CHAPTER XXX.

EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1859.

MURDER OF MRS. LALIYER-G. L. LUMSDEN CONVICTED OF MAIL ROBBERY-THE BILANSKI Murder CASE-WRIGHT COUNTY WAR-SKETCH OF BISHOP GRACEDEATH OF DOCTOR BOrup.

No session of the Legislature was held this winter. Mem

bers had been elected, but the session was not called together by the Governor, it having been left for him to decide whether it was necessary or not.

CRIME.

During January, a man, named LAWRENCE LALIYER, was arrested at Prairie du Chien, on charge of having murdered his wife, in Mounds View township, in 1856. Her remains were found buried under an old ice house. LALIYER Was tried for murder in the first degree twice, and, on the second hearing, convicted of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to a short term in the penitentiary.

On February 12, GEO. L. LUMSDEN, a clerk in the Saint Paul post-office, was arrested on charge of stealing a land warrant out of the mail, and selling it to HENRY MCKENTY. He was convicted, and soon after sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in the State's prison. LUMSDEN was pardoned, in 1864, on condition that he would enlist in the army, which he did, and, in a few days afterwards, was killed at the battle of Nashville.

On March 11, STANISLAUS BILANSKI, a Polander by birth, of whom some account is given on page 121, died at his residence on the Stillwater road. He was married at the time to a woman whose name had been ANNIE EVARDS, formerly of Fayetteville, North Carolina, with whom he had had but little previous acquaintance, and of whose past life, what was

known, was not creditable. BILANSKI's last illness was short, and his symptoms thought suspicious by several persons who visited him. After his burial, a girl, who had been employed in the family during BILANSKI's illness, reported that she had purchased arsenic at Mrs. B.'s request, and mentioned other circumstances fully sufficient to warrant the belief that BILANSKI was the victim of a design to murder him on the part of his wife. Mrs. BILANSKI was at once arrested, and the body of B. being exhumed, the stomach was subjected to analysis. This was made by Dr. Wм. H. MORTON, and revealed strong and unmistakable proofs of arsenic, and, on May 15. Mrs. BiLANSKI was indicted for murder in the first degree. On her trial she was ably defended, but, on June 3d, was found guilty. On December 9, she was sentenced to be hung, and March 23d was fixed by the Governor as the date.

66 THE WRIGHT COUNTY WAR."

Many of the readers of this book may have heard of the Wright County War, but do not know to what it refers. In the fall of 1858, one H. A. WALLACE was murdered in Wright county, and a neighbor, named OSCAR F. JACKSON, was tried for the offense, in the spring of 1859, but acquitted by the jury. On April 25, a crowd of men assembled, and hung JACKSON to the gable end of WALLACE's cabin. It was

a most wicked and inexcusable outrage. Governor SIBLEY offered a reward for the conviction of any of the lynchers. Not long afterwards, one EMERY MOORE was arrested on the charge of aiding in the affair, and taken to Wright county for trial, but was rescued by a mob. Governor SIBLEY at once decided to take vigorous measures to maintain the majesty of the law. A military force was called out, and three companies dispatched (August 5) to Monticello, to arrest the rioters and reinforce the law. The Pioneer Guard headed the column, which was in command of Colonel JOHN S. PRINCE. A few special officers and detectives accompanied the force. The military proceeded to Monticello, reinforced the civil authorities, arrested eleven lynchers and rescuers, and turned them over to the Wright county officers. Having subdued

the "rebellion," they returned on August 11-the "Wright County War," as it is facetiously termed, having fortunately ended without bloodshed.

THE CITY ELECTION

took place on May 3, resulting as follows:

Aldermen elected.-First Ward, Wm. Branch; Second Ward, M. J. O'Connor; Third Ward, R. C. Wiley; Fourth Ward, Peter Berkey.

On May 23, Dr. J. F. HEYWARD, a capitalist of the city, died, leaving a large estate.

On July 1, Col. WILBUR M. HAYWARD, a lawyer of Saint Paul, died at Taylor's Falls.

On July 6, Dr. CHARLES W. BORUP, one of the first and most prominent bankers of the city, of the firm of BORUP & OAKES, died suddenly. He was a native of Denmark, came to America when young, and was engaged in the fur trade on Lake Superior for many years. He came to Saint Paul in 1849, and had been, since that date, one of the most influential and wealthiest citizens.

