The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-10-05
BRUTAL ATTACK
ON AN old MAN
sensational Testimony Brought
Out at Attempted Muir
der Trial
OCCURRED ID IN DAY COUNTY
Aged Man Who Had Sold His Cattle
and Had tho Cash with Him Was
Attacked by Hired Man and
HE Own Daughter.

Webster. s. d.. Oct. 2.-The de-
tails OF the case of attempted MUIR
der for which Charles Alberts. aged IS.
and Mrs. Belle Davis. aged %. have
been held for appearance In the state
circuit court OF Day county, show IL
10 be a OF the most sensational In
the criminal history OF South Dakota.
The aged father OF the woman was the
victim OF the alleged conspiracy.
Aibcrts came 10 South Dakota from
South Boardman. Mich. about the
middle OF last July n secured en-
ployment on the farm OF Albert Bryant.
lear Webster. A Few weeks after the
appearance OF Albcrts Mrs. Davis ar
rived from the same town In Michi-
Fan. She was accompanied by her
little daughter. aged J.
The testimony submitted at tho pre-
urinary examination OF the accused
proved that tbs father of Mrs. Davis.
Albert Bryant, was selected as the VIC
Inn OF the alleged conspiracy and had
furnished his daughter the money for
he trip from Michigan. The UNDER
standing was tnat Mrs. Davis was to
make her home with he father and
aid I'm h work 81 housekeeping.
Pad Large Sum Of Money.
ON the day uf the attempted MUIR
der Mr.. Bryant. who ~ co years OF
age. old cattle To the value of $165
and gave the money to his daughter
TOR safe keeping. Bryant vas engaged
m milking when Alberts entered the
barn. Albcrts waited until the old man
had completed his task. when. after
/ demanding that he surrender the Sl65
10 him. he drew a six-shootcr and
opened FIRE on the old man.
Bryant at the preliminary hearing
testified hat just aS he finished milk
ing he heard a voice say: Kill him!"
This caused him To look around. and
he discovered the forms OF two persons
car at hand. To the Inquiry OF the
old man as To who was there. Aiberts.
with an oath. replied:
It's me. and you give me that money
3r I'll kin you.
/ AS he said the last word he fired. the
bullet striking Bryant In the right
breast and knocking him down. Dry-
ant scrambled TO his feet and Alberts
kept on shooting. The second and
third shots missed Bryant. one OF them
billing the COW which Bryant had been
milking.
The fourth tore n hole through
Bryant's left arm. the mex shot missed
, and the sixth struck the old man In
the right leg near the hip. Albert's
revolver being empty. Bryant staggered
out OF the barn. and. AS he lie 80. he
heard Alberts ask:
F., 'Tf the old man gets TO the house.
Is there anything there he can shoot
with
The old man recognized his daugh-
ter's voice when she replied:
mo I nave taken care OF that
! Bryant learning from this that the
two rifles and the revolver which ne
Kept I'm the house had been hidden.
made his way around the barn. hitched
up n team and drove hastily TO the
town OF Andovcr. where he notified the
authorities or what a happened and
secured medical attention for himself.
4 AssaiIant Then Fled.
After the attempted murder Alberts
fed, but WAS captured at Pierpont.
Since his arrest he has stoutly main
tained that Mrs. Davis was not I'M
plicnted In the least In his attempted
crime and that she had no advance
information OF what he was about 10
do.
i Aibert's defense viii be based upon
the ground that the old man attacked
him I'm the barn when he demanded a
sum OF money which Is alleged 10 be
due him. According to Alberts testi-
mony ut the preliminary hearing. the
old man threw a stool at him, after
which the defendant drew hts revolver
and commenced To o a; Bryant.
He stated he lid not intend TO kill
! him, but only wanted To "wnke him
up." Alberts declared the old man had
previously driven him from the place
because he found Mrs. Davis sitting on
his lap rubbing one OF his arms, which
had been injured.
In striving TO make his escape, Al
berts rode n grey pony. which he sub
s%equently turned loose upon reaching
the outskirts of Pierpont. where he
was found In bed ut "a hotel and mr.
rested. In her testimony Mrs. Davis
stated her father. after her arrival In
South Dakota. had informed her that
he intended leaving all his property TO
her when he died.
After the attempted murder, how
ever, the old man changed hts mind.
for after arriving at Andover and re-
ceiying medical attention he made a
will leaving everything he possessed,
I'm case of his death. to his son.. w. A.
Bryant, OF South Boardman, Mich.
-0As-a~ EGnEa DAN