New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1919-11-26

lillian, CoNNELL, LEAs & AND
BEDFORD DENIED TAKING
PART IN. OUTRAGE.

Sioux Falls, s, D., victim OF mob
which deported him from Luverne,
Mimi, into South Dakota and tarred
and feathered him, lost his 100000
damage suit against 81 prominent resi-
dents Of Luverne as a result Of an amazing
charge to the jury by United States
District Judge Wilbur F. Booth.
Judge Booth accepted the excuse of
Tered by the defendants, that they had
,deported Meints in order to protect
him from some other mythical mob
and said the deportation was not only
lawful but commendable. .
Judge Booth found no violation of
law in the visit Of 100 business men
of Luverne to the F. j. Meints farm
zear Luverne the night Of August 10,
1918, when the house was broken into
and the elder Meints taken out and
subsequently deported to the South
Dakota line. The only crime commit
ted was the tarring and feathering
and fogging of Meints by four masked
men, he said, and Judge Booth assured
the jury it must decide by prepon-
derance of the evidence that the men
identified by Meints did the job.
Steps have been taken by Meint's
attorneys to appeal the case to the
United State circuit court of appeals.
Judge Booth emphasized the point
that Meints went with his kidnapers
willingly"
. Meints' Son Injured.
i When the mob stormed the Meints'
farm house, F. J. Meints, his son, was
severely beaten and his wife mistreated.
The telephone wire was cut. Though
armed and determined to sell his life
dearly. Meints agreed to 60 with the
mobbists without resistance when as
sured that no harm would come to him.
Meints had the further knowledge that
active resistance might mean the death
of himself and members of his sons
family.
The jury was out only two hours.
The only question the IL men had to
decide under Judge Booths instruc-
tions was the indemnity of the four men
who had tarred and feathered Meints
lillian, Cornell, Leas and Bedford de-
s1ied participation in the outrage. It
was their word against that Of Meints
"a 'preponderance Of evidence
They offered alibis to prove they
were somewhere else when the out
rage on Meints was committed.
In addition, the. wealthy defendants
found two men-Nels HaWkinson and
Albert Olson--who testified under oath
that tkey had seen Meints on the train
10 Sioux Falls the morning Of August
20 and that Meints showed no evidence
.:of having been tarred and feathered.
The testimony OF Hawkinson and Olson
was counted on to disprove the testi-
nony of the Sioux Falls barber, who told
of Meints' condition when Meints came
into the barber shop Immediately after
stepping off the train.
Mrs. Nicholas. Fischer OF Sleepy. Eye.
was operated upon at a local hospital,
last. Wednesday.
Mrs, Otto Sprenger OF this. city Was
operated en- TO gosters at q. local hes
pital on. Monday, Noyenber. "a. At
the present writing she is getting along
nicely
Mrs. Ed. Larson entertained a number
aof lady friends at $500" yesterday
afternoon, six tables being occupied.
This evening Mrs. Larson, together with
her sister, Mrs. Geo. ;iLeary, and her
sister-in-law, Miss Irene Larson, will
be hostess at like social event at the
Larson home.
DR.. Dinner Warner OF Candy, son-in-
law Of Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Seifert of
this city, and well-known here, was
married recently at the Catholic church
in Mapleton to Miss Ursula Marie
lOC1AS1lC. IL duO ffdlllCl, were
gCcsts at the Seifert home the forepart
of last week.
Mesdames H. L. Beecher and Herman
Held gave parcel shower at the formers
home on German street, Saturday af-
ternoon and evening, in honor Of Miss
Elizabeth Wheeler, daughter of Rev.
and Mrs. E. F. Wheeler, who is to be a
December bride Miss Wheeler was the
recipient Of many beautiful and useful
gifts and very pleasant time was en-
joyed.
The Misses Mary and Clara Korbel
entertained forty lady friends at the
Korbel home on North State street,
Monday evening. Cards were played
and the prizes were awarded to Miss
Elfrieda Toberer, Mrs. A. O. Olson,
Mrs. B. .Esser and Mrs. 81. HI. Walter.
A delicious luncheon was served after