The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-12
CT ty II eWs
COUNTY A TTORNEY
HAD ACTIVE YEAR:
OVER 76 PER CENT OF THOSE IN
DIuTED WERE PUNISHED.
Annual Report Of AL j. Smith Makes
One Of the Best showings Ever Made
by Hennepin County Prosecutor
Crusade Against Baby Farmers
Most Brilliant Achievement.

AXkOSD 4AC1AOtG4l40uvs
County Attorney Al J. Smith 8 an
nual report submitted to Attorney Gen.
over IS per cent Of the persons indicted
for crimes in Henhepin county during
the year 1905 have been brought to
punishment. Nearly 20 per cent Of
them have been sentenced to terms in
the penitentiary, many Of them for long
terms, and the remainder have been
sentenced to terms in other penal insti-
tutions or fined.
This is one Of the best showings ever
made by a Hennepin county prosecutor
and it tells Of tireless effort or the part
Of the county attorney and his assist
ants as well as of discretion on the part
Of the years grand juries. Many Of
the cases have been important and have
been strenuously fought, several Of
them have had to be tried more than
once and q number Of them remain on
the calendar and will be tried during
the coming term Of court.
The 'tBaby Farmers
The most effective and spectacular
the so-called Ebaby farmers Never
In the history Of Hennepin county has
there been so successful an effort to rid
Minneapolis Of this variety Of law
breakers as that made by Mr.. Smith,
backed up by the Humane society, the
better class Of physicians and citizens.
The evil has been growing steadily for
years and heretofore efforts to secure
convictions have almost invariably,
proved futile. Last year, thru the ag-
gressive crusade waged by the county
attorney, three men and two women
were yE indicted for abortion. -Four Of
Ida johnson, will probably be given a
second trial this term of court.
:, Drs. Hadsell and Van Damme were
the first to be brought to trial and they
We're both convicted during the April
term Of court and each was given a
long term in the penitentiary. Han
nah Lund was next tried. The first ef-
with his usual pertinacity, Mr.. Smith
brought the case up again during the
4 same term land Mrs. Lund was cons
@ y1et ana sent to ssjoin. her fellow
a | Ida Johnso11's Case.
Mrs. Ida Johnson, alleged to be one
of the most active Of the Hbaby farm
ers, " was indicted, followed to Seattle,
brought back after a hard fight. and
tried last September. The Jury dis
agreed and Mrs. johnson is now await
h Ing another turn.
In each of these cases the woman
operated upon lived and appeared to
/ testify against the defendant. When
it came to. the case against Dr.. Theron
81. Bly, it was different. Hilda Rosen
died as the result Of the defendant g
operation, and the county attorney
faced most difficult case. DR.. BLY,
was tried, during the September term
and the jury disagreed. Under a new
Indictment the defendant was brought
to trial last December and Mr. Smith
won one Of his greatest victories. DIR.
Bly, IS now out on bond awaiting the
result of an appeal to the supreme
court. ~
The Brennan Trial. e FL
The case that probably attracted the
most widespread public interest during
Mrs. Stella Brennan, charged with the
murder OF her three stepchildren and
the attempted murder of Tommy Bren-
man,. The, county attorney made most
exhaustive preparation for this trial
and handled it .masterfully." The trial
lasted two weeks and the jury stood
ten to two for conviction of, murder
in The first degree. The two members
who would not vote to hang the woman
finally succeeded in getting a compro.
mise verdict, and Mrs. Brennan was
convicted of murder in the second de.
gree, and sentenced to the penitentiary
for life. There was talk Of an appeal
but in all probability there wifi be
none. -. .z..... 90, IL. sf s##
John Devine was brought to trial fol
the murder of James Madden, but was
induced to plead guilty to murder in
the second degree and was sentenced
to ten years in the penitentiary. Mich
olas Eckes Of Osseo killed Fred Roma
and, after hard trial, was acquitted on
eolored minstrel, killed Richard Con
I nors, a fellow player, at the Bijou OBJ
\ erahouse. He was tried and also &C
quilted on a plea Of self-defen :
Convictions for Robbery. s
During the year there have beer
seven men indicted for robbery in the
4 first degree. Four of these were con
\ Xicted and were given long peniten
4 tlary terms, two, Of them pleaded guilty
and one was acquitted. The great pre-
ponderance Of cases have been fol
grand larceny in the. second degree
plead guilty to this. charge, four bein,
I convicted and eight acquitted.
In ali, sixty-four persons have plead
ed guilty to various charges, thirty -fv,
B have been convicted and twenty -fv,
acquitted. The report shows grea
many nollles, but these are occasionet
& by the fact that nearly every ma,
charged with crime is indicted on sew
eral counts, and when he. is convicted
the other bills against him are nolled
There have been but five nolles Of case
where convictions could not be secured
I The Years Indictments.
The crimes for which persons hav
been indicted during the past year ar
as follows:
Con- Pleadt
I crime Acquitted vtcted. Guilt
Murder, second ...........
Il - IF i