The Northfield Tragedy; or, the Robber's Raid: A Thrilling Narrative; A history of the remarkable attempt to rob the bank at Northfield, Minnesota; the Cold-Blooded Murder of the Brave Cashier and an Inoffensive Citizen. The Slaying of Two of the Brigands. The Wonderful Robber Hunt and Capture Graphically Described. Biographies of the Victims, the Captors & the Notorious Younger and James Gang of DesperadoesHanson, J. H. (Joseph Have)
History
The Northfield Tragedy; or, the Robber's Raid: A Thrilling Narrative; A history of the remarkable attempt to rob the bank at Northfield, Minnesota; the Cold-Blooded Murder of the Brave Cashier and an Inoffensive Citizen. The Slaying of Two of the Brigands. The Wonderful Robber Hunt and Capture Graphically Described. Biographies of the Victims, the Captors & the Notorious Younger and James Gang of Desperadoes
Hanson, J. H. (Joseph Have)
Bank robberies -- Minnesota -- Northfield -- History -- 19th century
When Cole Younger read the last named indictment, he appeared greatly
affected, and said that he had not expected such a bill, as he did not
kill the Swede. He said it had probably been done by accident, as none of
them shot to kill. From the time the indictments were read by Cole, he
became low-spirited, and studied the statutes and consulted with his
lawyers more than before. Bob kept up, and declared that he would not
plead guilty in any case.
THE GRAND JURY
that had been summoned included twenty two of the best men in the county,
but the prisoner’s counsel reduced it to seventeen, by challenging a
number who had too freely expressed their ideas in regard to the affair.
There is no doubt but that by continuing the same line of questioning the
grand jury could have all been found wanting, but it was not the intention
of the defense to delay the trial by reducing the number below the legal
minimum, but simply to refer the bills to as few men as possible, feeling
that the chance of their finding all of the indictments could be
materially lessened.
It took the jury but a very short time after they commenced their work to
find four true bills against the prisoners, and the evidence given by the
witnesses that testified before them, was but a recapitulation of what
they were entirely familiar with. In the case of the Swede, whom Cole
Younger was charged with killing, evidence was given by a man and a woman,
both of whom testified that they saw Cole shoot him coolly and
deliberately.
IN THE COURT ROOM.
On the day after the court convened, the sister and an aunt of the Younger
boys arrived in Faribault. The sister, Miss Henrietta Younger, is a very
pretty, prepossessing young lady of about seventeen years, and she
conducted herself so as to win the esteem of all who met her. Mrs. Fanny
Twyman, their aunt, is the wife of a highly respectable physician
practicing in Missouri, and appears to be a lady of the highest moral
character. These ladies passed the greater portion of their time sitting
with their relatives, behind the iron bars, reading, talking and sewing.
On Thursday, the 9th of November, the grand jury signified that they had
completed their labors as far as the cases of the Younger boys were
concerned, and the sheriff was instructed to bring the prisoners to hear
the indictments read.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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