The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1899-05-10
HANSON IS GUILTY.
A Star Witness For the State
Causes Some Merriment.

the second degree, was on trial all
o. Thursday and resulted in 4 YER
! dict of guilty.
Hanson was in Sampson IS saloon
in Walnut Grove at the time the
crime took place. One Axel Engen
residing south of Walnut Grove
came into town that day, with about
ST. on his person, two ten dollar
bills and one silver dollar. Engen
went into the saloon in the morning
and drank considerable Later he
went out and bought a hat, and re-
turned about one O'Clock. It was
then that he met Hanson. whom he
had not seen before, and Engen paid
for the drinks, amounting to %
cents. Engen handed out a $40 for
the purpose, and the bar tender re-
turned him a S. DILL, four silver
dollars, half and a quarter. En-
gen wrapped the IS bill with the re-
naming SO bill, folded it carefully
and placed it in very small pocket
book, with the silver, the whole of
which he placed in a tobacco sack.
Being thoroughly intoxicated he
went over to a corner of the saloon
and sat down. and with his head
| resting on his hands he went to
sleep.
Hanson had observed .Engen' S
money and condition, and after
Engen had fallen asleep went over
and took a seat beside him. He
was observed, by two or three wit
nesses, to reach over, as if attempt
ing to get something out Of the
sleeping mans pockets. 'Then he
awoke Engen, got another drink in
to him, and after Engen fell asleep
again he went out. No sooner had
Hanson disappeared than the people
in the saloon commenced talking
about the matter. Engen was awak-
ened by the bar tender and lis
money was found missing The bar
tender went out and found Hanson
in barn and demanded the money.
which Hanson declared he had not.
The bar tender returned to the
saloon and Hanson started on a run
for moving freight. Marshal
Schmitt and Constable VanCise had
been apprised and they got the coz
ductor to stop the train and put
Hanson off, and after some time and
trouble Hanson, who is giant in
strength, was placed under arrest.
He was searched. and the money
and tobacco sack was found on his
person, but the small pocket book
was missing.
The bar tender, who made good
witness for the State, caused con-
siderable of merriment when Mr.
c ague for the State, and Attorney
Harriott, for the defense, had him
show how Hanson worked on Engen
to get the money. Engen was given
a seat on side of the witness. as
sumed the position occupied in the
rear of the saloon. and then the bar
tender reached over for the purse.
out of the pants pocket. He got his
hand over to the pocket and said so.
eyes, but get the money. remarked
Mr. Harriott. Here it is re-
marked the bar tender. handing it
over to the attorney. amid an out
burst of laughter on the part Of the
Court, jury and spectators
The case went to the jury at five
o clock. and at one time the jury
stood s to 4 for acquittal. But the
sentiment for conviction seemed to
grow during the night, and early
Friday morning the jury stood II to
l for conviction. At $50 o'clock
that morning the jurors arose from
a sleep on the hardwood floor and
took a ballot. This was a final
ballot, all being for guilty.
Hanson was sentenced at the open
ing of court that morning He gave
his age at 30, said that be was only
a common laborer. had never learned
a trade, and in reply to the question
whether he had anything to say
why sentence should not be passed
upon him said: Cali that l have to
say is, am not guilty-that is all I
have to say" Judge Webber then
sentenced him to two years at hard
labor in Saltwater.