Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1898-11-10
Tho Linn Case.

The trial 0f Claude Brantnn and Court.
land Green Tor the murder of John Linn,
ut Ishalns corral on the McKlnzie river
on the 10Th day Of last June was con.
cluded at Eugene last week. The trial
furnished number oi sensational fen.
lures, among ttem being the plea Of
guilty, entered by Green, ~ reported IN
our last Issue. On the day following
tireon was placed on the stand as u
witness Tor the state against Branton,
and his testimony, given In brief, was
In effect as follows.
Green and Branton came 10 Cnnd0n
in March 1873. Green worked for Pat
Skolly from March until June. Dnring
this time they planned tbe murder,
Branton first proposing II. They left
Condor with Lam aud the bana of
horses and arrived al lahan's corral on
/ the evening OF June 18th. After supper
Linn went 10 he'd aud was soon asleep
BIanton then shot Linn. and together
they put Ills body on tile fire and put Ia
the rest Of tho night carrying wood and
finishing tho work of cremation. In the
morning they crushed the large bones
which were not entirely consumed and
buried them. Before burning The body
Branton took s75 ~ gold. 40 cents silver.
q Woodman's receipt ard u note for 1900
on Fred Monroe from Linn's packets.
Az Green detailed the tiendish plot
and the horrible scenes Of that awful
night Branton broke down and wept
and raved like madmap, and the scene
Ia reported ~ being sensational 10 the
extreme. AZ $50 a. ~. on "Wednesday,
the state rested, and the defense heRan
their testimony IL O'Clock, Claude
Branton, the defendant. being the first
witness. Branton's testimony wis very
lengthy. He began with recital of his
trip 10 Condor With GIeen last March +;
said that John Linn wanted tp take him
In Rs \ partner III che land aud horse
business, but he refused. Later they
arranged 10 take the horses 20 Crook
county, End Green vent with them,
Green, on several occasione. proposed
that they kill Linn, but when Rfanton
became Indignant ~ such proposition,
Green said he ''was only joking" Al
Sisters. Linn wanted tho parry % settle
and 20 In the horse business and offered
TO give Claude Brauton one.half IN.
tercst. Branton still refused aud told
Linn he Was going 20 the Valley, and
Linn asked 10 accompany him, which
request was granted. The three men
reached the feham corral late on June
18th. After supper Claude went after
water and as he returned and Will,
about 20 feet from the camp, he saw
Green bend over Linn and Dire three
shots. Bfanton called 10 Green, and fell
very sick. Green came to him and
offered him drink Of whiskey frou Z
bottle, but later drank all Of II himsel
and then began 10 play harp. Greer
then placed the body on the fire and
later Branton helped carry wood t0 burr
the body. Next day Green gave Bran
ton 800 which he had taken from Linn
body and Brauton agreed 10 help hin
out.h Green did all the planning hoth
before aud after the murder. An at
tempt was made by the defense to set vi
q plea OF insanity or weak mindedness
but IL failed. Alter able arguments b,
attorneys on both sides the case wa'
given 10 tho jury at 0 80 u. ~. Friday
Nov. 4th, and In inst 46 minutes q yer
diet OF guilty, aa charged" was re
turned. After hearing the verdict Bran
ton was returned TO the hil aud whil
Deputy Sheriff DAY was searching hi
cell I,ranton made a desperate attack OF
him BY jumping upon his back Will
the deputy was in q kneeling position
and attempting 10 secnre his revolver
The timely arrival Of sheriff withera o
the scene prevented another tragedy
as after Branton WAS snblued he sal
that II he had got hold Of the revolve
he would have killed both officers an
tried 10 escape.
Green was sentenced 10 life imprlaof
ment on Monday and report renche
here yesterday that Branlon receive
the death sentence on Tuesday.