The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-04-24

The grand jury in the United
States court completed its labors in
hurry, and was Wednesday dis
charged. 1t returned four indict-
ments, two of which were against
Chris. Hanson, who wrote the abscene
letters to Mr.. and Mrs. Rasmussen,
of Minneapolis, and two against Ed
ward Shimbusky, of Jackson, charg-
ing him with sending two obscene
letters.
One of the indictments against Han
son charge him with sending obscene
letters, and the other charges him
with sending libelous postal cards.
Hanson was ,arraigned, and gave his
name as Andrew G. Yorgenson. He
pleaded guilty to both indictments.
ShimbuSky is represented by Attor-
ney It. j. Knox, of Jackson, who de-
sireS to have the case continued, as
he is not ready for the trial.
Arrin w. Freeman, Of Adrian, was
admitted to practice in the court.
The case of John Swenson VS.. VIM.
P. Murray, for damages for alleged
false representation deceit, etc, was
dismissed, having been amicably set
tied, each side to pay it's own costs.
The trial of the personal injury
suit of Geo. Andrews VS.. Chicago &
Northwestern railway company will
be commenced tomorrow.
The trial of Alfred G.. Roberts on
the charge of using the mails to
give information how to obtain OBJ
scene pictures occupied of Wednesday
and will not be completed before to-
morrow. The prosecution introduced
evidence tending to show that
Roberts, who is photographer of
Jackson, had sent out numerous Cir
euIars advertising that for twenty
i've cents he would send set of
dozen photographs, rare, rich and
Facy," representing young couple
before and after marriage. The set
consisted of counting scene, before
marriage, and a broomstick scene, af-
Ter marriage, while the other ten
pictures were such photographs of
actresses as come in cigarette pack
ages. The defense holds that these
pictures are not obscene, and that
as matter of fact the packages were
sell on those who bought them with
5he idea of seeing something i'm
proper.
The state introduced in evidence a
number of photographs and negatives,
disgusting in the extreme by their
lewdnesS and righteousness, which it
claimed an officer had found at Rob
ert's place, on warrant issued by
Eustice Of the peace. The defense
fought the introduction of these pic
lures, holding that it was violation of
sections four and five of the constitu-
tion to take mans private papers to
incriminate him. The state held that
these were the pictures referred to in
the advertisement, while the defense
held that they were Roberts private
property, and not sold by him. Rob-
srts was placed on the stand and testi-
tied that he had secured some of these
pictures from Amsterdam, Holland,
and that Sioux City man named
Moore had brought him the others to
have duplicates made.
Photographers Davis and Blissen-
bach, of this city, testified for the de-
Tense that these pictures could not be
made for less than dollar a dozen.
Mrs. Roberts, and the retoucher,
Miss Babcock, are in the city to tes-
bify that Roberts did not send out
any of the obscene pictures. Miss
Babcock tied up the packages. Mr..
Moore is also expected to testify in
Roberts behalf.