logs. The fire was returned
and short though brisk engagement
ended in the capture Of two and the
death Of one Of the men. They werr
brought to North Branch, and from
there to Saltwater for safe keeping.
This, in brief, Is the history of the
Wyoming tragedy" the closing chan
ters Of which commenced today 1T
Chisago's county seat, and the read
ing of which will be made with inter
est by hundreds. 1t is believed that
Arthur Johnson, the younger of the
trio, will turn states evidence. but az
yet this Is only problematical. The
state claims to have convincing evil
dence, but the nature of the defense
has only been conjectured The trial
is exciting much interest, and, as the
defense is in the hands of Judge Nethe-
way, 1t will be holly contested.