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Glencoe, Minnesota, June 24, 1896.

The most cruel and desperate murder ever committed in this part of Minnesota occurred this evening.

Two desperate characters, both young men about 24 or 25 years of age.

Dark complexion, weight about 150 pounds, height about 5 feet 8 inches.

One wearing dark clothes and a straw hat, the other dark clothes in a cowboy hat.

One carrying a rifle and the other armed with a revolver.

Traveling on foot from the northern part of the county,

met Mr. Matthews, a farmer living three miles north of town,

provoked a slight altercation with him, and assaulted him, knocking him down.

They then compelled a passing farmer to carry them to town.

Mr. Matthews followed them into town and secured a warrant for their arrest.

The warrant was placed in the hands of Sheriff Joseph Rogers, one of the most popular officials in the county,

whose bravery and devotion to his duty was soon to cost him his life.

The desperadoes had a one-half-hour start of the sheriff and had taken the road leading directly south of town.

The sheriff, with a companion Louis Link, driving his team, overtook them about four miles south of town. He alighted from the buggy, saying,

I want you to come down with me as I have a warrant for your arrest. One of the men replied,

I guess not, I'll shoot you, and with a revolver, shot him in the leg. Realizing now that he had desperate men to deal with, the sheriff then attempted to draw his

revolver from his pocket.

Immediately the second desperado, with a rifle deliberately aimed at his breast and fired,

killing him instantly.

Mr. Link, his companion, galloped his team to the nearest farmer,

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