The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-13

of Minnesota, and matter of justice
and mercy to the two men who had
served tWenty-one years in prison.
President O'Bren made very SEN
satiOnal statement, when he exclaimed
that, if it was in the power of the
prison board the question of a pardon
for the Youngers would not have been
brought before the state pardon board.
He suggested that, if the pardon board
wished to shift the responsibility for
the pardon on the prison board, that
body would assume it.
Judge Start said no one could QueS-
ton the good faith of those seeking
the pardon of the Goung5rs, but the
members of the board of pardons had
sworn to do their duty and they could
not shirk the work. On the judg-
ment and conscience of the members
must the question rest.
President O'Brien explained that he
did not mean for the pardon board TO
shirk any responsibility. What he
meant was that the pardon board
could either commute the sentence or
pardon. If the sentence Of the Young
erS was committed, it would then be
within the power of the prison board
to grant pardon. There should be,
continued MIR. O'BTen with great ear
reStnesS, some way in which the mat
ter could be acted on. 1t can be put
III the IdlluS VI lHe PRISON pooIu Ey
this board, and this is what was re-
ferred to by the shifting of the re-
sponsibility. If this is done and the
sentence committed, then the prison
board can pardon them.
Judge Start interrupted this line
of talk to ask as to the conduct of a
life prisoner named Rose. who had
been committed to the prison twenty
two years ago. Mr. O'Brien said he
70 Xxrit hn
case to answer questions, but Warden
Wolfer would be able to give the de-
sired information.
State Auditor Dunn said he was not
interested one way or the other in the
matter, but he hardly thought the
ends of justice would be subserved
by keeping the men longer in prison.
No public sentiment would, to his
mind, effect the board in arriving at
it's decision, but he desired to say that
there was no division of sentiment
in the matter. He had talked with
hundreds of people, and there was not
one in every ten who opposed the par
don. This was particularly true in the
northern part of the state. He knew
nothing about the southern part of
the state touching the question. He
had gone through a large number IF
state papers and had noticed that but
thirteen of the entire number he had
peTused, were opposed to the granting
of a pardon. He knew Col Emory
Foster, from whom a letter testifying
to the heroic action of Cole Younger
had just been read by Mr.. McCafferty
He had never heard Of the circum-
stances before. but, if Col. Foster had
written the letter, it was true. Mr.
Dunn said he himself was not a softy
or sentimentalist. and, in 1892, had adj
ViSed with the then governor of the state
regarding the hanging Of a prisoner
He considered the pardoning OF the
Youngers would be an act of mercy,
and would rebound to the credit of the
board Of pardons, if it was granted.
j. H. Lloyd, of Faribault, said he
had put in ten days chasing the Young
ers and their companions, after the
raid at Mortified. At one time he
with three other companions, had Wis
tied an unoccupied house near Madelia
in search of the gang. He had walked
around the house, and, without know
ing it, was within three rods of where
the YOungers and Pitts were lying
concealed in plum grove After the
capture he visited the men in jail at
Faribault, and. as soon as Cole Young
er saw him, he told about what trou-
BILE he had in preventing Pitts from
shooting him the day he visited the
vacant house. Mr.. Lloyd said there
was no doubt in his mind that the
Youngers had reformed, and he was
interested in seeing a pardon granted
to them. He filed with the board a
petition signed by a number of resi-
dents of Faribault asking for a pardon.
EX-Sheriff Barton, of Rice county,
who had charge of the Youngers after
their capture and until they were TAX
en- to Saltwater, said he had talked
With more men in the state about the
foungers than probably any other
man: There was very little opposition
to the granting of pardon. In the
town in which he lived there were LOCO
persons, and not twenty-five men or
women in the town were opposed to the
pardon. The YOungers were not in
d1cted for numbering any one, but for
aiding and abetting some man I'M
known in the crime. He had been in
formed that the Swede, who was killed
at Northfield as the gang were riding
away, was not struck by a shot fired
by any of the party, but was hit bv
a ball that glanced from the pavement
or building. At that, he said. if the
doctors had not probed for the bullet.
the Swede would have probably lived,
and it was the probing and the bullet
wound that caused DEATH He had
charge of the Youngers for over two
months and had found them to be
truthful in every thing. When the
party was near Mankato, after the
raid, they came across a farmer who
was used to show them the roads bv
which they could avoid the town.
After the farmer had shown them the
right road, Pitts insisted that he he
shot. claiming that he would certainly
report their whereabouts, and the re.
suit would be their capture. CoI2
Younger had objected to killing the
FARMER, and it was finally left to Bob
Younger to decide what should be done
Bob Younger sided with his brother
Cole, and the farmer was allowed to
go. Sheriff Barton said Cole Younger
had told him this the day following
the capture, and, day or so later
when the farmer visited the iaiI tbo
statement had been verified before tha
man was admitted to see the prisoners
This, Mr. Barton said, had convinced
him that whatever else thew might
nave done, the Youngers were truth
full. Four-fifths of the people of Min
nesota, the ex-sheriff said, were in
favor of pardon being granted This
closed the talking for those favorling
the granting of the pardon, and Gov
Clough announced that those opnosed
to the granting Of a pardon would be
heard.
f. w. Anderson, president Of the st.
Paul National bank, was the first
speaker opposing the pardon. He said
he had not expected to appear in the
matter. but he had received a letter
from gentleman in ST. Louis and for
this reason appeared before the board
He had been in early life a country
banker and had some experience in
bank robberies, having been at st. AL
bans, VT, when gang Of men robbed
the bank in that city 1t was the same
Nnd OF raid as that made by the
Youngers and their COMPANIONS at
Northfield. 1t would be mistake to
allow them freedom, as It would have