The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-07-15

House block Immediately after dinner.
There was an immense concourse pres
ent. A court was improvised with
S. F. Barney judge, j. A. Willard,
prosecuting attorney, and o. O. Pitcher,
attorney for the defendant. A jury
was chosen composed of the following
persons: Z. X. Bangs, Edward Nicker-
son, n. Woloben, d. S. Law, Abel
Keene, William Funk, A. Tyler, Charles
Wagner A. T. Noble, ]. C. Haupt,
A. Thompson and +. H. Smith. The
session was held in the open air
about where the present county court
house stands. The prisoner was
brought before his tribunal and plead
''not guilty" his statement in brief
was as follows:
"He knew nothing of the killing Of
the Jewetts. He had been taken pris-
oner on the Sioux Coteau by hostile
Indians and compelled to 60 with them.
That they came down and crossed the
Blue Earth river about three miles
above the ford of j. A. Jones on
Monday night MAY u, a party of
sixteen in all, where they camped all
night. At daybreak on Tuesday MAY
p, three Indians started down the
river, five of them went in the direc-
ton of where a mill is being built on
the river, and the remaining seven start
ed in an easterly direction towards the
prairie. That he got away from them
and came down the river to Jones' ford,
which he reached in the afternoon. Be-
fore he ould get across, the seven In
dams, who had gone east towards the
Rapidan prairie, came upon him and
gave him a pair of pants, coat and
pair of shoes, which they compelled
him to put on. 1t was a half breed
named Henry Roy, who gave him the
pants and coat and brother of Standing
Buffalo the shoes. Roy was the only
half breed among them. There were nine
different bands, numbering five to six
teen to each band, all headed for the
Blue Earth river with intent to at
tack Mankato from the rear and to
steal horses. They made him do all
their work and used him badly, and
Tuesday morning was the first oppor-
tunity he had to escape. Had not heard
of the murder until Dodge told him OF
it yesterday. He had enlisted in Com
pany. D, Third Minnesota Infantry, and
afterwards in Company A, Brackett's
battalion, and had served nearly three
years in ALL Admitted he had deserted
from the army and was trying to get
to Traverse DIES Sioux. He knew the
clothing must have been stolen by thu
Indians" ,-H ti-.su ,-s.z *
The prosecution showed the conflict
ing statements Campbell had made
The night before he had not seen al
Indian for over a year, that his nam'
was Belky, and that he was hal
brother of John Pelky of Winnebagt
Agency, that he had clerked for H
NJ. Rice and others at Long Prairie
and many other statements, which
| were false in. every particular. Th'
clothes We're fully identified as belong
ing TO the murdered family. Th
Judge charged the jury directing then
to give the prisoner the benefit o
| every reasonable doubt. The jury thel
retired and in half an hour brough
in a verdict of guilty, with a recon
! mendation that the prisoner be tries
| again at the regular term of the dis
trict court, which would convene il
about two weeks. Mr.. Bangs as fore
nan of the jury made strong pie:
| for the recommendation.
| The crowd had the rope with then
| ready and had waited thus long witt
much impatience. There was, however
a respectable minority, who were il
favor of the recommendation and op
posed to lynching. They tried to hol
the Others in check. But the persona
friends of Mr.. Jewett, and especially
| those who had been out and witnesse
| the horrors of the murder, were furiou
| for immediate vengeance and wit
shouts of chang him. from hundred
of Threats they made rush for tn
prioner and began dragging him to
ward Eastwood tree, which had
convenient limb, and which stood nea
| the southeast corner of the court hOus
square. The friends of law and orde
grabbed the prisoner, also, to tax
him to the Jail. There was viii
tumultous time for ten or fftee
minutes, one party pulling and strue
Cling to get Campbell towards tn
| Jail and the other party draggin
and pushing towards the tree abou
800 feet away. 1t was fierc
struggle between determined men. Guns
lreyolvers and knives were drawn. FO
a time it looked like bloodshel be
tween the two factions. The hang
ing party, being most numerous, wer
finally successful, and seeing that re
sistance was useless the law an
order party desisted for fear of
worse riot A wagon belonging t
George Lamberton of Garden Cit
stood near by This was run undo
the tree, the prisoner hustled int
| it, rope adjusted about his necl
the other end tied to the limb abov
and the wagon pulled away. In the
haste they had forgotten to tie til
culprits hands and he grabbed til
rope above his head and began t
call Justify for a priest. The WACO
was pushed back under the poe
wretch. Father SOmmereisen elbowe