Edward Phelan

Edward Phelan, also Phalen or Felyn, was an early settler of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Phelan was born in approximately 1811 in Derry, Ireland and later became, along with John Hays and William Evans, one of the first settlers of Saint Paul. Phelan was later accused of Hays' murder, the first ever in Saint Paul, but was acquitted. He was indicted for perjury a year later but fled to California before he could be prosecuted. Phelan was killed by his companions in what they describe as self-defense before he could reach California. Many locations in Saint Paul, Minnesota are named after Phelan as a result of his early land claims. Phelan's name was spelled variously and as a result most locations are named Phalen and not Phelan

Phelan was born in approximately 1811 in Derry, Ireland. He emigrated to the United States and on June 8, 1835 he enlisted in the U.S. Army in New York City. Three years later he was discharged by reason of "expiration of service" at Fort Snelling which was, at that time, in Wisconsin Territory. A military report described him as having, "gray eyes, brown hair, fair complexion and was six feet two and one-half inches high". (1.89 m)

When Phelan and Evans were discharged from Fort Snelling they both decided to make land claims in what is now Saint Paul. Hays, who was expecting to be discharged several months later, made plans with Phelan to make a claim for Hays nearby on the provision that Hays would later reimburse Phelan. Phelan selected a claim in what is now Downtown Saint Paul and built a log house to spend the winter in while he waited for Hays to be discharged. Phelan started a little opposition to Pierre Parrant or Pig's Eye, the first person to settle in Saint Paul. Hays was discharged in April 1839 and lived with Phelan in the log cabin until September 1839. The two did not get along very well according to other settlers near them. In September, Hays's body was found murdered in the Mississippi River near Carver's Cave by a friendly Indian. His body was badly beaten which to his neighbors indicated a "desperate murder"

Suspicion immediately fell on Phelan. Hays was, unlike Phelan, well liked by local soldiers and neighbors. Most of his neighbors were convinced of his guilt. Justice of the Peace, Henry Hastings Sibley, issued a warrant and Phelan was held at Fort Snelling under charges of murder in the first degree. On September 29, 1839, Phelan was arrested for the murder. When the next steam boat arrived, Phelan was sent down to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin Territory which was the county that the crime was committed in. This was shown in the testimony given against him in his trial. One woman testified at his trial and said that when she asked him how he and Hays got along he said "Very badly" but said "I'll soon get rid of him." Another said he found blood on Phelan and bloody clothes in his house. He went on to state that his dog was able to find the route that Phelan had dragged Hays body down to the river.

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