The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-29


From Tuesdays Daliv.
The case against Anthony Schmidt
and Earl Leonard was disposed of
on Wednesday last when the two
boys appeared before Judge l.. s.
Nelson and entered a plea Of guilty
to the charge of having carnally
known and abused, fourteen-year old
Leila Wagner of this city on Novem
Der 81, 1911, says The Worthington
Globe. After the pleading and inves-
tigating of the case, Judge Nelson
sentenced each Of the young men to
the reformatory at Redwing, on the
indeterminate sentence plan, but sus-
pended the sentence and released
them in charge of County Attorney
Jones.
Case of Leonard Called.
When the case of the State of
Minnesota against Earl Leonard and
Anthony Schmidt was called on
Wednesday morning, the two boys
appeared in court in charge of Sher-
If Fauskee. Both were in excel
lent health, showing no ill-effects as
a result of their short confinement
in the county bastile. Earl Leonard,
whose case was first called, was
without counsel, and Judge Nelson,
upon learning that he had no means
with which to engage an attorney,
appointed S. S. Smith to look after
his interest. The examination of
Leonard brought out the fact that
he was eighteen years Of age. His
home is at Hinckley, Mimi, at which
place his father, w. w. Leonard, re-
sides. Leonard came to Worthing-
ton about seven months ago and up
to the time OF his arrest was EN-.
ployed in the Omaha freight house
here
Attorney Spoke for Him.
! Attorney s.. S. Smith, in behalf of
Leonard, spoke at some length in
the young mans behalf, dwelling
upon the previous good character
and youthful age of his client. He
closed his address with an appeal
to the judge to be lenient and give
the young man an opportunity to
| live down the disgrace which his
mistake had brought upon him, and
become a useful member of society.
Anthony Schmidt, who is two
years older than Leonard, was born
in Mankato. His aged mother still
resides in that city and is among
the best known and most respect
able residents there. His father
died when he was {. mere boy and
for the past few years he has been
earning his own way in the world.
He is a shoemaker by trade, and
at the time of his arrest was con-
Quoting shop in this city. Schmidt's
past record was free from any seri-
Gus blemishes.
| ,Regan as Counsel.
John E. Regain of Mankato ap.
peared as counsel for Schmidt. In
his address in behalf of his client,
Mr.. Regain called the attention of
the court to the fact that Schmidt
had never had any real opportunities
in life, being deprived of the pro-
! lection and counsel of father,
which are SO essential in the making
of good citizens of the growing gen
Grafton. Mr.. Regain brought out the
fact that nothing was to be gained
by sending the youthful offenders to
prison for long term, and forever
stamping them with the badge OF
criminality He drew a most vivid
picture of the aged mother, bowed
by the sorrow and disgrace that her
sons wrong-doing had brought upon
her, and concluded with strong
plea that the youthful offenders be
given an opportunity to retrieve the
past and profit by past failure.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge
Nelson stated that the object of the
! law was not only to protect society
but to endeavor to make law-abiding
citizens of those who violate it's pre-
cepts. That this could be best &C.