The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-11-14
STORIES TOLD ONSTAND
MISREPRESENTATION
DEFENDANTS
WHAT THEY SAWON TRAIN
Claim That the Plaintiff Did Not
Show Any Marks of
Violence

That John Meints boarded the
train at Brandon, S. -, bound for
Sioux Falls, on the morning of
August 20, without any unusual
marks on his face, without any signs
of tar or dirt noticeable, that he was
cool and possessed and his manner
and mind was the same as usual.
was the sensational testimony in
toduced in federal court this morn
Eng by the defense. in the 100000
personal damage suit on between
John Meints and thirty-two pro-
minent business and professional
men in Luverne.
James Hawkinson and Albert oil.
son, both Of Luverne. testified to the
Same facts. Both men boarded the
morning train at Luverne at six
O'Clock on August 90. Mr. Olson
testified he was seated in the smok-
er, on the side of the seat next TO
the aisle while Mr.. Hawkinson was
on the inside next 10 the window.
contradicted Meints' Testimony.
At Luverne the lights were still on
Beaver Creek and Brandon, the wit
ness testified. the lights were turned
out. He said he noticed particular
sly that the lights were out when he
came into Brandon. This is in direct
contradiction to Meints' testimony as
he claimed the lights were on when
nc boarded the train and that It.
was just coming dawn Olson de-
elsfed Il was Is 1ieki as daxs when
1iis tsaIa reacted Brandon.
On The platform. he testified. he
saw John Meints. From the side
view obtained of his face the witness
declared there was nothing unusual
in his appearance. When Meints
came into the smoker he testified
that he noticed the man particularly
because he was surprised to see him,
being of the belief that Meints was
not in that part of the country, not
having heard Of his return TO Min
nesota from Iowa.
Looking straight at Meints, about
twenty feet away in the car, Olson
testified that he saw nothing unusual
about his face or neck and that his
manner and carriage was the same
as usual. He described Meints as
dressed in a brown suit with a black
hat having a rim of medium width.
Hawkinson also testified that Meints
was dressed in these clothes.
Saw Meints On Platform.
When they reached Sioux Falls,
Olson declared he got off the train
and passed within four or five feet
of Meints on the platform. Here
again, in the full light of day. he
swore he saw nothing unusual about
Meints appearance. Hawkinson testi-
fed to the came facts when he was
on the stand.
The two men declared they met
at the Sioux Falls depot again about
ten o'clock and returned to Luvernc
that morning Neither had seen
Meints in the forenoon while they
were in the city Attorney Tom
Davis closely cross questioned. both
witnesses as to the time they saw
Meints, the note they took of his
appearance and their interest in
seeing him there at that time. At
torney Garfield for the defense ques-
toned the witnesses on direct ex-
animation. Their testimony took up
the morning session of court.
Case Opens For Defense.
With the testimony of Henry Hill
yesterday morning the plaintiffs in
the John Meints case rested and At
torney Pierce Butler for the defense
outlined his case to the jury. Mr.
Butler answering the charges OF the
complainant, reiterated the frequent
testimony of witnesses that defend
ants visited John Meints and escort
ed him outside the state only for his
own good and protection.
Referring to the tar and feathers
episode, Mr. Butler declared il was
the intention of the defense TO prove
that Meints was never tarred and
feathered by any gang and that he
never walked from the South Dakota
line to the city of Brandon and later
took the train to Sioux Falls, as he
claimed.
o. Z. Ferguson, clerk of the district
court in Rock county, was the first
witness called by the defense. Under
the questioning of Mr.. Butler. Fergu-
son told of the feeling throughout the
community against Meints. of the in
stances when there had been common
rumor that he would be injured and
of the desire of citizens of Luverne
to prevent any occurrences sdvoring
of mob violence.
Questioned At Length.
Ferguson was questioned to some
length by Attorney Tom Davis under
cross examination in regard to the
feeling against The Rock County
Leader. a.farmers paper in Lu, erne.
Ferguson declared he heard rumors
about the streets that there were
hundred or more men from the county
Continued on Page Three.)