Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-12-22

source, that there has already been an
attempt made to prevent this grand
jury from bringing in indictments. !
don't know how much truth there is in
the charge, but am told that there
are certain persons already interest
ing themselves in keeping others out
of the states prison.. And this has
been done to this grand jury! AL
ready %
"We have come to a pretty pass in
city like Minneapolis, as far ad-
vanced in civilization as she is, il
even the grand jury is not free from
the faint of the corruptors of juries.
II hope that you will have the sand,
have the nerve to investigate the indi-
vidual, no matter who he may be. No
men we're ever invested with a graver
responsibility or greater duty than
you are. Do your duty deliberately
but let your work be sure.
'Excuse me for this earnestness. I
only reflect the sentiment of the COM
munity. If there is no relief in the
grand jury, then the hope of the pub
lie is at an end. We might as we'll
give up and turn everything to the
boodlers.''
But even the police depart
ment is utterly demoralized.
The Journal has the following
as a leader:
"A TIME FOR VIGOROUS ACTION.
At no time within the last eight
years has Minneapolis been the field
Of operation for so many criminals as
it is today. Hold-ups and burglaries
are of almost nightly occurrence.
Saloon robberies are frequent and
murder is the climax of this reign of
lawlessness. The coroner's jury will
decide the cause Of death in the case
of the man found dead in Northeast
Minneapolis yesterday morning, but
there is much to indicate that he was
murdered. The robbery of a farmer
Yesterday by gang of saloon toughs
and the assault upon the defenseless
old man in an unfrequented spot, just
stopped short of murder.
And again:
The result is that Minneapolis is the
Mecca of the "hobO.'
In another place occurs the
following:
A still more shocking state of affairs
is reported in connection with the
police department. 1t is claimed that
fifteen professional thieves came to
the twin cities to reap a harvest at the
Grand Army and Pythian encamp-
mcnts. On their arrival here they met
with the representatives of the police
of Minneapolis and St.
Paul in a notorious place not far
from the corner Of Fourth street and
First avenue south. A pool was to be
arranged of all the pickings, and the
pot was to be divided between the
crooks and the policemen, the latter
not to make any arrests.
This story, deplorable as il may be, is
said to be based on facts. And it is
intimated that the above is simply a
small part Of the ammunition with
which the reformers will pour into the
grand jury.
The city clerk has absconded.
This same clerk was indited be-
fore the grand jury in 1890. But
he was cleared on a technically
before the supreme court and
kept in office. The whole state
Of affairs shows a rottenness and
moral depravity never heard of
before.
Now this state of affairs in
Minneapolis is really a serious
matter to the state at large.
She is the university city, aud
every village and hamlet in the
state has some young people at
tending school there. Last week
a young man from our neighbour
ing town of Grove City, attend
ing school in the twin city, was
murdered for a few paltry dol
lars. Whose boy OF girl is going
to fall next a victim to the
licensed thugs of Minneapolis?