The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1899-11-22
SENTENCE
Lester Rollins Found GuiItu
and Gets 10 Years,
6 Months.
Proceedings Stayed Until
Jan. 30th--SlO,000
Bail Asked.

Lester Rollins. indicted for earn
ally knowing and abusing Mathilda
Harris, a child under the age of 13
years. at Sanborn, on the evening of
June 9th last, was found guilty of
the crime at about two clock last
Monday, after trial lasting four
days The case was given to the
jury at 11:45 Monday and after the
Jurors had dinner they were but a
few minutes in bringing in the ver-
dict.
The verdict fell upon Lester
Rollins, who was sitting by the table
alone, like an unexpected thunder
clap. The flush of his face disap-
peared and deathly pallor took it's
place. The 20 minutes following
were used by the court in preparing
the sentence, and Rollins regained
his composure, while an unusual
stiffness ruled in the death room.
Then Rollins was sworn and in re-
sponse to the usual questions said
that he had never learned a trade,
that he was % years old, and that
he had once before plead guilty to a
criminal charge, referring to the as
sault on Hal Wing a year or more
ago. Rollins shook his head in the
negative when asked whether he
had anything to say why sentence
should not be passed upon him at
that time, and then in the usual form
Judge Webber sentenced him to ten
years and six months at hard labor
in the Saltwater penitentiary.
Attorney Olsen asked for stay of
proceedings, pending an appeal, and
Judge Webber granted the same un-
til the special term of court on Jan.
Both next, Rollins to furnish SO, 900
bail, or remain in jail until that time.
The bail will probably not be furn-
ished and Lester will have to remain
in Jail.
The case was called for trial last
Wednesday with Senator Somerville
of Solnerville & Olsen of Sleepy
Eye and George T. Olsen of Spring
field, the first attorney employed in
the case, acting as counsel for the
defense, and Frank Clague repre-
senting the State. The examination
of the regular panel of jurors con-
tinued nearly all of Wednesday, and
resulted in the securing of four or
five jurors only. About 3 or 4
O'Clock Judge Webber issued an
order for special venire of 35,
returnable at nine o'clock Thursday
morning, and by eleven o'clock
Thursday the full dozen men to try
the case had been sworn in.
Matilda Harris, the prosecuting
witness, aged IA years, but 13 years
at the time the crime was said to
have been committed, was placed on
the witness stand, and remained
there nearly all the afternoon, stand
ing cross examination that sur
prised Mr.. Somerville, who was
simply unable to break down the
important points of her story, which
was to the effect that Rollins had
carnally abused her at about eight
clock on the evening of June 9th,
in the house of Mr.. E. S. Bcaman,
at Sanborn, after Mr.. and Mrs. Bea-
man had gone to the Northwestern
depot, where Ed. finished his work
for the evening and also listened to
the prize fight bulletins later. Mrs.
Beaman S three year old son was
the only person present at the time
of the alleged abuse. A sister of
Matilda Harris was called, and told
of Matilda leaving the Beaman house
that night, after the alleged abuse,
and telling her what had happened.
Witnesses, Mrs. Harris being among
them, told of the bruises on Matil-