The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-07-03
THE JURr FIXES PUNISHMENT AT
LIFE IMPRISONMENT. .
Normand Cut h Throtts Of Three
of the Hlllmtead Family. Near
Lnrimore, and Then Ravishcd the
MOther-The Defense Set Up a Plea
of Insanity The Jury Quickly
Decided Upon His Guilt but Dis
agreed Upon the Punishment.

morning. States Attorney Hamilton
outlined the case briefly for the jury.
and Coroner Roosevelt was summoned
as the first witness. He testified us to
the position and condition Of the bodies
of the victims when he examined them
after the murder, in his capacity rs
coroner Searching for the weapon with
which the crime was committed, he
found in the bedroom the handle. and
back of a Swedish knife. Mrs. Hilc-
stad, mother Of the murdered boys, was
then summoned, but was so overcome
with emotion that it was some time be-
fore she could relate the details of that
night Of horror. Many in the court
room We're yisibly affected as she told
Of her search in the dark and finding
the dead bodies of two of her children
reeking in their own lifeblOod, and two
more seriously injured by the same
liend.
Mr.. Hilestad, the father of the boys,
was then called, ard related the story
of the crime, so far us he learned 1t on
his return that day.
Peter and Thomas Hilestad the two
boys who survived the murderer's at
tacks, we're the next witnesses, and
testified as to Normand's actions previ-
GUS to the murder
Charles Thruen, who captured Nor
mand, told the story Of the capture.
Thruen appeared as a regulation "cow
boy" carrying his revolver In his belt,
and attracted considerable attention.
Deputy United States Marshal Nc
Cune testified as to the confession
made by Normand while in custody at
ToWner. After some argument the ccn-
feSsion was ruled out.
The state rested its cas- eat this point,
and T. r. Bangs, the attorney for Nor
mand, then outlined a defense on the
ground of insanity, and stated that he
would show that there had been insan-
ity in Normand's family for two gener-
ations, and that his father had been ill.,
sane for several years before his death.
Normand was then called to testify in
his own behalf. He maintained that he
had probably killed the boys, though he
could not say positively, but was very
positive he had committed nc other
crime charged.
Grand Forks, June 24.-The question
of Normand's sanity occupied the atten-
ton ow witnesses, court and jury near
~ all day yesterday.
r. ]. Hotchkiss Of Granite Falls. Min
nesota, testified that he had always
considered Normand mentally unbal-
apced. His father was addicted to the
drink habit and was not considered re-
sponsible.
DR.. j. d. Tayor was the next witness.
and testified that he had examined
Normand while in Jail in order to de-
termine his mental condition. and be-
lieved him insane. He thought he had
,,D,,;oJc Iorynvnv nF porfoOf conifx- Ha
defined his insanity as a species Of
moral insanity, rendering him incapa-
BILE of distinguishing between right and
wrong. On being recalled, the doctor
testified that failure to express regret
for his act was only evidence Of want
Of realization Of the enormity of his
offense; it might be an evidence Of in
sanity.
Deputy Sheriff Collins, who has had
charge of the prisoner, testified that he
had never heard him express regret for
the crime &.
The defense rested 1t scdse. and the
state called H. p. Ryan, who testified
that on his way here from Towne1 the
prisoner had pointed out the Hilestad
house, theroad he had taken and the
lantern which he had thrown away.
Drs. Wheeler, Eggers, Quarry and
others testified, expressin gthe firm con-
viction that Normand was insane.
The opening argument for the state
was made by George "A. Bangs land T.
r. Bangs then followed with his argu-
ment for the defense. The address was
an eloquent and able effort. At the
close Of his argument the court was adj
iourned until 8 o'clock p. M. when
States Attorney Hamilton closed the
argument for the state. At IL o'clock
Judge Fisk charged the jury.
Grand Forks, N. D.. June 26-The
jury in the Normand case, which has
been out since II o'clock Wednesday
night. returned a verdict of guilty of
the murder of Andrew Hilestad Mt
.4:SO this afternoon, and placed the
penalty at Imprisonment for life. Nor
mand cut the throats of the three
Hilestad boys, a Larinlore, on the
morning of May 1. and crushed an
other boys skull with a hammer, and
then ravished the aged mother, who
submitted In order to save the lives Of
her little daughters. who the brute
threatened to kill If she did not.
The verdict was not unexpected, but
has been the sole topic Of conversation
since. The jury is roundly condemned
for not making the punishment hang
ing. In the county districts the talk
is much stronger and there is talk Of
lynching. On July 10 Normand will
be placed on trial for the murder of
Oscar Hilestad, the other brother. and
1t is believed that the feeling exhibited
over the verdict of yesterday will re-
suit in one for capital punishment.
Cool heads. saved the mar from
hanging at the time he was arrested.