The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-24
!. WHAT TO DO WITH HIM
The Prisoner Too Stupefied o-Indi-
cate His Course. "~" =-z5

The Too Stupehed TO -Indi-
" cate His Course. .~~ = ~
When Norbeck was lodged in the Chas-
ka Jail last evening. the intention at
first was to leave him there under guard
OF Sheriff Johnson and deputies until this
morning, when he was to be brought to
Minneapolis or the 6:35 train on the st.
Louis road.
Anxious to avoid the large crowd which
would be expecting Norbeck's arrival in
the city, AL J! Smith decided that 1t
would be wiser to bring him into the city
by carriage during the might. Sheriff
Dreger and Deputies 10th and Clausen, of
this city, were accordingly instructed to
take Norbeck back to Minneapolis.
While the people of the sleeping vii
lage still supposed Norbeck to be incar-
cerated in the Jail, he was quietly re-
moved from his cell and brought to Min
neapolis in three-seated rig. The start
on the twenty five-mile drive was made
soon after midnight, but it was mot until
a. m. that the party reached the Hen
pepin county Jail and delivered the pris-
oner to Jailer Alexander. The cause of
the slow time was due mostly to the driv-
er's unfamiliarity with the road. He
drove eight miles out of the way and the
horses were so exhausted when Shakopee
was reached that another. team was Sc
cured. Norbeck lapsed into drunken
stupor during the drive and aside from
answering an occasional question in in
coherent monosyllables, he had nothing
to say. -. e.. ~. az s.-.,;, ..-- .. =.
Couldn't Talk to Erwin.
The excitement OF his arrest, which had
partially sobered him when confronted by
the officers at Chaska, had worn off by the
time he was jailed in Minneapolis and he
again yielded to the influence Of the liquor
Of which he has imbibed so freely during
his weeks wanderings. He was so in
toxicate and befuddled when his attor-
neys, w. W. Irwin and H. S. Mead, visited
him in his cell as to be unable to carry
on an intelligent conversation with him.
'.The man is in such wretched state.
of mind and body, and his spirit at pres
emit is 90 broken said Mr.. Erwin, that
we will not attempt to interview him as
to future procedure in his case until he is
sober enough to fully appreciate his situa-
ton. When 1 spoke to him he had no
idea of the time of day and informed me
that he would see me in the morning. AS
it is impossible to consult his wishes in
his present shape, have asked Judge
Harrison to stay proceedings in the case
until the man is fully sobered up. The
court assured me that there would prob
ably be no disposition to move the case
against Norbeck until tomorrow"
plead guilty to the first charge of bribery
on which he was being tried when he dis
appeared, Mr.. Erwin said that his clients
wishes would largely determine the
course to be pursued.
II Norbeck reconsiders his announced
Intentions declaration made while he
was drunk-to "tell ALI and seek judicial
clemency by. turning states evidence, AL
J. Smith will probably move the trial OF
the prisoner on another one Of the in
dictments yet confronting him. It Is the
general conviction in legal and police cir
cles, that Norbeck will make a clean
breast OF everything he knows about the
municipal scandal and in the same breath
beg for mercy. Scarcely q doubt Is ex-
pressed but that he already recognizes the
futility of making any further attempt to
escape by trial 1t is understood that his
attorneys will advise him to plead guilty,
and take his chances OF getting a light or
heavy sentence.