Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1900-01-19
THE mssEIGRAvE CASE.
Some Of the Testimony u tho Hs airing On
4@ the Todd County ~ "
Il Il l5& = Murder Case.

wife. We quote the following from
the Argus account: -"
>"Dr.% B. w. Parrott, county
coroner, was the first witness to
testify. He was called out to the
scene of the accident or murder.
whichever it may b., the following
day after it happened and viewed
the remains of Mrs. Hesselgrave and
found q large cash in her neck, but
discovered no other bruises on the
body. He testified that the cut ex-
tended from just behind the left ear
downward and backward about
four inches and that In the deepest
part was about two inches deep, the
internal jugular vein being severed.
DR.. Parrott inquired at the time
he. was at Mr.. Randalps place about
how the accident occurred and the
defendant told him that he and his
wife were returning home just after
dusk. She was walking at his right
side holding his right hand. He car
rled doubled bitted ak in his left
hand and his mittens in his right
hand-witness was not sure whether
defendant said right hand or left
hand, but the witness following
testified that he was present at the
time and was sure defendant said
they were in his right hand. When
opposite the tree in question he
struck at a limb with the ak In his
left hand. The weapon wbirled and
he lost control Of it. He at once
realized that the ak had struck his
wife at his side when he saw her fall
forward, but did not know the sharp
edge had hit her until after he picked
her up, when he discovered the cut
and knew she was dead, at first sup
posing she was only stunned. He
ran to her father, who lived near by ,
the house standing about 12O rods
from the seen of the accident. and
told him that he had hurt his wife.
Mrs. Purdy was the |, st states
witness. She was the principal wit
ness and the state will attempt to
show by her testimony that the de-
fendant premedita ted the killing of
his wife for the reason that there ex-
listed a great affection between him
and Bert Ia Randall, Il younger sis
ter OF the deceased. Her testimony,
which was expected to be very dam
aging to the defendant pr owed to1be
very light and in no way did she prove
that there was improper intimacy
between the two that being her aim
in her testimony. Witness said she
came from Redwood Falls about a
week after her sisters death and has
been living part of the time at her
fathers place. She testified that at
diff rent times she saw the defendant
and Bertha together and that the
former kissed her several times, but
the family OF Mr.. Randall was pres
ent. She said he came to her house
after Bertha, who was working for
her, when he knew she was away.
At one time according to her testi-
mony, defendant came to her home
when she was absent after Bertha to
take her to her home and that her
little children told her he threatened
to throw them in the we'll il they
told her he had been there. The
Oldest OF the children is not more
than five and this last was ruled
out, as Mrs. Purdy knew nothing OF
the matter.
All through her testimony the wit
ness used every effort to fasten a
blot upon her sisters character. BY
emitting little explanations some
very damaging testimony was fur
nished by this witness, but ON cross
examination these little things were
uncovered and what seemed to be
very bad became all clear. A large
number OF those in the room saw this
and her testimony was of little
value.
Mr.. and Mr.. Randall, parents of
the deceased. att ended the hearing.
but were not called upon to testify!
They firmly believe in the innocence
OF the defendant. Surely, il they had
any suspicious whatever that he
was guilty Of murder they would do
their utmost to have him punished
as he should be.
After the witnesses for the state
had finished their testimony. Mr..
Wood moved that the defendant be
discharged, as no evidence had been
brought to show that he was prob
ably guilty, but the motion was
denied and the defendant was bound
over to await the grand jury. i
We understand that the body will
be unearthed and an inquest held.
Made Young Again.