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Note: Tombstone states "Killed with a club; Nelson Magnant, died 3-13-1900, 43 years old, Parents Nelson M and Josephine Hartley"
Found Dead Just as The Sentinel goes to press word is received that Nelson Magnant of the ME Missions, was found dead in a cutter, in the rear of George Miller's barn early this morning. the discovery was made by Frank Pequette. An inquest will be held.
The L'Anse Sentinel Saturday, March 31, 1900 Following an argument on the street, Nelson was struck down and left unconcious by Henry Clay Hendricks. A friend passing by loaded Nelson into a cutter and drove to a saloon where he went inside to get help. While he was inside, the horse returned home with the cutter containing the unconscious Nelson. The friend's wife saw the horse and cutter, and believing the cutter to be empty, put both horse and cutter in the barn. When Nelson was discovered the next morning, he was dead. Hendricks was indicted and tried for murder, but medical witnesses testified that death was due to exposure instead of the beating, and Hendricks was released. He was rearrested and charged with assault and battery and fined $50.00 and costs or imprisonment for 3 months at hard labor (the maximum sentence for this offence). L'ANSE SENTINEL 4-7-1900, 5-5-1900.
Hendricks Discharged Testimony was not sufficient to hold him on the Charges of causing Maganat' death.
He was rearrested for assualt and battery, to which he pleaded guilty and was promptly sentenced.
Henry Clay Hendricks, who was arrested the day following the termination of the inquest held over the body of the late Nelson Magnant, and who was charged by the coroner's jury with having "with force and arms feloniously and wilfully killed and slayed the said Nelson Magnant," was discharged in justice court Monday morning, the testimony submitted at the examination being of such a nature that it was impossible to hold him to the circuit court for trial.
At the inquest about eighteen witnesses testified, among whom were Drs. Zelien and Stringham, who held a post-mortem examination on the body. It was shown that Hendricks had struck and kicked Magnant, but the physicians testifed that death was caused by congestion of the lungs, and that no marks of violence were found on the body sufficient to injure or cause the man's death. However, the cornoner's jury rendered teh verdict as above stated, and Hendricks was arrested, charged with the crime of manslaughter. He was arraigned in justice court and held for examination, bail being required in the sum of $1,000, which he was unable to procure, and he was committed to jail.
Wednesday of last week the examination took place. The two physicians were again placed upon the witness stand, and testified positively as before, the the blow received did not, or could not, cause Magnant's death. The testimony of ten other witnesses was also taken at the examination. The justice took the matter under careful consideration, and Mondya morning dischared the prisoner.
Hendricks was at once re-arrested on the charge of assault and battery upon Nelson Magnant on the night preceding his death, to which he pleadedguilty. He was sentenced to pay a fine of $50 and costs, or in default of payment of the fine and costs to be and remain imprisoned in the common jail of Baraga county for the period of three months, at hard labor, which is practically the extreme limit prescribed by the statute for the offense charged.
The L'Anse Sentinel, L'Anse, Barraga Co., Michigan, Saturday, May 5, 1900
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