Henley and Cook

Receive Prison Sentences, Latter Secures Stay for Thirty Days.

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GRIMES CONVICTED OF GRAND LARCENY

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Court Sentences Him

to Sixty Days In County

Jail. Stay of Thirty

Days Granted.

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George Cook, 35, was tried twice during the present term of court on a charge of subornation of perjury. At the first trial he was found “not guilty” by the jury, which sat in his case. The second case was called Tuesday afternoon of last week, and In the indictment Cook was charged with having induced and persuaded Edward Sellner to make false statements under oath in an affidavit used in the motion for a new trial in the case of the State of Minnesota vs. James Upson. The case was completed Thursday afternoon and the jury deliberated until shortly after 12 o’clock, midnight, when a verdict was returned of “guilty.” Saturday afternoon the court sentenced Cook to a term in the Stillwater prison not to exceed one year. A stay of thirty days was granted. He was released upon bail in the sum of $2,000.

Grimes “Guilty.”

Ed. Grimes of Home township, who was indicted upon two charges by the grand jury, one for removing and concealing mortgaged property, and the other for grand larceny in the second degree, was up for trial on the second charge Friday morning. Tuesday morning of last week the case of the State of Minnesota vs. Grimes on the charge of removing and concealing mortgaged property was called. A jury was secured, but because of the non-appearance of the star witness, John Stelpflug, the court directed the jury to return a verdict in favor of the defendant. The Cook case was then called for trial.

The jury in the latter Grimes case commenced deliberation at 4:30 o’clock Friday afternoon and after 20 minutes had arrived at their verdict of “guilty,” which was then delivered in court. Grimes was sentenced to serve 60 days in the county jail Saturday afternoon and a stay of 30 days was granted. His bail was placed at $500.

Pickpocket Tried

Following the Grimes case Howard Healey, alleged pickpocket, who was charged with operating at the county fair last fall, was called for trial. It will be remembered that Healey upon being bound over to the grand jury put up a bond of $2,000. This was forfeited, because after being indicted by the grand jury at the December term of court, he did not appear. Several weeks ago word reached Sheriff W. J. Julius that Healey was at Ogden, Utah. He at once went for his man, and after an exciting ride through Utah into Wyoming with his prisoner, to escape attorneys, who were attempting to secure Healey’s release, he landed him safely in the Brown county jail. Chas. Murphy operated with Healey and also forfeited his bail of $2,000. He was later taken into custody in Oklahoma City, Okla., charged with picking pockets, and was convicted. He is now serving a sentence in the state prison of Oklahoma. After his release he will be brought back to New Ulm for trial. This was the last criminal case tried. The jury found Healey guilty as charged after deliberating about two hours.

Sentenced to Stillwater

Healey was sentenced by Judge I.M. Olsen at the opening of court Monday afternoon to serve a sentence at hard labor at the state prison at Stillwater, of not to exceed one year.

Sentenced to Sixty Days

County Attorney T. O. Streissguth filed an information of grand larceny in the second degree against Ray O Keefe of St. James. O’ Keefe was charged with rifling the pockets of Peter Fischer at Searles, while the latter was sleeping. He was taken into custody and had his preliminary hearing Thursday morning of last week as was announced in the Journal. He was arraigned and plead guilty to the charge. Friday afternoon at the opening of court Judge Olsen sentenced him to serve a sentence of sixty days in the county jail.

Plead Guilty

Isidore Sellner, 20; Joseph Seidl, 20; Henry Keim, 28; William Sellner, 21, and Edward Sellner, 24, plead guilty to a charge of perjury, which had been returned against them at the December term of court. The court sentenced each to the St. Cloud reformatory, but paroled them for one year, because of the circumstances connected with their cases. However, they were each asked to pay $125 to assist in defraying the cost of prosecution. Each of the above swore falsely as to where the moonshine was secured that was consumed at a wed-ding celebration in Mulligan township. The court informed each that he was expected to refrain from imbibing moonshine or liquor of any kind and report to the court a year from this time.

The case against Stephen Sellner, charged was perjury, upon motion of County Attorney T. O. Streissguth was dismissed. Mr. Streissguth informed the court that he had reasons to believe that this defendant did not commit perjury.

The case of the State of Minnesota against Mike Meisinger, which was continued from the December term of court was again continued.

Convictions Secured

Every criminal case tried by County Attorney Streissguth this term of court with the exception of the first Cook case was won for the state. This is an exceptional record and the county attorney as well as Sheriff W.J. Julius should have the commendations of the citizens of Brown county.

No Cause of Action

The jury in the case of Fred. Wischstadt vs. Oscar Gustaffson, which was up for trial Saturday afternoon, as the first civil case, following the completion of the criminal cases, brought in a verdict of “no cause of action,” about 5:30 o’clock that evening.

Verdict for Full Amount

The case of Robert Dahl vs. State Bank of Searles was next called. This was tried ‘Monday and the jury returned a verdict of $636.23, the full amount sued for. The contention of the plaintiff was that, he, written or orally did not agree to a reduction of his deposits in the bank, following it being closed by the state banking department and prior to re-organization and opening. He had a certificate of deposit in the sum of $600 in the bank at the time it was closed. The jury found for the plaintiff in the full amount with interest included.The verdict was returned Tuesday morning at 10:45 o’clock.

The petit jury was released from further duty at the May term of the district court in Brown county by Judge Olsen, Wednesday afternoon, after a verdict was returned in the case of Anthony Doll, Jr., et al, as Doll & Smith against the Ulrich Electric Co. The local firm had purchased an advertising service from the plaintiff, paying down $26. The service was not used and the concern sued for the balance of the contract. The jury returned a verdict in the sum of $87.30, balance and interest from July 1,1923.

Verdict in Favor of

Math. Roeck

The jury returned a verdict in favor of Math. Roeck in the sum of $1,790.35,Wednesday. The case originated out of the sale of a mortgage in the sum of $2,000 on a 120-acre farm in Polk county, by Wilbur Strate, cashier of the Searles State bank, to the plaintiff in 1921. The mortgage was held by Wm. Schaleben, formerly of Madelia, and Mr. Strate disposed of the paper to Mr. Roeck. The latter foreclosed on the land and bid it in for $5 per acre. He sued for the difference between the cost of the land and foreclosure proceedings and the face of the mortgage. The verdict returned by the jury was in the sum of $1,790.35 as stated above, which is the sum sued for with interest.

Brown County Journal,

June 19, 1925

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