St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1958-06-06
BY MAURICE HAYNES

ton over certain testimony which
he said had nothing to do with
the charge, and on the further
ground that there was no compe-
tent connection with the murder.
Now, the courtroom was quiet
tense but quiet.
MCGEE sat at a table facing the
witness stand. He was waiting
for the next witness for the state
to appear. He remembered how it
was when he first came to st.
Paul in 1889. That was 16 years
ago, he thought. He had come from
Chicago where he had been ad-
mitted to the bar in 1885.
For three years he had practiced
under the tutelage of Edward H.
Morris, one Of Chicago's best
criminal lawyers.
He remembered how William r.
Morris, Eds brother in Minneap-
oils, and T. II. Lyles had influ-
enced him to come here. He re-
membered the day; it was the
nth Of June, 1889. He had come
up alone to st. Paul with letters
Of recommendation from Morris
and other reputable lawyers of
Chicago.
A white lawyer, H. C. Stone, to
whom he had a letter, gave him
a cordial welcome to the city.
Stone went with him to the State
Supreme Court in the capitol
building that afternoon and made
the motions for his admission TO
the bar, which was Immediately
granted.
Before returning to Chicago to
arrange for moving his family to
st. Paul, he had rented an office
in Union Block opposite the new
courthouse, and Mr.. and Mrs. ].
X. Hilyard had graciously offered
to share their home with him and
his family until he could afford
one Of his own.
Matte, his wife, was immensely
fond Of the Hilyards. She was an
accomplished musician and shared
with them the music they loved.
But the man who most impressed
him was Thomas Lyles who had
come to St. Paul in 1874 with
no money and no prospects.
Tom was a barber and rented
space for a shop in the old Amer
lean House" on the corner of 4th
and Wabasha Streets. During the
boom" times that followed, he
moved his shop to 20 E. 4th Street,
and in addition to barbenng be-
gan to sell real estate. He also be-
came the first Negro undertaken,
arranging with Listoe ana Void
Undertakes TO act as their agent
for securing and handling Negro
funerals. Yes, Tom had had hard
beginning as most Negroes Of his
generation; but he had been sue
cessful in spite of it, and was con-
sidered the wealthiest Negro in
St. Paul.
Tom was active in politics and
II was his political genius that
McGhee especially liked. Al
though never a candidate for
office himself, Tom LyIes had
aided other colored men. through
his influence.
1t had started in 1876 when
Major John Becht was elected
sheriff Of Ramsey County by
majority Of 1s6 votes. This was
just the number of colored votes
at that time, and during Bechts
term colored men were appointed
jurors. In 1881, L. w. Thomas was
the first Negro policemen appoint
ed and in 1856, a colored fire com
pany was formed.
The soft din in the courtroom
stopped abruptly. A witness for
the prosecution was being sworn.
In answer 10 questions. he said
that his name was E Gadbout. He
lived in St Paul and was a hack
driver.
L knew Peter Rsverty." he ex-
planned. His business was special
policeman on East It'll Street. ] I
saw him on the morning Of the Srd
OF May. saw him and officer
Puglesia somewhere about Johns /.
Street DR.. Moore and I went up
stairs and when came down they
were both downstairs. Then we
went 10 the lumber office. mean 1
officer Puglesia, Raverty and my
self. We went IN there 10 tele- |
phone Raverty went in first and /
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