Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, October 5, 1907, Page 1

VOLUME 5. NUMBER 142. THE BEMIDJI DAI WINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 5, 1907. FORTY CENTS PER MONTH Sl Tuntoad 0 BE HANGED Martin S. Munn and Peter Mathieson, Convicted of Murder in the First Degree, _ Sentenced this Afternoon.--Penalty of Death Imposed by Judge McClenahan. itis ordered and adjudged that you, Murten S, Munn, in- dicted under the name of Martin S. Munn, as punishment for the crime of murder in the first degree, be taken hence to the common jail of Beltrami County, Minnesota, and confined there- in, and thereafter for the period of three calendar months, from this date, to wit: the fifth day of October, 1907, and at a time to be fixed by the governor of this state and upon his warrant, that you be taken hence to the place of execution, by the sheriff of Beltrami County, and there be hanged by the neck, until you are dead. [he rirst extremely severe punish-| to the court room to be sentenced ment of crime in Beltrami (:ountymmr the crime of which he had been willbea double hanging | convicted—murdcr in the first de- in Jan- 1908, when Martin S. Munn and Peter Mathieson, convicted of uary eron June 1l4th, Munn was accompanied by his murder in the first degree, will be attorney, E. D.Clough of Crookston, executed in county | and deputy sheriff Arne Solberg was jail, unless some extraordinary event | at Munn’s elbow to be ready for any | emergency that might arise. the Beltrami occurs in the meantime to intervene which| A fewmoments after 20’clock Judge with the above | . | McClenahan asked if the county sentences, were imposed on the two men, in attorney was prepared to move for | the Beltrami county court house | sentence of Martin S. Munn, receiv- this afternoon,by W.S. McClenahan, ing an affirmative reply from Mr. judge of the TFifteenth Judicial dis-| Funkley. trict. Sy = ‘ Munn steppea 10rward, and being There were a large number of‘aSkEd if he had anything to say citizens present when the sentences! p upon him, said: were passed, and the action of the | court was taken amudst breathlessg I-am not guilty; that is ail.” E. E. Clough, attorney for Munn, ;made an earnest plea for clemency i for his client, as he did not believe At 2 o’clock this afternoon, Judge | that it appeared that Mann had McClenahan called Martin S. Munn | been guilty of premeditated murder; silence. New Canned Goods We have ordered a carload of Cali- fornia Canned Goods which will arrive here in a few days. These are the very best and our cus- tomers will be given the best selection ever brought to the city, PHONE 207 Shoes! New, nobby styles in men’s and young men's shoes in both button and lace; patents and plain leathers just in. Our Line of Work Shoes is complete and from the $1.75 shoe to the hand made Chippewa at $4 you will find something suitable to your wants that will wear and please you. ROE & MARKUSEN Hunting Boots, Drivers and Cruisers A Complete Assortment of Shoes and Rubbers for both sexes and for all ages here Bemidji Cash Shoe Store | gree,killing Agust Franklin at Spoon- | | why sentence should not be passed | that there were exceptional circum- stances in the prisoner’s favor; he did not believe that the extreme penalty should be inflicted; that there was not only a reasonable doubt, there was a certain doubt. Munn was again asked if he had anything further to say, to which he replied: “‘Nothing to say, except some awful lies have been told.” Judge McClenahan requested that anyone who had anything to say in behalf of the prisoner should say it at once, as he wished to hear all that had to be” said.. The matter responsibility upon him. Attorney Clough again made an earnest appeal for clemency for Munn, closing with the assertion that his client could not be guilty of premeditated murder. The judge again asked Munn if he had anything further to say. Munn replied: ““I was waiting tor my friends, and was e grave one and left a great| ~ The Sentences trouble.” By Judge McClenahan: | "I have given this case careful attention; I have had portions of the testimony read to me, and have had considerable difficulty in disposing of the questions involved. “The re;ponsibility in this matter lies entirely with me, and it is very great. Igmust, if I can, find mitigat- ing circumstances. “I am nct here to commute sen- tence; that power lies with another tribupal. “The ju}i{’ has passed on the facts in this case. There could be but one defense; that did not exist. I will not undertake to review the jury’s actions. “While it is difficult to divorce sen- timent from judgment, it is my duty to do so,and as | see this case, there are no exceptional circumstances in favor of the defendant. didn’t know that there would be any|agreeable remarks. “It is useless to prolong these dis- . It is ordered and adjudged that you, Peter Mathieson, in- dicted under the name of Peter Mathieson, as ‘punishment for the crime of murder in the first degree, be taken hence to the common jail of Beltrami County, Minnesota, and confined there- in, and thereafter for the period of three calendar months. from this date, to wit: the 5th day of October, 1907, and at a time to be fixed by the governor of this state and upon his warrant, that you be taken hence to the place of execution, by the sheriff of Beltrami County, and there be hanged by the neck, until you are dead. Another tribunal must extend clemency.” Amidst