The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-02-24
BRUTAL MURDER OF 17-DAY OLD INFANT

BRUTAL MURDER OF
One of the most brutal murders
ever known to the northwest was
brought to light in this city Sat-
urday afternoon when Robert Sin
clair admitted that he murdered
in cold blood a baby belonging
to Edith Johnston of Minor, N. d.
The news caused large gatherings
on the streets and the denuncia-
tions of this young man were
heard everywhere. The news of
this crime was carried swiftly
to all parts of the city, and the
young man was no more than safe
ly placed behind the bars than a
large crowd of sight seers were in
front of the sheriff's office.
This young girl, Edith John
ston denies the sensational stories
printed in the Fargo papers two
weeks hence, and this young man
joined her in that city, immediate
ly before arriving in this city on
the evening Milwaukee train,
Saturday evening, Feb. 5th. They
stopped at the Merchants Hotel
and registered as man and wife,
Mr.. and Mrs. Sinclair. They left
Monday evening on the west bound
N. P. passenger train and got off
at Stirum, the home of this young
murderer. After this the affair
seemed quieted down and only oc-
casionally you heard of it men
toned and hardly anything was
made Of it.
Times In the limeiight
The Times is rot in the habit
of footing its own horn, but you
have to give it credit for bring
ing this young man to justice. The
Times printed the story of the
young mans Denial of his being
i'm Wahpeton and Fargo. and this
he admitted after putting it right
up to him by the Times special re-
preventative ON the case. This
representative of ours was not 10
be denied and, his refusal to be
bluffed got the admittance from
the young man himself that he
was at the above two places on the
Saturday and Monday before their
arrival home at Stirum. The name
of the young man was printed and
when the good people of Stirum
read of fhe account in the Times
they held, several meetings among
themselves and decided to Send d
committee to this city. The ba-
by was not in Stirum and natural
ly their curiosity was aroused As
| to where the baby was located.
Committee In Wahpeton
At about ten o'clock Thursday
morning this office was visited by
Messrs. w. f. Hill and T.. ID. stone
and they said that they We're Il
citizens committee from Stirunl
seeking information concerning
the whereabouts of a baby belong
ing to Robert Sinclair and Edith
Johnston. They said that sever
al meetings had been held and tIl.
people of that city were not out
to prosecute anybody. but wanted
tu clear the good name of Stirunl
in connection with the story print
ed i'm the'Times and the Fargo pa
pcrs. From this office with thr
information that they received.
they went to the Merchants Hotel
and consulted with Clyd" Milton.
proprietor of the hotel and Mi.
Milton stated emphatically that ii"
had seen the baby. while others
connected with the hotel said that
all they saw was a bundle and That
they presumed this bundle was a
young baby wrapped up. From
the hotel they went To- the States
Attorney Forbes and Assistant
Lounsbury. They We're inf"rlnc't
at that office that unless they
could prefer some charge against
the young man or girl ON SOM"
crime committed i'm this county,
they couldn't do much with tli"
case and that the States Attorney
of Sargent County should inNrst'-
gate the matter. They told Mr..
Forbes that the States Attorney
had been down to Stirum, bu'
seemed very lax about til" mai
ter.
Arrested for Fornication
The above committee w"ni
home to Slirum Thursday evening
and seemed thoroughly satisfied
with the information that they
had gathered while in this city. y
good share of the day had been
spent in company with Chief Pow
rie in searching for the baby as
they thought that it might be
possible that this young man and
girl had done away with the baby
but were unsuccessful in their
quest.
Friday afternoon Assistant
States Attorney Lounsbury swor"
out a complaint and warrant
was issued and placed into the
hands of Sheriff Budack who went
to Stirum and brought back R"-
bert Sinclair and Edith Johnston
on the charge of fOrnicatiOn. On