The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-01-08

der as Baiser did should have pun
ishment meted out to him, as he was
in his condition voluntarily. Murder
in the seconddegree may be horrible
affair. The degree of murder is not
dictated by the awfulnesS of the
crime. We read Of fanatics burying
the knife in the hearts of their off
spring, but we say it is not crime be-
fore the law. The man who commits
crime with the greatest criminal in
tent is the one whom the law
says hasScommitted it in the highest
degree. The fact itself cannot Of it,
self show generalization. Murder in
the first degree is often done with
such skill that we hardly realize its
horror. Such case as. Holmes and
Hayward is murder in the first de-
gree. Wherein does Balser's case
resemble these? What preparation
had he made to shield himself? There
was not time when he could not
have found more opportune way
of killing his wife. 1t was done open
~, before people, and without preme-
dtation. Make nc mistake, but if you
do make it on the side Of mercy.
A man never regrets making mis-
take on the side of mercy. The state
claims nothing but blood, but you
have the right to deny it and to deal
this man exact justice. No man can
ever bring you to task for this, or dare
lift his voice against you. Let me see
the man who wants to see man
strangled on gallows by yonder
beautiful building, and | will point
you man who would not be above
doing the crime himself, and one who
has no mercy,in his makeup. l am
here without expecting reward, but
because | believe what [ say.
Back in the dark ages the gallows
was erected on almost every moor.
Human life was cheap, They may tell
you that they want an example, but
the foot of the gallows was then the
nest of thieves. Is there a man in
our midst who dare say that he
would be better for this human sacri-
fee? If so, he had better depart.
Would the deceased care to have her
childrens' father die on the galloWs?
God created this man. The breath of
life that is in US came from His hand.
He. in His own good time, will call
us all to judgment. Is it not an aw
full thing for us to take it in our
hands to say when fellow man shall
be ushered before his Judgment? l
am not asking much for this man. We
prize our freedom, and the sunshine
of liberty is dear to every heart. ask
but the poor pittance that he may
spend the remainder of his days with
in prison walls, where he may reside
in sack cloth and ashes until called to
receive his final judgment.
The last words that can be said in
the defendants favor must be said
now. l want you to scrutinize the
evidence given at the coroner's in
quest, Read where Ora Steinbach
testified that Balser fired without
aim, showing that it was not done
with elaboration. The shot was fred
without aim.
would not cast reflections upon
the dead, or rake up family skeletons,
but where crime is committed there
are sometimes reasons which never
come to the surface. The letter
written by the deceased to Anna
Schroeder reads most peculiarly. 1t
has been intimated that jealousy was
feature of the case, but am forbid
den by the defendant to enter into
this, and he would rather go to his
doom than have this matter brought
up. Why should wife refuse to
show her husband letter mere
ly asking for dress to be
completed? Anna Schroeder testified
that the dress was already completed
and delivered. If this missive had
been shown to the husband it would
have smoothed the troubled waters,
and you might not have been here to-
day to sit in judgment over this man.
Unless he was intoxicated, how could
this letter have aroused such
passions?