painfnl silence Judge McClenahan began reading the sen- tence of death to Munn. 3 As the judge attempted to pro- nounce the words ‘“you be taken hence to the common jaii of Bel- trami county—” he broke down and was compelled to leave the room. Munn stood as still as a statue, and as the judge left the room his face blanched to the paleness of death as he heaved a great sigh. Munn refused a proffered drink of water and remained calm until the judge returned, which was several minutes. During the absence of Judge Mc- Clenahan, those in the court room were painfully affected by the dramatic situation, and there was a great sigh of relief when the judge returned and completed the sentence, as given above. When Judge McClenahan pro. COUNTY OF BELTRAMI. AGAINST After the jury in the case of the State vs. Peter Mathieson, at 10:30 o’clock this forenoon reported to the court that they had agreed upon a ver- dict. being out nineteen hours Word was speedily sent to Judge McClenahan, the attorneys and the accused man. Court was reconvened and pre- perations made for the purpose of receiving the verdict of the jury. Judge McClenahan asked the agreed on a verdict and was Mathieson sat in his chair, pale but composed, with the index finger of his right hand pressing against his lips, his eyes gazing intently at the faces of the men who held his fate in their hands. Judge McClenahan received the copy of the verdict from the fore- ‘man of the jury, and handing’ it PETER MATHIESON, Defendant. THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, We, the Jury empaneled and sworn to try the guilt or innocence of the above named defendant find the said defendant, Peter Mathieson, guilty as charged in the indictment, and ask for the mercy of the court. GEORGE DENLEY, Foreman. Dated at Bemidji, Minnesota, this 5th day of October, A. D. 1907. to the clerk, read. When the words “guilty as charged in the indictment” were read, Math- ieson was visibly effected, but when this way supplimented by “and ask for the mercy of the court” he was requested that it be considerably relieved. " When the verdict had been read, Judge McClenahan expressed his satisfaction to the jury that they had finally reached an agreement and returned a verdict. He thanked members of the jury if they had(them for their attention and told them they were discharged. answered in the affirmative by| Mathieson acted as if he was con- George Denley, foreman of. the|siderably shocked by the verdict of jury. the jury and showed symptoms of crying., He conferred with Messrs. Gibbons & Torrance, his attorneys, for a few moments, they assuring him that they would stand by him, after which he was removed to the couanty jail. A§ to what the jury would finally agree upon, had been a matter of District Courrt, Fifteenth Judicial District Murder in the First Degree. MATHIESON IS FOUND GUILTY STATE OF MINNESOTA,} . Accused of the Crime of last night that they could not agree, fact that a recommendation for mercy was in- cluded in the verdict, it is evident and judging from the there was some differehce of opinion in the jury room as to the guilt or innocence of the accused as charged, murder in the first degree. Messrs. Gibbons & Torrance, who handled the defense for Mathieson, are entitled to much credit for the fight they put up on behalf of their client. Mr. Torrance conducted the de- fense, and he made the most of every point which he thought favorable to Mathieson. He was careful and the conduct of his case and made the most of what little was available to work upon the thorough in jury in a case in which hisclient had already been popularly condemned. County Attorney Henry Funkley presented the case on behalf of the prosecution in a very able manner. He made the most of everything at hand and went into the case very speculation ever since they reported kthoroughly. NECEATIVIE DACRE nounced the words ‘“until you are dead,” Munn winced very per- ceptibly and trembled. As the condemned man was led away by Deputy Sheriff Arne Sol- berg and Court Officer Andrew Johnson, he broke down consider- ably. . At 2:31, immediately after sen” tence of death was pronounced upon Munn, Peter Mathieson, con- victed of killing John Johanson at Tenstrike last February, was brought into the court room for sentence. Mathieson, who was very pale, was asked if he:had anything to say, and said: “*Nothing.” Graham M. Torrance, who has had charge of Mathieson’s defense, spoke for clemency for Mathieson. Mr. Torrance stated that as the case progressed he had been impres- sed that the statements made by Mathieson were correct. He be- lieved that the jury agreed with him, that Mathieson was not really guilty G. M. TORRANCE, Who Conducted the Defense of Peter Ildathieson. as charged of murder in the first de- gree, as they had asked for the mercy of the court to be extended the prisoner. Mr. Torrance closed by a request Continued on Last Page the best heating stove known. you to know these facts, also that leg and door. W. M. Any Sane, Level-Headed Man or Woman who will carefully examine the Round Oak heating Stove and then compare it with any other stove made cannot help but know and understand the reasons why the ROUND OQAK has made its mark as It has a record of success and a sale and popularity never equalled by any stove of any kind, We wish MOSPHERE HERE JUST WHAT |'WAS ACCUSTOMEDR TO AT HOME IN AFRICA. 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