The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
CROOKS TRIAL.
Continued from fourth page.

Continued from fourth page.
no chance for him, and little later
told that there was chance. He
was prompted during the statement,
and County Attorney Benedict and
Justice Stevens were present and get
ting the statement to use for purpose.
Bornt speaks of being hit by the three
shots tired in the barn. There are
some discrepancies in the accounts of
the states witnesses. The slant of
the wound shows that Bornt was
standing up when the first shot was
fired, which Bornu said was the one
that hit him, This is corrobOrated by
Mr.. SIMPSONS account of BOrnt'S
statement half an hour after the
shooting, as we'll as by Crooks state
men,. Upon what movement Bornt
3 made at this moment depends
whether there shall he hanging in
this county or an acquittal. The evil
dencr regarding a fourth shot has the
appearance of having been talked
over in some attorneys office. Frank
Latin found two loaded shells and
three empty ones in the revolver
This shows that the witnesses who
said that a fourth shot was fired
were mistaken in the excitement of
the moment. Jesse Decker said that
he heard no fourth shot fired, and
Henry Bornt said that it was fired
after Crook got into the buggy. The
state has not attempted to show where
the fourth empty shell went to-.
The circumstances which seem to
exist are those that justify man in
the means which he takes for self de-
Tense, not the actual circumstances.
If he has right To defend himself
he has right to defend himself effec-
tually. Crook knew of no other exit
than the open StanchiOn, and Bornt
was between him and this exit. Bornt
rose up and placed his hand behind
his back as though to draw a revol-
yer. Crook says that Bornt said, "Tll
kill you" Crook had right to act on
the moment. Bornt went out and
shot one night in the air because
some people driving by annoyed
him by making noise or sing
ing. He made a pet offs his revolt
yer. He had his fathers
shot gun and old horse pistol in his
bedroom, which was sort of arsenel.
He sometimes carried his revolver, as
he had right to do, and this fact was
sufficient to warrant the belief to
Crook that he might have it there in
the barn.
When young man of Crooks age is
engaged to young girl he is engaged
body and soul, and the marriage
bond was not more close. If Bcrnt
was talking about their Fairmont
trip or anything else, Crook had a
right to ask him what he was doing it
for. When Bornt made his ante
norton statement he denied that he
had made threats against Crook. He
had not been accused of it, and why
did he say this unless his conscience
or the county attorney suggested it?
Bornt said that he didn't want his
niece to disgrace the family. She is
one of the most upright and circum-
spect young ladies in the community.
[ have no fear that the jury will
find any verdict greater than man.
slaughter. l believe that it was a
case of self defense, and if he had a
right to be at Bornt's place he
ought not to be convicted. The state
wants hanging in Blue Earth county
because, as it suggested, something
must be DONE"
1t wants you to visit on this man
punishment for the crimes of the
people. You must find the defendant
guilty beyond reasonable doubt. If
there is ever an important concern in
mans life it is when his life or liberty
is at stake. If there is reasonable
doubt you should hesitate. Man
slaughter in the first degree is killing
human being with a dangerous
weapon in the heat of passion.
l ask you, gentlemen of the jury, in
behalf of the brothers and sister and
aged mother of this boy, to consider
this case as you never considered a
case before. This is not an age when
an eye is taken for an eye, and tooth
for tooth. You can pity the Borntfs
but you cannot bring back Henry G..
Bornt by hanging Clarence Crook or
by sending him to states prison for
life. You should hesitate before con-
filming Crook to prison for life. If l
had my choice between states prison