The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-08-11

the hillside to the east of North Fifth
street at the corner of Ann street stand
two tombstones engraved with the
names of Alexander Campbell and
George Liscom These stones mark two
graves that have long been forgotten.
Weeds grass and brush grow up to-
qether within the small enclosure, mark
ed off with an old fence, which is itself
in dilapidated condition. the prop
erty surrounding the graves is now no
longer cemetery, but a private COW
yard.
At the present time when so much at
tention is directed to New Ulm, ON ac-
count of the fearful tragedy enacted
there on the night of Nov. |, the sight
of these names on the forgotten tomb
stones suggests a yet bloodier crime
that took place in that town on Christ
mas day of the year, 1866.
The citizens of New Tim and viein-
ity were celebrating that day, and, as
was usual on such occasions, many
drank to excess, and drunken, MALT
crazed men were abundant. About noon
of that day, Alexander Campbell and
George Liscom, of Mankato, lately sol
diers of Company II, Second Minnesota
Infantry, arrived at New Ulm, en- route
for Mankato, on their return from a
trapping expedition in the vicinity OF
Leayenworth, Brown county. They stop
ped at New Ulm, probably with the in
tention of staying until the next morn
ing: and visited Zeihr & Houenstein's
saloon Here they drank several times
and were having a ioviai time of it.
During the interval between the drinks,
it was said, they were initiating Indian
dances, fiourishing their knives and SO
on, but all good naturally and not in
terfering with or molesting other per-
sons. John Spinner drummed for tnem
on the kettle. They again called for
something to drink, and, according to
the report of the barkeeper, on the
supposition that they had not paid, Lis
com was put out of the back door.
There being other parties outside, Camp
bell started to 90 out to him. and Spin
ner took hold of him and tried to pre-
vent him from getting out. During the
scuffle Campbell stabbed him. The knife
entered Spinner's left leg, on the inside
and near the hip joint, severing the
main artery.
Placing his hand on the wound to
stay the flow of blood, Spinner called
to persons nearby to give him some
thing with which to defend himself, and
they gave him an Ratchet. With this
he struck at Liscom, hitting him on the
right side of the face between the nose
and eve, inficting severe and fatal
wound. The blow was repeated and
Hscom was felled to the ground. Then
turning. Spinner made a dash for Camp
bell with the Ratchet, and the bar
keeper said, struck him, but not with
sufficient force to inhict serious injury.
There were other versions of the af-
fair given. One report stated that it
was Liscom who stabbed Spinner.
According to another account the
whole trouble was due to an accident
1t was said that Campbell was cutting
up his Indian antics with Liscom, whom
ne seized by the hair, and brandishing
q knife with the other hand, he cried.
l"l'll nepo YOU" and made a dash i'll
play at Liscom's head with the knife
In bringing the knife back behind him,
he accidentally struck Spinner in the
leg, inflicting the fatal wound that mad
dened the crowd. This is the account
which Captain Holmes best remembers
as having been brought out at the trial,
and the captain is satisfied that this is
nearer the truth than any other story.
Both Liscom and Campbell attempted
to make their escape, but were pursued
and captured by the crowd. Campbell
inquired for the sheriff, and that of
ficer, George Jacobs, being present, the
boys called upon MIN to protect them.
Both were then taken to the iail-Lis-
com supported and assisted along bv
two men-where they were handcuffed
and closely confined.
Soon after they were imprisoned, a
mob of drunken and excited men. about
a hundred and fifty in all, surrounded
the jail broke it open, and took pos
session OF the prisoners. Still hand
cuffed, and one of them Liscom. mortal
~ wounded, they were brought forth.
Instantly they We're surrounded bv an
Infatuated mob with clubs and sticks of
cord wood all bent on avenging the
death of Spinner, VINO bled his life
away, and having the impression at the
same time that the two men were half
breeds. Both had given Indian dances
in the saloon and were Drowned by LONG
exposure to the weather. New Ulm had