The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-21
Sensational Developments in The Mel
sons Case at 0Watonna.
Number Of kffidavits From States
Witnesses Are Procured.
Sutton Now Says That He Swore
Falsely on the Stand.
Claims He Was Frightened Into Doing
So BY Mallinger.
From Fridays Daily.

Owatonna, Mimi, Aug. l4.-Some most
sensational developments have been
brought to light this week in regard to
the Krier murder case. Several affidavits
bearing on the case have been secured by
the attorneys for the defense, and they
now feel certain of securing new trial
for their clients. The date of argument
for the new trial has been set for Aug.
90
Anna Slinsog, in her affidavit, says
that the testimony given by her at the
thial of the Nelson's was false, and she
claims that she was led to make false
statements because of threats and intim-
idations made by eX-Marshal Adolph
Mallinger. She now says that she knew
nothing of the murder until the day fol-
lowing the crime, and even then she did
not know that the murdered man was
Harry Krier. On Wednesday 1.-TWO days
after the murder) she learned that
Charles and Henry Nelson were under
arrest, and supposed it was because OF
their improper relations with her and
the Jasperson girl. She absolutely de-
MES the story about going out to the
scene of the murder at night, or at any
other time, except when taken there
by Mallinger She also says that
Charles Nelson never told her that they
had killed man. as she testified. She
did not realize that the boys would be
convicted on her testimony, and only
made such statements because of her
fear that Mallinger would have her sent
to the reformatory, and she is now filled
with deep remorse when she considers
the awful sin she has committed.
Senator Lord of Dodge county makes
affidavit as follows: That he. on the
18th of July, went to the state prison, at
Saltwater, and there had conversation
with William A. Sutton, who at the trial
confessed to the murder of Krier, and
that in the presence of Warden Wolfer,
Sutton said, in substance, that he had
testified falsely on the stand when he
said the Nelson's went to their fathers
home about six o'clock on the day of the
murder 1.-THE murder was committed be-
tween four and five o'clock and that the
truth of the matter was that they went
home about four o'clock. Sutton also
said he had perjured himself in regard
to giving one, Guy Wentworth, SIS, and
spending a like amount in a st. Paul
, sporting goods establishment, and that
| the only money he had that day was 10
cents, which his father had given him.
Sutton claimed that Detective Brown
and other people, whose names he does
not recall, frightened him into testifying
as he did on the stand, and that he had
| been promised lenient treatment and
other like rewards. Senator Lord also
saws that on July "A he had another con-
versation with Sutton, iii the presence OF
the warden and Attorney H. E. Leech.
At this time said the stories told by
the Nelson's on the witness stand were
true. When asked to make affidavit to
this effect, Sutton refused, saying he
wished first to consult with his attorney.
| Arthur and Orlando Lindesmith swear
that they are the two boys whom the
engineer of the train waived at, and that
| they were on their way home and saw
the body of man lying in the ditch,
but supposed it was a drunken man.
They saw no one else on or near the hill,
and they could see plainly in all direc-
tions.
| Jonah Austin makes affidavit that on
| Une Gay d1Cer IHe IlulueT lie WeHI HOluc
and told his wife about it in the pres
ence of Christina Jasperson, the latter
seemed very much surprised at the news
| and declared she did not believe it. He
also says that the Jasperson girl came
home about midnight on the night of the
murder and said she had been to the
show.
Henry Reynolds, clerk of court at Wa
SEGA, swears that the Jasperson girl, who
was employed as domestic in his house
hold told him that she did not 90 to the
scene of the crime, as she had testified,
and that neither of the Nelson's ever told
her anything about any murder.
Several other minor affidavits have
been made, some of them relating to the
''mysterious stranger" so often introduce
ed by the defense at the trial of the Mel
sons.
The state will probably introduce
counter affidavits, and there is evidently
to be broadside of these before the case
is concluded.
4 story was sent out from Owatonna