I think this is wrong. The University received its Charter from Congress several years before Minnesota gained statehood. I haven't actually checked the dates, but I do not think there was a state prison too much before 1900. The first prison might have been St Cloud with Stillwater coming in much later. Anyone remember the story of what precipitated the legislative action to ban executions? It seems Minneapolis had convicted and sentenced a guy to death by hanging. When the time came to spring the trap-door the rope either slipped or stretched so the guy landed on his feet under the platform. The officials noting the miscue ordered the sheriff to haul up on the rope and finish the job. There was widespread revulsion all the way to the Capitol. How about the story as to why the capitol is St Paul and not St Peter. ;nuf already. > >to continue andy's history, (warning, this may be for folklore than >history) stillwater got to pick between the prison and the university as a >consolation prize--it took the prison--more jobs. mpls, being third on the >list, got the leftovers--the university. > John Ferman Harriet Avenue Kingfield Neighborhood Minneapolis Ward 10 Pct 10 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
