The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-12-07
DUNNING GUILTY.
Jury CODvicts Him of Burglariz-
ing Freight Car.
Geo. Craver Turns States Evidence and
Receives a Light Sentence.-.-Baker
and Mathews Discharged.

The case of Albert Dunnlng, charged
with stealing merchandise from a
Great Western freight Car last sum-
mer, went to the jury Saturday,
and when court convened in the after
noon it returned a verdict of guilty.
Geo. Craver, who was indicted
jointly with Dunning, John Baker and
Joseph Mathews for the offense,
turned states evidence Friday
afternoon and told how Dunning was
the ring leader of the crowd. Dun
ming had broken open the car and
Craver had helped him carry boxes to
the river bank, where they were
broken open.
Dunning went ON the stand in his
own behalf and attempted to shift the
blame upon a man named Berry, who
was with the crowd part of the time.
Baker was called for the defense, but
said that Berry had left an hour before
the burglary. He laid the blame up
on Dunning. Harry Zimmerman was
called for the defense, but gave no
testimony of value
Saturday Zimmerman was re-
called and claimed that Craver had
made admissions to him in the Jail
that he was the chief actor in the
burglary. Zimmerman claimed that
he was afraid to testify to this yester
day for fear that Crayer would get
back at him, and for fear that he him
self might get longer sentence. AL
wine was also called as witness, and
testified that he had heard no such
talk between Zimmerman and the wit
ness The United States prisoner from
Pipestone Wick, gave similar testi-
mony.
The jury was not long in sitting the
evidence.
Geo. Craver was brought into court
Saturday and withdrew his plea
of not guilty and pleaded guilty to the
charge of grand larceny in the second
degree. A. R. Pau Jr. spoke in his
behalf, saying that the defendant had
lived in this community for twenty
years and had never had any serious
trouble before, his reputation being
fairly good He was always industri
GUS and his old job is open for him to
return to it now. His fault lies in his
love for liquor. He had been in Jail
for four months and the attorney asked
that fine be imposed.
County Attorney Hughes also be-
spoke the leniency of the court for
Craver, who had not gone on the wit
ness stand and perjured himself. His
reputation had been fairly good.
Judge Cray spoke of Craver's weak
ness for liquor and advised him to
brace up and live an upright and sober
life hereafter. He imposed fine of
800 or ninety days in Jail The fine
was paid and Craver was discharged.
The case against Baker and Mat
hews, indicted for assisting in burg
larizing the Great Western car, was
dismissed this afternoon, on motion of
County Attorney Hughes. There was
no evidence that they were seriously
involved in the affair.
Zimmerman handed the following
to the Free Press Saturday with
the request that it be published:
County Jail. Dec. 1, 1900.
l, Harry Zimmerman, convicted of
forgery in the second degree, wish to
make the folio wing statement:
dence, said that had not taken NOR
phine for week and he believed l
hadn t, and told on the witness stand
that 1 had told him that I had no
morphine to let him think I was being
fooled, as / feared if he knew had
morphine he would take it away from
me.
1 make this statement SO as there
may not be any mistake about who |
referred to in my statement yesterday.
Yours truly,
HARRY ZIMMERMAN.
P. ST. also wish to state that I
have received nothing but the best of
treatment at the hands of Mr.. and
Mrs Gerlich and also the Misses Ger
Itch have all been very kind to me.
The civil suit of G. NJ Henderson
VS.. the Conyne Mfg Co. was tried by
jury Saturday afternoon, W. N. Plymat
appearing for the plaintiff and A E.
Clark for the defendant Henderson
was agent for the company and claims
breach, of contract. He sues to re-
cover $500, the amount of the COM
missions that he expected to make had
the company not cut him off.