The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-11-21

4 three weeks have been In attcn-
dance at the sessions Of the fed
eral court where the John Meints,
100000 damage suit was in proos
reso at Mankato. ~
T A large delegations Of prominent
i citizens and the band met the de-
PENDANTS at the depot They were
escorted through the streets, be-
hind the band and then each man
was escorted to his home by the
band and marching citizens. It
was Inverness welcome to the re-
turn of the "conquering heroes
John Meints lost his sensational
100000 personal damage suit against
: thirty two citizens of Luverne. Aft
! ter a trial which lasted three weeks
and included one long night session
of the court, the case CAME TO a
close at five O'Clock last evenin~
| when the Jury returned, verdict fc
! the defendants. .#s
After deliberation of just o-e and
one-half hours, froa $3.50 r'cloeIS
j until 5 p. m, the jury came in with
q verdict for the defendants in the
action. Judge Wilbur Booth Ead lcf
the court room and Meints and his at
torney Arthur lie Sueur were also at
their hotel when the jurors sent cut
word, shortly Before five o'clock, that
1 they had reached an agreement
( Judge Booth and the complainant
and his attorney were at once sum-
fmoned About the court room were
1 grouped the defendants from Lu-
verne, together with Attorney Pierce
Bu.ler, talking and discussing the
case. A majority OF the spectators
I that crowded the court room during
! the afternoon, had left. antioipafing
a long deliberation en- the evidence.
AS Attorney LIE Sueur and John
Meints entered the court room ali
| talk ceased and hush fell over the
assemblage.;h Judge Bceth entered a
few moments later, AFTER the jurors
lad taken their plaees,t As Deputy
/ Clerk c. Z. BFedesonr took. the sealed
| verdict from !, the juryd there was a
dead silence throughout the room. So
quiet was it that when he ripped fop-
en- the envelope thesasound of the
/ tearing paper could be heard in the
furthermost corner of the room.
| af ( Tom Davis, Was Absent
Meints sat al. the table where he
remained throughout the, trial, stoi-
cal and apparently steeled to any re-
suit. The only sign OF emotion was
his right hand gripped firmly to the
edge of The, table. Attorney lie
Sueur sat, shading his, face with his
hand. evidently keenlN, interested in
she verdict to be read. Confidence
was exposed on the5 face of every
defendant in the, rooTt that they
Guild win, Attorney Tom Davis was
not in the room. He was not in
court any of the time yesterday.
The verdict was briefly read, stat
! ing merely that the jurors found for
the defendants. A moment later
Judge Booth thanked the jurors for
their faithful attendance during the
case and dismissed them. This is
of court.
AS the last juror was leaving the
room Attorney lie Sueur arose and
Ithe last case to be tried this term
asked the court for a stay of ten
lldays in adjusting the costs and for a
stay of ninety days in which TO file
q bill of, exceptions on the case. With
the agreement of Attorney Butler for
the defense. these stays were grant
ed.
"Will you appeal the case" At
torney LIE Sleur was asked by rep
Iresentative OF The Free Press. roe.
/ An Appeal, Says lie sueur.
| "Oh, absolutely" he responded.
1--WE will carry this to the circuit
court of appeals and from there on
up to the end of the string if nee
essary. We viii carry 1t to the high
lest court in the United States"
Immediately after court closed the
defendants and Luverne parties in.
terested in the suit crowded about
Attorney Butler, congratulating him
OF the victory Several defendants
expressed the belief that the case
would be carried no higher. They
REGARDED the request for stay to
file bill of exceptions as a mere
blur by the complainant attorneys
1t is understood that the attorneys
for the complainant made the state
Inent to certain court cC'cials that
1 GhtluJS udO eilOuSH ulSNSs DdShhits
,hiIn in the suit ito f--@k the whole
of the defendants" 1t is not known
TO what they referred in making
this statement, however,
While the Jury was- out yesterday
Afternoon Meints talked freely with
spectators about the court room, set
ting forth the wrongs he had suf-
'feredi and assailing the defendants
for their "Eind OF loyalty" as he de-
| scribed It..
| Whichever way this. goes it's only
a starter asserted Meints. u have
another case and Miller has one and
Finke win have one, We win give
those fellows a belly full before
they get done This is only start
ser, no matter what the verdict is"
L Charge to Jury.
Judge Wiltur, Booth completed his
charge to the jury a few minutes be-
fore three o'clock yesterday after
noon. His summing up of the evil
dence and instructions to the jurors
on the matters. they must take into
consideration in the case, were. clear,
definite and impartial, as we're his
rulings throughout the case.
Jurors were instructed that unless
! they found positive evidence that
Rev. Bedford, Leo Connell, Otto III
Ian and b. f. >Ieas were at the South