The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-13
MURDER TRIALS
ARE PROTRACTED
Alleged SIayers of North Da-
kOta Man Are Punished
One by One.

Special to The Globe.
ASHLEY, N D., April ia special
term of the district court convened at
Glendale today. The principal case to be
tried is that of Gottleb Schaffer on a
charge of murder in the second degree.
Schaffer and four others were charged
with the killing of Christ Rott in a blind
pig here in February, 1903 Rott, who
was at one time blindpigger in Kuhn,
came to Ashley Saturday Feb. IA, 1903,
to do some collecting for a Kuhn mer-
2 chant. He transacted business with
Schaner and others that afternoon and
In the evening took room at the Cooper
hotel. Early the next morning he left the
hotel and did not return during the day.
1t subsequently developed that he spent
his time Sunday and Sunday afternoon in
a little stone building occupied by Mrs.
Winter.
In the evening Schaffer John Nagel,
Peter Riedlinger, Friedrich Bensinger,
Andreas SchlabsZ and printer named
Leopold Grieninger were in the place
drinking and singing. Finally a quarrel
arose and a fight began. The drinking
and lighting continued, it seems, for three
or four hours. Grieninger and Mrs. Win
ter, who are the principal witnesses for
the state, claim that Schaffer, SchlabSZ,
Rledllnger, BenSinger and Nagel set upon
Rott and pounded him with beer bottles
and glasses. I ey witnessed the whole
affair, but gave no alarm and summoned
no aid. About , o'clock Rott was taken
to the hotel by Schlabsz. He washed the
blood on his face and attempted to go
upstairs to his room, but fell to the floor
while passing through the hallway. 1t
being supposed that he was intoxicated
nothing was done besides tying a bandage
about his head and wrapping his coat
around him.
Discovery Made Too Late.
In the morning it was discovered that
the man was dead. At that time there
was no states attorney in Mcintosh coun-
~ and a. w. Clyde, former states attor-
ney, acted Tor the state at the coroner's
inquest. The post norton examination
revealed several bruises about Rott's head
and body The skull was fractured
issued for the arrest of GOttlieb Schaffer,
John Nagel Peter Riedlinger, Andreas
SchlabSz and Friedrich Bensinger. The
county commissioners offered Mr.. CLYDE
the appointment as states attorney.
Inc preliminary examination took place
before Justice of the Peace Larimer. The
court and Grieninger and Mrs Winter
neSSeS.
In April a grand jury returned indict-
ments charging the men with murder in
the second degree. The case was then
transferred to Dickey county for trial.
trials.
In July, at Glendale. the trials began.
The case against Nagel was the first. He
admitted striking Rott with a beer bottle
but claimed that he did it in self de-
Tense as Rott was attacking him with a
knife; He was found guilty of man
slaughter In the second degree and SEN
fenced to years imprisonment in the
penltentlaTy. Judge Lander presided at
this trial Judge KneeshaW next pre-
sided at the trial Of Bensinger, who was
freed. The other cases were then con-
tmued until the fall term. On the first
day of the November term Mr. Clyde
asked that the murder cases be not called
until the latter part of the week, when
ms assistant, Mr.. Engerud, of Fargo
deputy United States district attorney
could be present. He also filed affidavits
Of prejudice against Judge Lander In
some civil cases.
New States Attorney.
An order was then issued by Judge
Lander dismissing Mr.. Clyde and 8p-
pointing James Austin, of Glendale,
murder cases. Andreas SchlabsZ was
next tried, convicted and sentenced to
five years Imprisonment. The verdict
was manSlaughter in the first degree
The remaining defendants, Riedlinger
and Schaffer filed affidavits of preju-
dice against Judge Lander. Judge Fisk,
Of Grand Forks, presided at the trial Of
Riedlinger, who was convicted of man
slaughter in the second degree and sen
fenced to one years imprisonment Court
was then adjourned until March l. 1904
Riedlnger was given his liberty on his
old bond until that day, with leave to
file motion for a new trial. Court was
later adjourned until today
About forty witnesses have been sub
poenaed by the state, and determined
effort will be made to prove that Schaffer
instigated the affair and that he sent a
messenger out into the country to sum-
mon SchlabSZ and others to Join in Civ
Ing Rott a pounding. Efforts have been
made to show that Rott had had trouble
with several of the men and that thew
took advantage of an opportunity to get
even with him.