The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-26
GRAND JURY HEARS Nll
EDWARD ERICKSON Is ARRAfGNED
ON THE CHARGE OF KILLING
HIS BROTHER
COUNSEL FOR DEFENSE AWAY
Erickson seedres a Continuance of
Proceedings IN the Police Court
Until This Morning for
That Reason.

Edward Erickson, who was arrested
late Thursday evening on warrant
charging him with the murder of his
brother Martin in the latter's butcher
shop in Decatur street over six years
ago, was taken before Judge Orr in the
municipal court yesterday morning. He
was asked if he had secured the services
of lawyer and said that he had, but
his attorney was compelled to be out of
town on other business.
Judge Orr thereupon continued the
hearing until this morning and the case
was taken before the grand jury, Gus
tave Wall. the eye witness to the crime,
being summoned before that body.
From talk about the case. it appears
that the line of defense will be to dis
credit the statements and testimony of
the chief witness for the state By testi-
mony to show some probability that he is
laboring under a delusion that he has
been nursing SIX years and that his mind
is slightly unbalanced. The alibi of Ed
ward Carlson at the inquest and pre-
limnary hearing will be used again and
great stress viii be laid upon the testi-
mony of the witnesses who testified be
fore as to seeing a man break through
the glass window Of the shop and run
away after the shots were fired.
In order to sustain Wallis testimony,
the state will be compelled to search for
witnesses to testify as to the quarrels
between Martin and Edward Erickson,
the bad feeling toward Martin on &C
count Of his intended marriage and the
threats made by Edward that Martin
would never marry Miss Johnson, nor
would he discharge him from work in
the butcher shop. aE
If the state succeeds in effecting the
capture of Carlson, who went to Sweden
after the murder, its work will be great
ly simplified, for the reason that there
is no testimony to show that Carlson
had any more part in the actual murder
than that of aIwitness, although, from
the character of the testimony, it was
shown that Edward Erickson and Carl
son had been lectured by Martin on the
afternoon preceding the tragedy and that
Edward made threats against his brother
at that time. - II
In discussing the case police official
at the central station said last night:
There IS nothing strange in the ac
tiOns Of Wall in keeping the testimony
to himself. The laws in the continental
countries against aiding or abetting a
felon in any way or IN failing to offer
testimony to the state for the prosecu-
ton of a felon are very severe. If Wall
saw the murder committed, or enough
of it to know what had been done, he
thought of course, the whole thing would
be explained and the guilty man arrested.
When it was not done, he feared to talk
on account of some harm coming to
him from the authorities or friends of
the accused. Every time we have case
in which we are compelled to secure
evidence against a foreigner from friends
| and associates we have the same diff
Guilty. They do not purpose to protect
the guilty, but fear some injury to them
selves. 1t has always been believed by
police officials, who are familiar with
the Erickson case. that Edward was
guilty. I believe now that hard work
| will secure a conviction
GRAND JURY HEARS TT.
The grand jury met yesterday and ex-
amined witnesses in the Erickson murder
| case. GuStave Wall, the accusing wit
ness was called before the grand jury
and testified.
| a middle aged woman, whose name vas
not learned applied at the sheriff's office
| about O'Clock yesterday afternoon and
| asked for a pass to the county jail to see
| Mr.. Erickson. On being told that 1t was
too late in the day for visitors. she said
! Il don't think it is true that Mr.. Erick-
son killed his brother, Mr. Erickson has
! been cur butcher for "a number Of years
and 1 think he is a very nice man.
| think this is just a scheme for some one
| to get some money. -
Mrs. Erickson called to see her husband
| yesterday afternoon Her eyes looked
red and swollen1as If she had been cry
| ing and she appeared to be much dis