The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
NUMBER SO

WnaU wanted TO gOIOr, ana l'LOlu uim
l wanted to see Mr.. Bornt. He wait
ed until after he chad had supper.
While he was eating l went up town,
but got back before he did. We drove
out with pair of ponies. Bornt's
place is mile nearly south of AmbOy.
When we got to 8ornt's we saw Henry
going into the barn. The road runs
between the house and barn. We
drove up to the barn, l got out of the
buggy and went into the barn. Saw
Henry milking in the west side Of the
barn and went, there. L knew
Henry G.. Bornt year and half; and
had known Fora Bornt about the
same length of time. Two years ago
this winter worked at Bornt's, and
had been there since. Henry had
showed me his revolver, and spoke of
his being good marksman, though
not in Dragging way. When l got
into the west side of the barn, saw
Henry Bornt milking COW to the
right of the row of stanchions. /
went and stood behind his COW, and
he was between me and the place
where | went in. Did not see any
other door open except the stanchion
where l went in. We passed the
time of day, and he asked whether J.
plowed corn all day in the rain, and l
said no. A few good natured words
passed, and l said Henry, l don't
see why you talk this way. | have
always treated you with respect. l
have respect for Miss Smith or /
wouldn't go with her." L spoke of
his enquiring about us of the janitor,
and he said he had not enquired of
the janitOr more than of anyone else.
l said he had, and he said that if
that was what | had come for there
was the door and for me to go out.
He said that Miss Smith was the big
gest liar in the state. l said "Hold
on, if there has been any lying done
it lies at your feet" He jumped up
mad and said 'I'll kill you" He
placed one hand to his pocket as
though to draw revolver, and fired
three shots at him very quickly. He
threw milk pail at me. went out
then. l looked around for some
place to get out, and faced Hiram
Borpt, who came from a southerly
direction in the barn. We went out,
don't know which first. Did not
see the old gentleman again until he
struck my shoulder with,a pitchfork.
1 was carrying my revolver IN my
hand in front of me. After going out
of the barn l did not fire a fourth
shot. After was struck by the old
gentleman, 1 did not turn on him,
but jumped into the buggy, told
Decker to drive on, and we drove
back to town. After returned from
Bornt's, l told Messrs. Tackles and
Granger of what l had done. Went
to drug store and put plaster on
my shoulder. After walking around
some 1 met Miss Smith and told her
what had done. Was arrested dur
ing the evening at the livery barn.
Walked around town the next day. /
gave Mr.. Latin the revolver
the night 1 was arrested. A
day or two before the shooting shot
once in the Office of the livery barn
with Clarence Cornell's revolver.
Jess Decker was there at the time
Don't remember telling Mr.. Latin
about the shot fred in the Office.
Don't know whether this is the
piece of timber that 1 fired into
On cross examination, the witness
said that Mr.. Bornt's house is about
forty rods from the railroad track
running from Amboy to Winnebago
City. Mr.. McLean's house is quar-
ter of a mile south of Mr.. Bornt's and
fifteen rods from the railroad track.
When l started to return to Nc
Leans on the forenoon of June Sth,
took the railroad track. Saw Gertie
Smith Sunday forenoon picking
flowers in front of her house. l left
the railroad track to pass the house,
had short talk with her, and went
on, and saw her again at church
about noon. Went to church again in
the evening, going withnM Miss Smith.
When l spoke to John Decker, in
tended that he should take me on to
McLean's. Do not remember saying
anything about this to Jesse Decker.
Winnebago City is eight miles south
of Amboy. Took .Cornell's revolver
from his coat pocket, hanging in the
barber shop. When 1 was talking in
the street with MissSmith and Nellie
Kilmer, the janitor approached but
turned across the street and I left
the girls to 60 to him. Don't know
the janitor's name. This was about
800 p. m. Monday, June Sth. Gertie
and l went by train to Winnebago
City and Fairmont and back the same
way. We remained at Winnebago
City the night of June 1st and took
the smorninp train for Eairmont