Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-12-05
SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR LIFE.
Phil Sherry Convicted Of tho Murder
Of Floyd Lundoen.

From the Benson Monitor.
On Wednesday afternoon, Judge
Qvale pronounced the sentence that
sends Phil Sherry to Saltwater for
the balance of his natural life. The
jury, after being out only three and a
half hours, returned a verdict of mur-
der In the second degree. Sherry still
maintains that he is innocent, and says
that time will prove that he is being
punished for crime that he did not
commit, Notwithstanding the strong
evidence against him.
The trial of Phil Sherry for the
murder Of Floyd Lundeen at Appleton
In October, was commenced last Mon
day morning. Some time was spent
In securing q jury, Attorneys G. L.
Kane, F. M. Thornton and S. II. Hud-
son serving as triers, and after much
effort the following jury was empanell-
ed: John o. Rost, 1ver T. Svenstad,
F. c. Shellenberger, August Holzhei-
mer, Nels Gunion, Hedley Kerr, J. P.
Johanson, VIM. Hoffman, Thos.
Laughlin. Iver I. Dale, B. D. Banker,
Frank McCauley.
Attorneys G. B. McCune and Geo.
w. Champlin were appointed by the
court to defend Sherry. The history
of the case is known to our readers,
having been outlined in the Monitor
at the time. Lundeen was young
man who had been working near Ap-
pleton. He had finished his term of
service and taking his summers saw
ings expected to go to his home in
Iowa. The afternoon and evening of
Oct. 9th he tpentiin Appleton. About
midnight he started for the Milwaukee
depot. On the way he was met by a
couple OF men who demanded his
money. Refusing to comply, one of
them struck him oyer the head with q
revolver. He started to run and two
shots we're fred. Only one struck him,
but that took effect in the abdominal
region, and caused his death within
q week.
The evidence produced at the trial
by testimony of the different witnesses
tended to show that the murdered man
and the defendant, Sherry, had been
together much of the afternoon. Sherry
did not have an excellent reputation
and while he worked some of the time,
he was oftener out of employment and
disposed to "bum." Appearances indi-
Gated that he and others knew that
Lnndeen had some money, and they
kept him in sight most of the afternoon
and evening. The post mortem state
ment of Lundeen implicated Sherry
and another party. They were brought
before Lundeen and he Unidentified them
as the men who held him up.
Sherry went on the stand in his own
behalf. He denied having met Lun-
deem. Said he did not know him.
Claimed that he was drunk on the
evening in question, but knew enough
TO contradict every statement made by
the states Witnesses.
The evidence was concluded Tues,
day forenoon. County Attorney Olney
began his address Immediately after
the noon recess. He spoke about an
hour and summoned up the evidence
against the prisoner in a convincing
way. He was followed by Mr.. McCune
for the defense, who delivered an ex.
tended plea and made he best showing
possible for the defendant,
The case went to the jury after
careful charge by Judge Quale, and
they went out about O'Clock. At
$50 they announced their readiness to
report, and brought in their verdict,
which found Sherry guilty of murder
in the second degree.