During August, the hearts of our Catholic population were gladdened by the arrival of Rt. Rev. THOMAS L. GRACE,* who

* Rt. Rev. THOMAS L. GRACE was born in Charleston, South Carolina, November 15, 1814. He commenced his studies, preparatory to the priesthood, under Bishop FENWICK, in the Seminary of Cincinnati, in 1828. A year later, he went to the Dominican Convent of Saint Rose, Kentucky, where he became a member of the Dominican order, continuing there his studies until 1837. In that year he went to Rome, and studied at the Minerva until 1844. He was ordained priest in Rome, December 21, 1839. On his return to America, in 1844, he was for two years engaged in the ministry in Kentucky, and for 13 years in Memphis, Tennessee. While in Memphis, he built the very fine church of Saints Peter and Paul, the Convent of Saint Agnes, Orphan Asylum, &c. On July 24, 1859, he was consecrated Bishop of Saint Paul, and arrived here shortly after. He has had great success in his zealous labors in this city and State, increasing the church greatly, procuring large additions to the clergy, opening schools, establishing charitable institutions, and multiplying churches. He is warmly beloved by his large congregation, and respected by other sects, for his learning, piety, amiable character and benevolence. He is regarded as one of the ablest prelates in America.

had recently been ordained Bishop of the diocese of Saint Paul.

The State election took place on October II. WM. SPRIGG HALL, C. N. MACKUBIN and Dr. J. H. STEWART were elected Senators; and GEO. MITSCH, OSCAR STEPHENSON, J. B. OLIVIER, D. A. ROBERTSON, JOHN B. SANBORN and HENRY ACKER, Representatives; A. W. TULLIS, Sheriff; SHERWOOD HOUGH, Register; I. V. D. HEARD,* County Attorney; R. A. SMITH, Treasurer; J. F. Hoyt, Probate Judge. On December 5, a fire destroyed several frame buildings on the north side of Third street, where McCargar's Block now stands, and thence to the corner above.

On December 14, the two organs of the party, the Minnesotian and the Times, were united into one journal, and the joint proprietors, "NEWSON, MOORE, FOSTER & Co.," were elected State printers. This firm was not a happy family, and the union was soon dissolved.

The year 1859, closed with somewhat better prospects financially. The harvest had been abundant, and somewhat enlivened business. The people of the State were confident that the panic had spent its force, and that matters were now on the mend. For the first time this fall, grain had been exported from the State, and the people began to get on a foundation of real prosperity.

* ISAAC V. D. HEARD was born at Goshen, New York, August 31, 1834. He came to Saint Paul in May, 1852, when 18 years of age, studied law, and was admitted to practice. He was elected City Attorney in 1856, and again in 1865, 1866 and 1867. He was appointed County Attorney in 1857, elected the same fall for two years, and re-elected in 1859 and 1861, serving over six years. He was elected State Senator from Ramsey county, in 1871. Mr. HEARD volunteered, during the Sioux War, in an independent cavalry company; was Judge Advocate during the trial of the 303 Indian murderers the same fall, and afterwards wrote a valuable work on the Sioux War.

CHAPTER XXXI.

EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1860.

SUPPOSED UXORICIDE-DESTRUCTIVE FIRES-EXECUTION OF MRS. BILANSKIPRICES, BUSINESS, &c.—THE DOUGLAS AND LINCOLN CAMPAIGN-SUICIDE OF WM. C. GRAY.

Ο ON January 26, the wife of a shoemaker, named WM.

O'NEILL, was found dead in their hovel, in the swamp, near the corner of Seventh and Cedar streets. It was uncertain whether she had died by accident, or her husband murdered her in a drunken fit. He was tried for it, at any rate, and sentenced to Stillwater for five years. February 25, THEODORE FRENCH, a leading lawyer of the .city, died.

On March 16, most of the buildings on both sides of Third street, from Robert to Jackson, were destroyed by fire. It commenced in the clothing store of a well-known character, named ISAAC ANSELL. Some 25 or 30 business houses were broken up by this calamity.

These fires, of which there were several very destructive ones, from 1857 to 1861, always produced great discouragement. But from the ashes of despair ever grew the plant of new hope and courage. The fires really did good. Most of the buildings destroyed were old shells, and in their places fine and valuable blocks were built. Old settlers have seen Third street swept by flames nearly from one end to the other, and rebuilt again.

On March 22, the appointment of W. M. CORCORAN, a lawyer and real estate dealer, as postmaster, was announced. He held the office about a year. He resides now in Maryland.

THE EXECUTION OF MRS. BILANSKI.

A strong effort was made by a few members of the Legis