The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-09-14
FAMILY TO
RENEW CHARGE ON
p. DEATH OF QUINN
Claim His Death Was
Not Suicide as
Claimed
TO GOVERNOR
Said in Minneapolis Relatives
Will Ask Vessey to Pro-
coed Against Plotner
UP TO GOVERNOR

two year ago of Peter Quinn, whose
widow, Mrs. Kate quinn, has been
arrested with Luther w. Plotncr, APP
peared an last evenings Minneapolis
Journal:
Peter Albert Quinn's sudden death
in Mitchell, S. d., two years ago, an
unsuccessful attempt by his Mime
apolis relatives eve since to hold
Luther w. Plotner, former sheriff at
Mitchell, in some way responsible
therefor, the suicide of Plotner's
wife Saturday night, and the elopc-
ment of Plotner and Mrs. Quinn and
their flight Immediately afterwards
to Omaha. make up a story who's
latest development was the arrest of
the fleeing pair in Omaha late yes
terday and their taking back to Nit
chell by Sheriff Berry.
Peter Quinn died Aug. 21, 1909.
Both in his case and Mrs. Plotners
carbolic acid poisoning was given as
the cause of death.
The tragedy of the Quinn and Plot
ner families is replete with compli-
cations developed in Minneapolis
since the death OF Peter Quinn.
Quinn's family. to save the brothers
name, has carried on a relentless at
tempt to prosecute Plotner on Il
charge of implication in the first
death. Plotncr, according to Off
cials at Rapid City, S. D.. was found
unconscious from laudenum poison
ing in a hotel there three months
ago.
Body ENlumcd.
The cNhuming of Quinn's body
from its burial place in ST. Antony
cemetery in Minneapolis, and of the
post mortem examination by experts
of the faculty of the University Of
Minnesota, gave the evidence on
which the relatives of Peter Quinn
sought unsuccessfully the arrest of
P,,otner on a charge of murder.
DR.. George b. Frankforter, dean
of the college of chemistry at the uni
versity: DIR. Charles Erdman, head
of the department of anatomy, and
DR.. ID. Edmund Smith, who perform
ed the autopsy and examination, said
Peter Quinn cid not die Of carbolic
poisoning. They said the ~alimentary
canal showed no signs Of burning,
but, on the contrary, the surgeons
found a bruise owe the heart and a
small rupture of the brain over the
right temple. The body and head
wounds, they declared, could have
caused death.
To Renew Prosecution.
With this evidence in hand. mem
bers Of Quinn's family have for the
second time gone to Mitchell to at
tempt to push the charge against
Plotner. The first attempt, made
Oct. so, 1910, failed, County Attor-
ney William H. Herbert of Dawson
county, South Dakota, declaring that
the evidence was uncorroborated and
insufficient. He promised at the
time to Investigate. At that time
Plotner had many friends in Mitchell
and vas still in office. He retired
Jan. l, 1911, and a few months
afterwards was reported to have
taken laudenum in his room at
Rapid City, S. d.
To Console Mother.
The two years investigation by
Quinn's family has caused many sac
ritices and consumed much time and
it has been done to console the aged
mother, Mrs. Catherine A. Quinn.
1929 Bryant avenue S.. She is so
years old and refused to believe that
her son took his W life.
The investigating was done by
Frank P. Quinn, former municipal
court officer, who quit his work and
gave his whole time to the work.
The others supplied the funds. Be
sides the mother, the Minneapolis
relatives who have taken part in the
investigation are a brother, Ger
main Quinn, 1929 Bryant venue;
Mrs. Howard Johnston, 1924 Lyn-
dale avenue s.; Mrs. Robert Vance,
1926 Fourth avenue s.; Charles
Quinn of St. Paul, and James Quinn
of Brainerd. Peter Quinn was the
youngest brother.
Threatening Letters Received.
The investigation led across the
of Minnesota. South Dakota
and Wisconsin. 1t was conducted
in the face of threatening letters
from a mar signing his name as P.
D. Ross who offered $1,000 for sew
eral letters now in possession of the
Quinns and which arc said to have
been written to Mrs. Peter Quinn
aftor hor buchond'c aootb