The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-12-04
1T HAS sr1UCH BUSINESS TO
TRANSACT.
Two nurder Cases and Numerous
Smaller Offenses to Be Looked Into
-BaIser's Trial Will Come Off Be-
fore Crook s-Trouble Anticipated
in Getting Trial Juries = Half a
Dozen Cases of Alleged Assaults
and Larceny.

The grand jury met Tuesday
and has 'had more business of an i'm
portant nature than usual to look
into. Two charges of murder in the
first degree are to be Investigated,
besides many cases where smaller
offenses are alleged. This work is
likely to keep the jury in session
longer than usual.
The case about which most interest
hangs is that of Louis Balser, who
/ shot his wife on the morning of the
day before election. The details of
this terrible affair are yet fresh in the
public mind. What Balser's defense
will oe has not been given out, but
it will probably be claim that he
was temporarily out of his mind
owing to long period of drinking,
and therefore not entirely responsible
! for his act. The main effort of the
| defense will probably be to saveBalser
from the gallows, if possible. The
! principal interest in the trial will be
| the case made out by the defense.
The grand jury will undoubtedly re-
turn an Indictment charging him
with murder in the first degree, and
| the case will go to trial during the
month 1t will come on before the
other murder case. Balser is looking
much better than when he was first
| placed in Jail, and his appetite is re-
/ turning. He has not asked for liquor.
nor mas any been supplied him. This
shows she good effects OF totak alb
stinance, and how much better his
health would have been had he volun-
tarily given up the use OF liquor long
ago. Balser does not talk of his crime,
and has had no visitors since his son
returned to Mapleton.
Another important criminal case
which will come on for trial at this
term of court is the case of Clarence
Crook, of Amboy, who is charged with
having shot Henry BOrnt on the 9Th
day of last June. Crook is twenty
one years old, rather innocent looking,
comes from a respectable family and
has heretofore borne good reputa-
tion Shortly before the shooting,
some trouble arose between Crook
and Bornt over young lady with
whom Crook was keeping company,
and during the alteration Crook dis
charged the fatal shot. Bornt
| fingered along until the Goth day of
June, when he died shortly after an
operation had been performed upon
him for the purpose of locating the
ball. 1t is not known what defense
Crook will make, but he will probably
claim that the deed was done in self
| defense. The case promises to be
one of much interest. Lorin Cray and
County Attorney Benedict appear for
the state and w. E. Young for, the
defendant. 1t is possible that owing
| to the large amount of work before
the court at the coming term this
case may have to go over to an ad-
| journed term or the May term.
A good deal of trouble is expected
in securing juries to try Balser and
Crook. The regular panel will proba.
| bly, be exhausted long before twelve
competent jurors are secured, and
special venires will be necessary. 1t
| will be difficult to find twelve men
who have not read in the papers of
these cases and formed opinions re-
curing some evidence to remove.
The sheriff will be kept busy securing
the county for men who can pass the
rigid examination which the attorneys
will give.
Frank BradiSh, former clerk at
the Model Clothing and Shoe House,
is bound over on the charge of appro-
priating to himself quantity of dress
goods from the store without au-
thority. His charge is grand larceny
in the sec ond degree.
Prof. A. A. Campbell the Madison
Lake school teacher whose name has
frequently appeared in print during
the last few months, is bound over on
the charge of assault in the second
degree upon Justice Julius Reinsberg,
| of Madison Lake.
Andrew Olson is awaiting the action
of the grand jury on the charge of
indecent assault committed on young
girl in this city early in the summer.
! Thomas r. Owens, Of Judson, will