On This Date in Minnesota History: October 14

October 14, 1890 – Thomas O’Connor, the life convict recently pardoned from Stillwater penitentiary upon the condition that he leave the state forever, was arrested today near Elysian, LeSueur County, and is now lodged in the LeSueur County jail. O’Connor was sentenced to prison for life about ten years ago for the cold-blooded murder of Larry Vaughn, of Marysburg, and was then and there and has ever since been considered a vicious and dangerous man. There was no just cause for his pardon, but certain influences were brought to bear that resulted in the conditional pardon.

The arrest was made upon a complaint of Michael Vaughn, a brother of the murdered man, who visited Gov. Merriam last week to protest the pardon. Gov. Merriam told Vaughn, however, that if O’Connor was seen about this state after his release he might arrest him as an escaped convict and have him returned to prison. Mr. Vaughn took the governor at his word and caused the arrest to be made.

When picked up, O’Connor brandished a heavy revolver and a box of cartridges, and also a heavy pocketknife. While the officer who arrested him made the pursuit O’Connor brandished the revolver in the air, but did not use it. There is considerable feeling in the vicinity of O’Connor’s old home over the action of the governor, and many there accuse Merriam of having granted the pardon upon political grounds, , claiming that he hoped thereby to capture the Irish vote. This feeling is quite general there, and will act as much to Merriam’s disadvantage.


St. Paul Globe; “Violated His Parole. Ex-Convict O’Conner Proves Himself Unworthy of Gov. Merriam’s Clemency. Instead of Quitting Minnesota, He Returns Home and is Jailed.” Oct. 15, 1890; p. 1.

Minn. Gov. William Rush Merriam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rush_Merriam