The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-09-14
Or That He Offered
Money for Their Re
turn to Clear Him
THEY WON'T STOP
Quinns Declare They Will
Push the Case and Will
Get Plotner

To a group of newspaper this
morning l.. w. Plotner responded to
some queries concerning the letters
that he is alleged by the Quinn fam
lily to have written to a party i'm
Sioux City With the idea OF arrang-
ing for the doing away of Peter
Quinn. One letter written on the
letter head of the former sheriff
gives the details as to the manner
of putting Quinn of the way. by
enticing him to Sioux City, arrang-
ing a game OF cards. and then to
strike the blow and where to hit
him. The carbolic acid was to be
used to smear over the lips OF Quinn
to allay all possible suspicion OF muir
der. Plotner declared that there
was absolutely nothing to the let
ter writing. and that he had moth
ing to do With them. His first two
initials We're signed to the letter. He
-
declared it was an easy matter for
some II to get a letterhead from
his office, which always stood open.
He also declares as false that the
him in which he made a proposition
to pay a sun Of money for letters
which they have in their possession,
and that whatever letters they have
are not detrimental to him. He ad-
mits of having written some love let
tiers to Mrs. Quinn, and that he went
Quinns concerning these, but the
others he knows nothing of.
Mr., Quinn and Mrs. johnson are
relentless in their pushing of the
case against Plotner. and Mrs.
johnson is just as bitter today as
she was at the time of the death of
her brother, when she called Plot
ner up over the phone, and accused
him of killing Peter Quinn and de-
claring that she would get him if
she had to follow him to the day of
his death.
Claims to Have Evidence.
The Quinn family maintains that
they are in possession of the evil
dence which shows that Peter Quinn
entered the house the day that he
died, and that his death was due to
work of Plotner, and adding this to
the letters which they have in their
possession believe they have a strong
enough case for the county to take
up. They assert that Peter Quinn
was struck in his own house by Plot
ner M that Immediately after he
staggered out doors; that the little
son said that his father did
not drink the medicine and that he
mad been hit.
Will Spend Every Dollar.
Mrs. Johnson states that they have
the governor of Minnesota behind
them in their efforts to secure an in
dictment of Plotner, and that fail
ing to interest the states attorney,
they will endeavor to secure Judge
Smith to call a grand jury to listen
to their side of the case. Their last
resort will be to secure the assist
ance Of Governor Robert Vesesy to
start things toward a prosecution.
Mrs. Johnson asserts that they would
spend every dollar they have to push
the prosecution, but she believes if
a sufficiently strong case is produced
before the grand jury, that this coun-
ty should then bear the burden of
expense.
Sheehce Rciteratcs Statement.
The only witness to the suicide of
Peter Quinn two years ago was Ow-
en- Sheehee, who attends to the cross
ing of the Milwaukee road on San
born street. In conversation with
Mr.. Sheehee late yesterday after
noon he said that he saw every o
ment made by Quinn on that day
and that he vas not out Of sight for
one moment. Mr.. Sheehee told. how
Quinn walked over the crossing and
descended into the low patch of
ground, through the %cornfield, and
after going through that he took
from his pocket a bottle, pouring the
contents in a glass and drinking it.
He saw him walk a little further.
greet his little son. pick him up in
his arms, kiss him and then place
him on the ground. The little boy
back into the house, and then
Quinn dropped to the ground. Mr..
Sheehee, in company with Harry
Stuckey, a brakeman. went over to
where Quinn lay, and found him
dead. He saw the evidence
IF the carbolic acid on his lips and
mouth. Mr.. Sheehee states he is
positive that he did not lose sight of
Quinn and that it was impossible for